Miss South Africa Top 12 finalist Levern José has made the decision to withdraw from the 2023 Miss South Africa pageant in light of the baseless bullying allegations and attacks she has faced in the past week on social media.
Twenty-three-year-old José has been supported by the Miss South Africa Organisation’s mental health partner, the South African Depression And Anxiety Group (SADAG) who have provided counselling to her.
“The Miss South Africa Organisation does not condone bullying of any kind. We accept Levern’s decision to pull out of the competition and respect her for owning her truth and taking this time to focus on her own healing”, read the statement.
Shortly after the announcement of the Top 12 finalists for Miss SA 2023, a few people took to Twitter to express their shock at seeing José's name on the list.
They accused her of bullying others while in high school.
Following her withdrawal from the pageant, José said that she herself was a survivor of bullying and had learned to protect herself during her schooling years.
"If my actions in protecting myself caused harm to anyone, I offer my sincere apologies. The pain of being a target has left an indelible mark on my heart, and I would never intentionally cause hurt or contribute to someone else’s suffering.”
“Kindness, respect and empathy have always been my guiding principles and I have unwaveringly worked to adhere to these values. It deeply troubles me that such grave accusations could be levelled against me. While I firmly believe in my own accountability and responsibility, I also hold steadfastly to the principles of fairness and justice.
“All forms of abuse and bullying are unacceptable and have no place in our society. Please know that I am determined to work against bullying and bring about wider awareness about this issue. I am unwavering in my stance on upholding what is right and just. I am human; the pressure has been immense and has taken its toll on me. Together, let us strive for fairness and compassion in all our interactions with others,” she concluded in a statement.
On Tuesday, José's face was still featured on the Miss SA website, although her social media links had been removed.
It is not yet clear if a new finalist will be chosen or if the pageant will go ahead with 11 women.
