Miss SA competition sparks bullying and mental health concerns

Miss SA has officially opened auditions for 2023, and many applicants have shared their entry videos on social media. However, this has sparked mental health and bullying concerns due to hateful comments left under the applicants’ videos.

#MissSA trended on Twitter as people commented on the “cyberbullying” that the Miss SA 2023 hopefuls are subjected to because of the application process.

Yha it wasn't a good idea for Miss SA to say those who want to audition must post entry videos on social media. Setting up the girlies for drags

— 𝙰𝙺 𝚄𝚉𝚄𝙼𝙰𝙺𝙸 🦊 (@Akhona_PQ) May 3, 2023

The application processes

The applicants are required to post their entrance videos on social media using two hashtags #misssa2023, and #crownchasers, then complete the rest of the application process on the Miss SA app.

Many people have questioned the pageant’s decision of asking applicants to post entrance videos on social media. There have also been numerous calls for the organisation to reconsider the decision.

ALSO READ: Miss SA Ndavi Nokeri launches Ed-Unite podcast series

Miss SA honestly needs to stop the social media thing now cause these girls are being ridiculed and bullied. It gets worse every year 💔 @Official_MissSA please find another way. This isn’t it.

— Stuniana Grande (@Rene_Bogoshi) May 4, 2023

You guys are being so mean to the girls who are entering for the Miss SA pageant. We don’t come from the same backgrounds 💔 and then tomorrow the very same people will be talking about mental health

— Kheamo M 🧚🏽‍♀️ (@kheamo_m) May 3, 2023

Miss SA 2023

The applications are currently open until tomorrow, 5 May. Miss SA has introduced a new exciting twist to this year’s competitions.

Miss SA 2023 will feature a brand new seven-part reality TV series called Crown Chasers. The contestant will move into Miss SA HQ, where they will be categorised under four pillars of Miss South Africa, namely – duty, championship, empowerment and beauty.

They will then participate in tasks to test their ability to interpret the four pillars. The Crown Chaser winner will be crowned together with Miss SA at the pageant finale.

“Showcasing the multi-diverse nature of all of this will be at the core of the competition. Miss South Africa is no longer just a one-night pageant – viewers are really going to get to know the finalists during the television show,” said the organisation’s CEO Stephanie Weil in a statement.

Inclusivity

Stephanie also highlighted that this year, they are pushing boundaries and allowing all women who are ready to become the next ambassador for South Africa to be part of the journey.

This includes all sexual orientations, married women, those who have kids, tattoos, and multiple piercings. There are no height and weight limitations as well.

“This is a game changer for South African women, and it’s a bonus for us as an organisation, as it means we have a much larger pool of women eligible to enter,” she added.

NOW READ: London called and Jo-Ann Strauss answered ahead of King Charles coronation