Carving Miss SA history one stride at a time

The Citizen

27-04-2025

In the bustling university town of Potchefstroom, nestled in South Africa's North West province, Jade Sateria, a 25-year-old trans woman, is gearing up to make waves. She entered Miss SA 2025, not merely to compete, but to redefine what the title can mean.
The Miss South Africa Organisation has opened its doors wider, stating on its official site that entrants don't need to have been born female to compete— just meet the criteria by the pageant date and be under 30. For Jade, this isn't just an opportunity; it's a call to action, and she's answering it with the full force of her Potchefstroom-honed spirit.
Originally from George, Jade planted her roots in Potch while earning a BA in Communication Science at NorthWest University (NWU). She didn't stop there—she added a Master's Certificate in Journalism from Agence France-Presse and now delivers news as an anchor at the SABC's radio service RSG. But it's her connection to Potchefstroom's community that drives her.
'This place shaped me,' she expressed with a voice ringing with conviction.
'I was a queer student here, finding my way. Now I'm showing this town we can claim any stage—including Miss SA.'
The Miss SA 2025 rules ditch old restrictions: no height or weight limits, no rigid age cutoff below 30, and a clear nod to inclusivity for trans women. It's a progressive leap, though not without its skeptics. Jade brushes off the noise.
'I'm not here to plead my case,' she stated plainly. 'The rules let me in. That's all the permission I need.'
Her resolve comes from a life of pushing back against a childhood in George, where being gay meant being sidelined, to transitioning in a world that's only now catching up.
Potchefstroom has seen Jade's mettle. At NWU, she directed two bold productions with the DIVACO arts society, weaving narratives that demanded attention. Her decade in theatre sharpened her presence, while her work with Pascap Trust since 2012 has built after-school refuges for Cape Town's kids. She also spearheaded the B:630 Education and Discipline Improvement programme at New Dawn Park Primary School in George.
'I've watched kids bloom when someone fights for them,' she said. 'That's why I'm here—for Potchefstroom's youth, especially the ones who feel they don't fit.' Jade's Miss SA run isn't about glamour—it's about purpose. 'Getting to the top 30 is my megaphone,' she declared.
'It's for every trans kid in Potchefstroom, every girl who's been told she's not enough. This town's got its traditional edges, but I'm not backing down—I'm breaking through.'
Jade dreams of a South Africa where differences unite rather than divide.
'The crown? That's not it,' she insists. 'I want a future where no one here—or anywhere—can dictate your limits.'
When detractors argue a trans woman doesn't belong in Miss SA, Jade's reply is sharp: 'The rules say otherwise. Check them. I'm in.'
Her journey reverberates through Potchefstroom—from the Mooi River's banks to NWU's classrooms, into homes where ambition simmers.
'They said I'd never measure up,' she declared, unflinching. 'Now I'm proving this town, and the nation, that standing out beats blending in every time.' Jade Sateria isn't after a title—she's forging a legacy.
For Potchefstroom, she's a homegrown force, showing beauty has no blueprint, strength speaks loud, and belonging is nonnegotiable.
'Miss SA 2025 isn't just a contest for me,' she asserted. 'It's a chance to rewrite who gets to rise. I'm doing it for every kid here who's felt locked out.' With the rules in her corner and a community watching, Jade's set to carve history—one fearless stride at a time.
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