Latest news with #MissSupranational
The Citizen
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
No Miss SA this August after organisers confirm postponement of beauty pageant
Earlier this month, the Miss South Africa organisation bid farewell to its former CEO, Stephanie Weil. Current Miss SA Mia Le Roux's reign will last longer as Miss SA organisation announced the postponement of beauty pageant. Picture: official_misssa/Instagram Usually held in August, during Women's Month, the Miss South Africa organisation has confirmed that the pageant will not take place next month. In a brief statement on Monday, the organisation said the postponement was to ensure 'greater alignment with international and other global events'. 'The organisation, through its affiliated companies, aims to broaden the reach and impact of the pageant and its contestants.' 'The pillars of the organisation will be expanded to include entrepreneurship, job creation, culture awareness and social cohesion.' The statement said the beauty pageant will still be hosted in 2025, with a date yet to be confirmed. ALSO READ: Miss SA withdraws from Miss Supranational 2025, chooses not to renew event license CEO leaves Miss SA Earlier this month, Miss SA bid farewell to its former CEO, Stephanie Weil. '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,' read the statement on the pageant's website. '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.' ALSO READ: Bokang Montjane-Tshabalala takes over Miss Supranational SA directorship after Miss SA pulled out Pulling out of Miss Supranational 2025 In May this year, the Miss SA organisation pulled out of Miss Supranational and decided not to renew its license for the event. Miss Supranational is an annual international beauty pageant that started in 2009. Most contests are held in Poland. Seven years later, a parallel male contest, Mister Supranational, was established. Traditionally, Miss SA runner-ups usually take centre stage for this international competition, while the winner represents South Africa through Miss Universe or Miss World. South Africa has been a regular participant at Miss Supranational. Many were surprised when Miss SA 2021 winner Lalela Mswane participated and went on to win the pageant in 2022. In 2023, Ayanda Thabethe, the Miss SA 2022 runner-up, represented South Africa at the Miss Supranational 2023 pageant in Poland. That year, former Miss SA Jo-Ann Strauss hosted Miss Supranational. Miss SA's decision led to Bokang Montjane-Tshabalala taking over the directorship of Miss Supranational SA. 'I feel so honoured to announce that I am the new director of Miss Supranational South Africa,' said Montjane-Tshabalala. 'The international organisation said 'we think Bokang is the right person' because I've actually been doing this for quite some time,' she said, speaking to eNCA. NOW READ: WATCH: Kayleigh Schwark and Naked DJ expecting their first child
The South African
19-07-2025
- Business
- The South African
Miss SA 2025 POSTPONED amid rumours pageant is 'over'
Miss South Africa – or Miss SA – has officially postponed its 2025 crowning ceremony, just days after CEO Stephanie Weil stepped down. The news has fuelled rumours amongst pageant fans who believe the end may be in sight for the national competition. The pageant has yet to announce its Top 30 finalists. MISS SA POSTPONED! In a press statement posted on pageant fanpage @misssafandom, the Miss SA organisation announced that the finale would be postponed from August to a later date in 2025. This was one to 'ensure the alignment with international and other global events.' The statement added: 'The organisation, through its affiliated companies, aims to broaden the reach and impact of the pageant and its contestants. Organisers stated that Miss SA would be rebranded to include the pillars of entrepreneurship, job creation, cultural awareness, and social cohesion. The postponement of Miss SA comes after two key figures have left the organisation – CEO Stephanie Weil and Creative Director Werner Wessels. Although the organisation has relinquished its licence to Miss Supranational and Miss World, it is still expected to participate in Miss Universe, which takes place on 21 November in Thailand. Pageant fanpage @missuupdates asked in the comment section: 'How does it align with international pageants if there is less preparation? The pageant is in November!' Another, @missuniversewishlist questioned: Will the winner end up going to Miss Universe?'. Miss SA organisation was previously owned by Sun International, a hotel and event conglomerate in South Africa. In 2019, Sun International sold the rights to the pageant to Weil Entertainment, whose owner is CEO Stephanie Weil. Stephanie Weil has stepped down as Miss SA CEO. Who will fill in her shoes?Images via Instagram: @stephweil Now, the pageant has been taken under the wing of Africa Fashion International, which has vowed to 'embark on this strategic journey together, leveraging our unique strengths to drive growth and innovation.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Otago Daily Times
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Miss Tourism International title winner ‘stoked'
