Miss Supranational South Africa is entering a new chapter, with a new leadership team set to oversee the local franchise and the search for the country’s next representative on the international pageant stage.
The franchise will now operate under the directorship of Joani Jacobs and the team behind Mrs South Africa, with a national search and development programme planned ahead of South Africa’s next appearance at Miss Supranational.
The leadership change comes four years after Lalela Mswane made history by becoming the first South African woman to win the Miss Supranational crown in 2022.
For Jacobs, the challenge is not simply about finding a strong pageant contestant, but preparing a woman who can make the most of the opportunities that come with representing South Africa internationally.
“Winning should be the beginning of the journey, rather than the destination,” says Jacobs. “Our role is not simply to prepare someone to win a competition, but to prepare them for what may follow from having that international platform.”
More than a pageant
Founded in Poland in 2009, Miss Supranational has grown into an international competition that forms part of the annual Festival of Beauty in Nowy Sącz.
While the final stage remains an important part of the competition, contestants are also assessed throughout the programme through interviews, public appearances and their conduct during the competition.
Communication skills, digital presence and audience engagement have also become increasingly important alongside traditional pageant elements such as runway and stage performance.
Contestants participate in the competition’s From the Ground Up social impact initiative, which highlights their community work and how they plan to use the platform to create impact.
A new team
Jacobs brings more than two decades of experience in modelling and pageantry to the role. She founded Ace Models International in 2005 and has led the Mrs South Africa organisation since 2011.
She will be joined by PR Worx CEO Madelain Roscher and Cindy Nell, who are shareholders in the new Miss Supranational South Africa structure. Roscher will also oversee public relations, while Marlene Reddy-Ribeiro takes responsibility for operations.
Jacqueline Ferns and Matapa Maila will serve as board members.
The organisation says it will draw on the selection, development and operational processes used by Mrs South Africa as it establishes the new local programme.
Details about entries, castings and the national selection process are expected to be announced in due course.
Scene Feed thought
South Africa already has a Miss Supranational titleholder to live up to, but this new chapter is less about recreating Lalela Mswane’s win and more about finding the woman who can create her own.
With a new team at the helm, the next South African contender will have a lot to prove, but also a platform designed to prepare her for much more than one night on stage.