Celeb Gossip
Natasha Joubert was crowned Miss South Africa for the year 2023.
Natasha Joubert was crowned as the new Miss South Africa on Sunday.
The 26-year-old fashion designer from Gauteng was chosen ahead of Nande Mabala and Bryoni Govender at the Sunbet Arena at Time Square Casino in Pretoria.
Joubert takes the reigns from Ndavi Nokeri.
It is the second time that Joubert has appeared at the pageant. She was the runner-up in 2020 and went on to represent South Africa at the 2021 Miss Universe competition.
Miss South Africa 2023 is Natasha Joubert.
The 26-year-old from Tshwane in Gauteng, is a BCom Marketing Management graduate and is the owner and fashion designer of Natalia Jefferys, a company she started when she was 19.
“It feels surreal to be back and to have been given a second chance! I know this is a testimony I need to share and an incredible message: ‘You are not defined by your circumstances. You are defined by your choices.’ I felt incredible when I left my interview, knowing I had been honest and open. I am ready to take on these new challenges, grow and evolve even more as a woman, and at the same time let go and enjoy every second! Our group of finalists are amazing! I will be forever grateful for this second chance!”, Natasha said after making the Top 12.
The Top 5 finalists are:
Homba Mazaleni (23) from the Eastern Cape
Nande Mabala (25) from the Western Cape
Natasha Joubert (25) from Gauteng
Bryoni Govender (26) from Gauteng
Melissa Nayimuli (27) from the Eastern Cape
Natasha Joubert from Tshwane was crowned Miss South Africa 2023 at the spectacular pageant finale held at the SunBet Arena at Time Square in Pretoria on Sunday night.
The 26-year-old is a BCom Marketing Management graduate and is the owner and fashion designer of Natalia Jefferys, a company she started when she was 19.
Joubert said she was truly humbled and grateful to win the title and to be the first to wear the glittering new Mowana (“Tree of Life”) crown from Nungu Diamonds.
She received R1 million in cash in a prize and sponsorship package that includes the use of a serviced apartment at the lavish Brookfield at Royal in Kensington – developed by Tricolt – for the year of her reign. She will also get to drive a Mercedes-Benz GLC and a trip to Paris sponsored by L’Oreal.
In her acceptance speech, Joubert said: “I am incredibly honoured and humbled to be crowned Miss South Africa 2023. As I step into this new role, I am filled with a sense of responsibility to make a positive difference in the world around me. I believe that success is not just about personal accomplishments but about the opportunities we have to give back and uplift those around us. I will strive to be a source of inspiration and support for others, just as I have been supported on my journey now and before.
“This moment is the epitome of a full circle moment for me. A dream that started 11 years ago – and which three years ago did come to fruition after proudly representing my country on an international stage at Miss Universe at Miss Universe South Africa – has today become a reality. It took a lot of hard work, grit, self-confidence and support to keep my dream alive and to keep on believing in the beauty of second chances. It is a journey that I will forever be grateful for, which moulded and shaped me into the woman I am today.
The runner-up was Bryoni Govender from Johannesburg, who also won the Motherkind fitness award and the winner of the special Crown Chaser of the season award, as voted for by the public, was Lungo Katete.
Stephanie Weil, CEO of the Miss South Africa Organisation, said: “Huge congratulations to Natasha, our newly crowned Miss South Africa 2023. A worthy winner, she embodies the Miss South Africa Organisation’s vision that if you can dream it, you can achieve it and that just one person can make a big difference.”
She added:
President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulated the beauty queen on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Congratulations to our newly crowned MissSA2023 Ms NatashaJoub. Your resilience is testament to our fighting spirit as a nation. We wish you a fruitful year of reign and we look forward to you making a positive impact as our Miss South Africa,” he wrote.
Natasha Joubert