The Miss South Africa pageant has been transformed into a reality show to air on local content pay-TV channel Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 107) from Sunday 9 October until the crowning ceremony in December.
Viewers can follow the progress of the 33 Miss South Africa semi-finalists on The Road to Miss SA, a one hour reality show hosted by Bridget Masinga on Sunday’s at 5:30pm on Mzansi Magic, or at the Miss SA Workshops hosted by Sun International’s Sun City Resort.
The progress of the semi-finalists will be followed during the workshops at Sun City and in the interview sessions with the judges. The judges include: Sonia Raciti-Oshry (Principal Judge and former Miss South Africa), Joan Ramagoshi (former Miss SA and businesswoman), Sonia Booth (former Miss SA 2nd Princess and model), Kieno Kammies (talk show host and journalist), Gert Johan Coetzee (designer) and Paledi Segapo (fashion consultant).
“We are really excited to be part of The Road to Miss SA for the second year running,’ says Mzansi Magic’s commissioning editor Vanessa Jansen. “The live pageant has always been a very glamorous affair and was one of the highlights of our schedule last year. This year we are really upping the emotional engagement for the viewers by investing further in a reality type show that will start nine weeks before the finals and will give viewers the opportunity to get to know the finalists and have a clearer sense of who their favourites are as they head towards the finals.’
Another new introduction is the elimination process – the semi-finalists will be given tasks to complete during the workshops and will be judged accordingly. By the end of the workshops only 16 girls will remain and the 12 finalists will only be revealed a week before the pageant, which takes place at the Sun City Superbowl on 11 December 2011.
“We are fortunate to have Mzansi Magic as our official broadcast sponsor,’ says Sue Klerck PR executive: Corporate & Resorts for Sun International. “When Mzansi Magic launched last year, the objective was to create a proudly South African, locally focused, general entertainment channel and a year later, they achieved exactly that. And, as the channel enters its second year a few exciting innovations like the Road To Miss SA are being initiated.’
Jansen adds: “This year Mzansi Magic is also going beyond the glitz and pageantry as we believe that Miss SA is not just about beauty and glamour – that in fact being the winner of the pageant is actually an opportunity to be able to invest in and support your country in an area of your choice.’
“This is strong motivation for young girls to enter the competition and Mzansi Magic is committed to giving airtime to some of the initiatives that the current Miss SA is involved in, including the reveal of Kgaganoko Primary School Library in Polokwane, which was Bokang’s contribution to the Mandela Day, M-Net Cares Initiative and her participation in Mzansi Magic’s Market Day. We really want the viewer to get to know Miss SA before, during and after her reign and to really understand the potential impact a Miss SA has on the country.’
The Miss SA workshops will take place at Sun City from 28 to 31 August and offer a host of expert talks and interactive sessions ranging from communication, elocution, make-up and hair, ramp modelling, health and fitness and financial planning. Accommodation and workshop packages are available for the public to join in, ranging from R4 812 at the Cabanas to R6 465 at the Sun City Hotel. Contact Christy Murray: 011 780 7699 or email: christy.murray@za.suninternational.com.
