Two women from the Eastern Cape are among the 20 finalists competing for the Miss African Beauty South Africa 2026 title, organizers announced. The competition, which seeks to crown a new beauty queen, will feature contestants from various provinces across South Africa. The Eastern Cape representatives have advanced through earlier rounds to reach this final stage. The winner of the pageant will represent South Africa on an international platform. The selection process has narrowed down the field to 20 contenders, all aspiring to secure the prestigious national crown.
Journey to the Top 20
The finalists for the Miss African Beauty South Africa 2026 competition were chosen from an initial pool of 30 contestants following a public voting stage. These 20 finalists represent seven of South Africa’s nine provinces, noting broad national participation in the pageant. One of the selected individuals, Shannon Benting, has already been crowned Miss African Beauty Miss Supranational South Africa 2026. Ms. Benting is scheduled to represent the country at the Miss Supranational pageant in Poland later this month. The remaining finalists will continue to compete for the opportunity to represent South Africa at the prestigious Miss World 2026 and Miss Universe 2026 international competitions.
Meet the Finalists
Musa Daweti, one of the Eastern Cape finalists, holds a diploma in management and is currently pursuing an advanced diploma in financial management. Daweti expressed her dedication to educational advocacy. "Accessible education is a cause closest to my heart," Daweti stated. "I am especially passionate about advocating for students who are often overlooked, because no-one should lose out on an education simply because they cannot afford it. Education should open doors, not remind people of the doors they cannot enter." She emphasized her commitment to achieving goals, saying, "When I set my heart on a goal, I commit fully to it and keep going, no matter the challenges or setbacks I face. This would make me an effective titleholder because I would carry that same determination into the role, remaining committed to my purpose, seeing my responsibilities through, and continuing to push until real impact is achieved."
Bongisisiwe Ndumela, the second finalist from the Eastern Cape, is an actress, visual artist, and technical assistant. Ndumela is a student of drama therapy at Wits University. She articulated her passion for community-focused arts initiatives. "I am passionate about creating arts-based community therapy programmes that use art and theatre as tools for healing and social transformation," Ndumela said. She noted the challenges faced by young people, including gender-based violence, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, noting their lack of safe spaces. "The arts have a unique ability to bring people together, encourage self-expression and create opportunities for reflection and growth," she added. Ndumela believes her own experiences will enable her to contribute meaningfully by "leading with honesty and sharing my own story."
Ambitions and Advocacy
Musa Daweti, 22, from Salsoneville, Gqeberha, and Bongisisiwe Ndumela, 26, originally from Sterkspruit, have secured places in the national Top 20 finalists. Ms. Daweti stated, "Accessible education is a cause closest to my heart. I am especially passionate about advocating for students who are often overlooked, because no-one should lose out on an education simply because they cannot afford it. Education should open doors, not remind people of the doors they cannot enter." She added, "When I set my heart on a goal, I commit fully to it and keep going, no matter the challenges or setbacks I face. This would make me an effective titleholder because I would carry that same determination into the role, remaining committed to my purpose, seeing my responsibilities through, and continuing to push until real impact is achieved." Ms. Ndumela shared her focus on community programs. "I am passionate about creating arts-based community therapy programmes that use art and theatre as tools for healing and social transformation," Ms. Ndumela said. She noted that many young people face "serious challenges such as gender-based violence, anxiety, depression and substance abuse, yet they often lack safe and engaging spaces to process these experiences. The arts have a unique ability to bring people together, encourage self-expression and create opportunities for reflection and growth." Ms. Ndumela believes she can contribute meaningfully by "leading with honesty and sharing my own story. I have experienced my fair share of struggles and challenges, which has given me a deeper understanding of the realities many young people face."
