What's going on with Miss SA 2025? What to know about the pageant's postponement

News24

7 days ago

The Miss SA 2025 pageant has been postponed.
This comes after the CEO has stepped down.
AFI also celebrated its new strategic journey with the pageant.
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Sweeping changes and uncertainty have clouded the 2025 Miss South Africa (Miss SA) pageant.
The Miss SA Organisation has officially announced a postponement of its annual pageant, much to the confusion of the pageant's entrants and supporters. The finale event usually takes place in August of every year.
The organisation's statement reads, 'The Miss South Africa Organisation today announced the postponement of Miss South Africa from August to a later date in 2025, to ensure greater alignment with international and other global events.'
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A post shared by Miss South Africa (@official_misssa)
Many were left unsurprised at the news of the postponement, since the delay of the Top 30 announcement raised questions after entries closed in April.
This announcement comes off the back of a number of changes Miss SA has undergone this year.
On 10 July, the organisation revealed that the CEO, Stephanie Weil, has left the organisation and stepped down from her position.
Miss SA's statement read, 'The organisers of Miss South Africa wish Stephanie Weil everything of the best with her new endeavours as an agreement has been reached that Ms Weil will be leaving the organisation after many years as CEO of Miss South Africa.
'Ms Weil will be staying on for as long as is required to ensure a smooth transition to new leadership and to ensure that the best interest of the Miss South Africa organisation are served.'
Africa Fashion International (AFI), the official fashion sponsor of the pageant, has taken the organisation under its wing and emphasised its continued partnership with Miss SA in a statement released on the same day.
'Africa Fashion International (AFI) and the Miss South Africa Organisation are proud members of a larger family owned group of companies, united by a shared vision for creativity and excellence,' AFI's statement read.
'As sister companies, we are excited to embark on this strategic journey together, leveraging our unique strengths to drive growth and innovation.'
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A post shared by Africa Fashion International (@afi_sa)
In January 2025, Werner Wessels officially stepped down as the creative director of Miss SA, a role where he significantly helped shape the beauty pageant's presence on the global stage.
Werner's tenure included mentoring Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi, Miss Supranational 2022 Lalela Mswane and Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Tebow, as well as being the creative mind behind the pageant's distinct styling and signature shoots.
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A post shared by Werner Wessels (@werner_wessels)
The Miss SA organisation's announcement of the pageant's postponement comes with its notice of expanding the organisation to include entrepreneurship, job creation, cultural awareness and social cohesion.
While 'further announcements will be made soon,' the organisation shares, many are left with confusion at the fate of the pageant's future.