Willem Botha: Miss SA Top 15 Semi-Finalist
Just over a week ago the Eastern Cape celebrated the announcement of four ladies who were selected from a list of more than 2000 entrants to form part of the Miss SA Top 35 finalist.
These ladies included Carla Peters, Aphelele Mbiyo, Melissa Nayimuli and Lindokuhle Mvango.
Today the announcement of the Top 15 Semi-Finalist was made by Sasha-Lee Olivier in a virtual announcement on the official Miss SA Instagram page.
Aphelele Mbiyo and Melissa Nayimuli keep the Eastern Cape in the running to have a local lady crowned as this year's Miss SA winner.
Aphelele Mbiyo who was born in Mthata raised in Port Elizabeth and currently lives in Lonehill, Johannesburg excitingly accepted the honour of being selected as a semi-finalist and had the following to say, "I feel incredibly honoured to be a part of the Top 15. I am grateful to have been selected from more than 2000 entrants. So far, the journey has been a range of mixed emotions, but I remain focused and I am ready to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead.”
Melissa Nayimuli who was born in Butterworth and who now lives in Sunninghill, Johannesburg is third time lucky. She entered the pageant before but this is the first time that she made it this far.
"This is my third time entering Miss South Africa, but my first time making it through any round."
"I entered in 2016 and 2018, and I didn't make it past the first judging round."
"Getting rejected was really disappointing, so coming back this year took a lot of courage, and I am so happy I took that brave step because here I am now, part of the top 15. This journey has been nothing short of amazing."
Aphelele and Melissa join 13 other hopefuls who are an impressive group of women, who are medical doctors, marketing specialists, international models, a food scientist, an actress and student of business, economics and law.
The public can now vote for their favourite semi-finalist.
The finale for the crowning of Miss South Africa 2020 is scheduled to take place in the last quarter of the year.
