Meet Bajabulise Thela: Mpumalanga stunner set to represent SA at Miss Universe 2026
Qhawekazi Mazaleni, crowned Miss SA in October 2025, was the first titleholder under this new direction – her reign focused squarely on causes within South Africa, rather than competing abroad at Miss World, Miss Universe or Miss Supranational.
She joins Hombir (Miss World) and Shannon Benting, who was crowned Miss Supranational South Africa 2026 a month earlier, as the trio of queens flying South Africa’s flag internationally this year – all under ABI’s banner, entirely separate from the domestically focused Miss SA title.
ABI now holds the national franchise rights for Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Supranational in South Africa, running its own selection process through Miss African Beauty South Africa; the pipeline that produced Thela’s win.
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