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9 former Miss SA winners: Where are they now?

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Kerishnie Naiker (Photo: Gallo)
Kerishnie Naiker (Photo: Gallo)

Cape Town - The Miss South Africa pageant is the most prestigious and glamorous beauty pageant in the country.

With TV personality Bonang Matheba announced as host, and several dramatic and exciting changes made to the pageant's format, this year is promised to be no different.

Watch the Miss South Africa pageant at 17:00 on M-Net (DStv 101) and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) on Sunday.

ALSO READ: Meet the Miss SA 2018 top 12 finalist

Each year the winner and reigning queen travels the country and the world to take part in life-changing volunteer work for different charities and organisations. But what happens once their reign is over?

DRUM did some digging to find out what some of our past Miss SA winners have been up to.

1. Basetsana Kumalo (1994)

Basetsana Kumalo was crowned Miss SA in 1994 and became the first runner-up in the Miss World pageant that same year.

The 44-year-old mother of three went on to become a TV personality, businesswoman and philanthropist.

Aside from being voted 74th on the list of 100 Greatest South Africans in 2004 – the only Miss South Africa in the list – the beautiful Basetsana got together with Top Billing producer Patience Stevens to form Tswelopele Productions – of which she owns a 50% stake.

The company is one of South Africa's Top 300 empowerment companies and is listed on the JSE. Its flagship brand is Top Billing, produced for SABC3.

2. Peggy-Sue Khumalo (1996)

Just two years after Basetsana became Miss SA, Peggy-Sue Khumalo was crowned.

Following her successful reign as Miss South Africa, Peggy-Sue earned a BA Hons (Economics & Political Science) and an MSc (Economics) from the University of Manchester, in the UK.

She then went on to join Investec Bank UK in its asset management division. Later returning to South Africa, she joined Investec Corporate and Institutional Banking. 

She is married to radio presenter Xolani Gwala.

3. Kerishnie Naiker (1997)

Before being crowned Miss SA in 1997, Kerishnie attained an honours degree in pharmacy (1995) and practiced as a senior pharmacist in hospital and retail pharmacy.

She now wears many hats working as an international speaker, businesswoman, model, health activist and creative director.

She was also communications director at Netcare until 2017.

4. Jo-Ann Strauss (2000)

During her reigning year as Miss SA, Jo-Ann started her media career at Afrikaans TV show Pasella, before presenting the English lifestyle magazine show Top Billing.

During her time at Top Billing she has interviewed many top international celebrities, including Charlize Theron, Antonio Banderas and George Clooney.

She has also spearheaded several initiatives to raise funds for undeserved communities.  

In 2014, Jo-Ann was appointed a celebrity advocate for international child rights organisation, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in South Africa.

Jo-Ann sits on the Media24 board of directors. 

5. Joan Ramagoshi (2003)

Since her reign ended Joan has become an esteemed business woman and is the former marketing manager of Mamelodi Sundowns FC.

She is a motivational speaker and life coach, TV presenter, image consultant, works for charitable causes and is often called on to MC top level events and functions around the world.

She is also a wife and mother of two. 

6. Nokuthula Sithole (2005)

Nokuthula is a motivational speaker and mother of two.

She told the Afternoon Express team on SABC3 that after the "whirlwind of love" in her life "went horribly wrong", she decided to study coaching at UCT and found her calling.

She now holds a BSc degree in urban and regional planning from Wits University and a diploma in project management.

7. Bokang Montjane (2010)

Bokang is one of South Africa’s best loved Miss SA winners and represented the country at the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants in 2011.

She is a motivational speaker, the executive producer at production company, Pulse TVF, and founder of the Bokang Montjane Foundation.

Bokang is married to soccer star Siphiwe Tshabalala.

8. Melinda Bam (2011)

The stunning 28-year-old Melinda Bam is a model, TV presenter and businesswoman. She recently appeared as a celebrity contestant on Tropika Island of Treasure and hosts the Afrikaans reality-lifestyle show, Wie's jou poppie? 

She has her own swimwear line called Bambshell.

Melinda is married to the handsome Mr South Africa 2011, Adriaan Bergh.

9. Ntandoyenkosi Kunene (2016)

South Africa fell in love with Ntandoyenkosi’s radiant smile and there was no dispute that she deserved to be crowned Miss SA 2016.

She has since graduated with an honours degree in education and recently married Idols SA winner, Khaya Mthethwa.

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