Miss SA boss says inclusion is necessary for progress 

This year, the competition is open to women, married or not, who are between the ages of 20 and 32.

There is also no height or weight requirements.

Speaking to The Way Up on this groundbreaking change, Weil said the Miss SA competition thrives at ensuring that women are seen and celebrated in all their glory.

Entries for Miss SA 2025 opened last week Wednesday and will close this Friday.

Last year, the prestigious competition, which was established in 1956, was shrouded by controversy for its lack of action following concerns by some South Africans about former finalist Chidimma Adetshina.

 Adetshina’s nationality, which is Nigerian and Mozambican, raised the ire of many who felt she did not fully embody being a South African.

Mounting pressure led to the Department of Home Affairs investigating her background, resulting in a can of worms being opened after the probe revealed that her mother Anabela Rungo, who claimed to be South African, had committed identity fraud in order to become a South African national.

These shocking findings led to Adetshina eventually withdrawing and later competing in Miss Universe after winning the Nigerian leg of that competition.

This whirlwind placed a sharp focus on the entrenched corruption within the Department of Home Affairs, which has so far seen 33 officials dismissed for fraud and corruption since July last year, among others, while the criminal prosecution of 19 other officials is underway. Written by Nokwazi Qumbisa