The official Miss Universe South Africa Instagram page shared a heartfelt message for Miss SA 2025 first runner-up Luyanda Zuma on Sunday, 26 October. This page operates independently from the Miss SA Organisation. The post offered support and recognition for Zuma’s significant achievement during the pageant finale held at Pretoria’s SunBet Arena the previous evening, where Qhawekazi Mazaleni was crowned the winner....Click to Read More >>➤

A Tribute to a Powerful Journey

In a display of genuine empathy, the Miss Universe SA page addressed Luyanda Zuma directly. The message acknowledged the unique difficulty of being the first runner-up after such an intense competition. “First runner up is the toughest position anyone could ever find themselves in when they’ve immersed themselves into a demanding pageant journey like that of Miss South Africa,” the post read. It praised her visible personal growth, stating, “Luyanda, we have witnessed you grow from strength to strength, becoming a bolder and more self assured version of yourself.”

The message continued to uplift Zuma, calling her a “powerhouse” and reassuring her that any current disappointment is temporary. It emphasized a bright future, with the post adding, “trust me the best is yet to come for you. The universe will wait for you.” The tribute concluded by highlighting the intangible rewards of her journey, including personal transformation, confidence, and national support, ending with, “We love you, you will soon be arriving to your timely destination. 💙🇿🇦 SO PROUD OF YOU HG.”

Celebrating the New Miss South Africa

The page admin also celebrated the newly crowned queen, Qhawekazi Mazaleni. The congratulatory post expressed admiration, noting it had been following Mazaleni’s potential since 2023. “Qhawe you’ve been incredible, actually been following since 2023 when your sister competed and when I came across you, I just knew you’d be incredible for this platform one day,” the post read. It described her win as a “full circle moment” for her family, community, and supporters across South Africa. The message ended with warm wishes for her reign: “I can’t wait for your year of reign to unfold, may the worlds favour find you too 🩵🇿🇦.” This dual recognition from the Miss Universe SA page underscores its supportive role within the broader pageant community, celebrating both the victor and a highly respected finalist.