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Miss South Africa Ndavi Nokeri tipped to become Miss Universe come Saturday

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

South Africans are holding their breath ahead of the Miss Universe pageant  that will be held on Saturday, in which reigning Miss South Africa Ndavi Nokeri is a hot favourite.

Yesterday, it emerged that according to social media polls the Limpopo born beauty emerged as one of the top favourites to clinch this title, which opens doors for the winner around the globe.

The Miss Universe finale takes place on Saturday, January 14 in the US and will be broadcast live on 1 Magic (DStv Channel 103) from 03h00 on Sunday, January 15 and repeated in a prime timeslot (details to be announced).

While with regards to the beauty stakes, this pageant is anyone’s game, but when it comes to cerebral endowment, Nokeri has plenty of that. Those that have followed her reigfn ever since she was decalred Miss South Africa may hyave no doubt about that quality in her. Educated, articulate and calm, this village born beauty has everything working to her aedvantage with regardsto her intteligence and clarioty of mind.

Miss Universe 2022 will be the 71st edition of the pageant and takes place at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in LouisianawhereHarnaaz Sandhu of India will crown her successor at the end of the event.

Contestants from 84 countries are competing in the competition which will be hosted by Jeannie Mai and Miss Universe 2012, Olivia Culpo. Mai is an American television host and stylist, best known for her work on the makeover show How Do I Look? and last served as a backstage correspondent during Miss Universe 2014. Culpo last served as host during Miss Universe 2020.

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and entertainment reporter Zuri Hall will serve as backstage correspondents. This marks the first time in the pageant’s 70-year history that there has been an all-female presenting panel and will also be the first edition of the pageant to be held under the ownership of the Thailand-based JKN Global Group which purchased the Miss Universe Organization rights from WME/IMG last year.

South Africa is one of the top pageant countries in the world and has had an impressive track record at the Miss Universe pageant in the past five years:

  • 2017 – Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters (Tebow) crowned Miss Universe
  • 2018 – Tamaryn Green (Green-Nxumalo), first runner-up
  • 2019 – Zozibini Tunzi, crowned Miss Universe
  • 2021 – Lalela Mswane, second runner-up

Online sites includingPhilstar.com, Missology and Miss Universe Predications have the reigning South African queen as one of the front-runners and she is a hot favourite with Miss Universe fans and followers.

The current build-up to the finale is preparation time as the contestants are taken through their paces and there are a number of events that entrants have to participate in. One of these was the Muba Cosmetics shoot. According to the Miss Universe official news outlet, Pageant Circle, Miss South Africa was one of five contestants chosen to do a special shoot for the official makeup sponsor. Gloriously bronzed photographs of Nokeri appear alongside contestants Evlin Khalifa from Bahrain, Celeste Cortesi representing Phillipines, Anna Sueangam-iam from Thailand and Alicia Faubel representing Spain.

Nokeri arrived in New Orleans last week after spending an exciting few days in New York, and says: “It has been wonderful meeting my fellow contestants face-to-face and getting to know them. My preparations are on track and I’m working hard. Zozi (Tunzi) has given me advice that I have taken to heart – to be confident and to be my authentic self.

“I also appreciate the wonderful support from all South Africans – I will be flying the flag high when I walk onto the Miss Universe stage and I am determined to give it my all, just as I did when I entered the Miss South Africa pageant.”

Nokeri has a proudly South African support team in New Orleans cheering her on including Miss South Africa Organisation CEO Stephanie Weil, creative director Werner Wessels and her parents Moses and Betty Nokeri.

Miss South Africa is presented by Weil Entertainment in association with M-Net, Mzansi Magic and Sun International.

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