Emily Faulkner has no interest in spouting cliches about world peace. Instead, the 2025 Miss New Zealand pageant Miss Tourism International title winner wants to use her new-found platform to make major changes a little closer to home. The 21-year-old, formerly of Mosgiel, was one of five title winners at this year's pageant in Auckland over the weekend, and each will now represent New Zealand at varying world pageants overseas. "Honestly, I'm stoked. When they announced the top five, I was like, 'oh my God, I get to go overseas and represent our country'. "It's such an honour." Britney Pringle was crowned Miss New Zealand 2025 and will represent the country at the Miss International, in Tokyo, this November. Sophie Pardington won the Miss Supranational title, Kelsey Turner won the Miss Intercontinental title and Toma Mirchevska won the Tourism Queen of the Year title. Miss Faulkner will compete in the Miss Tourism International pageant in China, in November. But first, she has a major hurdle to clear. She is in her final year of nurse training at the University of Auckland, and her nursing state exam is on November 18. "I'm meant to be in China on November 16, for the start of the pageant. "I'm not sure yet how I'm going to make that work." It appeared she would have to exercise her diplomatic negotiation skills, to see if there was a way she could do both. At this stage, she was not thinking too deeply about her chances in the competition, she said. "I tend to go into it not thinking of winning. "I like to go into it mainly to enjoy the experience and embrace everyone's cultures. "It's just amazing to see the different lifestyles and everything — it's quite a learning experience. "It does make you appreciate the world a lot more. "So if by chance I did win, I'd be like, 'oh my God, what's actually happening?"' She said a lot of people thought pageants were just about the glitz, glamour and beauty of women, but it was so much more than that. "That's created such a big stereotype in pageantry about if you're beautiful, you win or that's all it is. "But realistically, pageantry is actually so much about the mission that you strive for. "It's focused on what we're striving for, what kind of change we want to make. "So it takes a lot of actual intelligence to be able to do what these girls do." Miss Faulkner said she hoped to break some of New Zealand's societal barriers, like judging, bullying — anything online, especially. "We should be able to embrace each other's differences, not view them as negative, because I see it all the time in healthcare especially — how that impacts mental health. "I really just hope to advocate for everyone in general, because we were made to be the way we are for a reason. And that shouldn't be a fault. "We shouldn't have to change to be the society's level of perfect. "You are already perfect in yourself, but we just have to let the world see that. "I'm tired of hearing people saying they want to change it."
TimesLIVE
10-07-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Miss SA CEO Stephanie Weil steps down
The Miss South Africa organisation has announced CEO Stephanie Weil has stepped down from her role at the organisation after six years. In a statement, the organisation said: 'The organisers of Miss South Africa wish Stephanie Weil everything of the best with her new endeavours as an agreement has been reached that Weil will be leaving the organisation after many years as CEO of Miss South Africa. '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.' Her resignation comes after the organisation pulled out of the Miss Supranational international competition in May. Earlier this year, Werner Wessels announced his resignation as creative director of Miss SA. Concerns have been raised about the prolonged announcement of the top 30 Miss SA contestants after entries opened earlier this year. 'The organisers of the Miss SA contest are making good progress with the preparations for the Miss SA contest, which will be a huge success,' the organisation said.
The South African
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
End of an era: Miss SA CEO Stephanie Weil steps down
Miss South Africa (Miss SA) CEO Stephanie Weil has stepped down from her position in a move that has shocked the pageant industry. In 2019, the rights to the competition were sold to Weil's company after it was previously helmed by Sun International, a hotel and entertainment group. Earlier this year, creative director Werner Wessels parted ways with the organisation to pursue other interests. On Wednesday, 9 July, the Instagram pageant fan account @allthingsmissa posted a statement that Stephanie Weil had stepped down as CEO. It confirmed that Weil would continue to helm the pageant until her successor had been named. 'Miss 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 interests of the Miss South Africa organisation are served'. Although the pageant has yet to make the official announcement, comments from industry insiders confirmed the news. Former Miss SA creative director Werner Wessels posted: 'Proud of having stood behind this woman for so many years! THE Golden queen of Miss South Africa!' Miss SA 2001 Vanessa Carreira commented: 'Wishing you everything of the very best for the future. You have been phenomenal.' Pageant photographer SJ van Zyl added: 'So many amazing shoots, opportunities and things I've learnt from her. Big shoes to fill'. In recent months, the Miss SA organisation has sparked speculation that something is amiss. This is related to concerns over the delay in 2025's Top 30 announcement, pulling out of Miss Supranational licence, and rumours that it may cut ties with Miss Universe as well. Werner Wessels' departure, a rumoured fraught relationship with former title holder Zozi Tunzi, and criticism of reigning queen Mia Le Roux have also been hot topics amongst pageant insiders. WHO OWNS NATIONAL BEAUTY PAGEANT? According to its website, hotel and hospitality conglomerate Sun International acquired full ownership of the Miss SA pageant in 2000. Before that, the pageant was sponsored by publications including the Sunday Times, Rapport, and the now defunct Afrikaans newspaper , Die Landstem. In 2019, Sun International sold the rights to the pageant to Weil Entertainment, whose owner is CEO Stephanie Weil. The group remains a sponsor, and its entertainment property, the SunBet Arena, remains an official venue for the pageant. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
