South Africa, meet your new Miss SA – Natasha Joubert. She was crowned queen on Sunday at the Sunbet Arena at Time Square Casino in Pretoria.
The 26-year-old from Gauteng succeeds Ndavi Nokeri, and was chosen ahead of Bryoni Govender and Nande Mabala. She is a BCom Marketing Management graduate, and owns a fashion company that she started when she was 19.
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More facts about Miss SA 2023, Natasha Joubert:
1. Second Time’s A Charm
This is not the first time Natasha has entered the competition. She landed in the top 3 in 2020, when Shudufadzo Musida won. She went on to represent the country at the Miss Universe competitions in 2021.
2. New Queen, New Crown
Natasha said she was ‘truly humbled and grateful’ to snatch the winning title, and be the first to wear the dazzling new Mowana crown designed by the dynamic duo behind Nungu Diamonds, Ursula Pule, and her husband, Kealeboga Pule. Mowana means Tree of Life.
3. Bringing South Africa to the World
She won the Miss Globe South Africa 2016. She went on to compete in Albania for the Miss Globe 2016 pageant, where she placed in the top 5.
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. pic.twitter.com/HE2vvlfLii
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) August 13, 2023
4. …With the Brains to Match
Natasha is a BCom Marketing graduate. She founded her own fashion brand in 2016, called Natalia Jefferys. It specialises in couture for special occasions. Natasha runs the business with her mom, Ninette.
5. Yeah I’ll Be The Tomboy: Natasha Joubert
The reining queen says people are often surprised to learn she was a tomboy when she was younger. She says she was the only girl in her karate class, and preferred playing outside with the boys. She is an avid hiker, and loves sports, including action hockey. And enjoys a good camping adventure.
6. A Young Entrepreneur
When Natasha was a young teen, her father lost his job. This mean that the family could no longer afford the pricey evening gowns she needed to compete in modelling competitions. Determined to help her daughter continue what she loves, mom Ninette decided to make the glam looks by herself! With Natasha by her side, dreaming up the designs.
A spectacular gathering of stunning women
Natasha was part of a group of seven women competing for the crown. The seven finalists were Nande Mabala (25), from the Western Cape, Bryoni Govender (26) from Gauteng; Melissa Nayimuli (27) from the Eastern Cape; Anke Rothmann (23) from the Northern Cape; Homba Mazaleni (23) from the Eastern Cape; Jordan van der Vyver (27), from the Western Cape; and Natasha Joubert (25) from Gauteng.
This was the first time that the Miss SA pageant allowed married women and mothers to enter. Van der Vyver was the only remaining married contestant.
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Natasha Joubert, the new Miss SA, received a R1 million in cash in a prize and sponsorship package. It also includes the use of a luxury serviced apartment at the lavish Brookfield at Royal in Kensington during the year of her reign. She also gets to drive a Mercedes-Benz GLC, and will enjoy a trip to Paris sponsored by L’Oreal.