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Miss SA has officially revealed this year’s 12 finalists who the foundation says all share its vision toward commitment to leadership, purpose and impact.
In August, the foundation announced its Top 19 and, after multiple steps and a rigorous assessment process, the final 12 ladies are going to battle it out for the country’s most coveted title next month.
The finalists' profiles demonstrate that in 2026, the competition is more than just skin deep as each finalist believes in the power of education.
Miss SA Top finalists in alphabetical order
Alia Khan Koumantarakis
The 21-year-old filmmaker, director, producer, published author and creative entrepreneur hails from sunny Durban and lives out her passion for African stories through her company, Stalia Productions.
Having gone from overcoming dyslexia to graduating cum laude from AFDA Cape Town, it’s hardly surprising that Alia Khan Koumantarakishas evolved into an advocate for literacy, education, skills development and creative empowerment.
Amogelang Bunu
The kick-ass Amogelang Bunu is a former Junior World Karate Champion who now serves as a part-time clinical educator at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). Part of the 1% of black women who hold master's degrees, Amogelang obtained her postgraduate qualification in audiology from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University.
It’s safe to say the future of Mzansi is in good hands, as this finalist is committed to providing access to communication, hearing healthcare, child development, communication health and access to safe play spaces.
Bonolo Marang Motau
The three-time Wits graduate is very in-tune with technological advancements, as she has aspirations to establish community-based Smart Education Hubs in the future.
Bonolo Marang Motau is currently in the process of pursuing a doctorate in Business Administration. She is also an academic and youth empowerment advocate with a soft spot for young people in underserved communities, and is intentional about educational access and digital inclusion.
Cwenga Koyana Kotu-Rammopo
Vulnerable young people across Africa are a big concern for 27-year-old Cwenga Koyana Kotu-Rammopo from Gauteng, who advocates for adolescent pregnancy prevention and the empowerment of teenage parents.
A Theatre and Performing Arts, Film and Television graduate with a master's degree in Digital Curation from the University of Cape Town (UCT), Cwenga wants to contribute toward dismantling the exclusion of young parents from educational and economic opportunities.
Katlego Malebye
Representing Pretoria is Katlego Malebye, a three-time graduate who is using her architectural expertise to create sustainable housing solutions and opportunities for the youth.
Her academic prowess is demonstrated by how she was recognised as being among the top 15% of students, accompanied by an induction into the Golden Key International Honour Society.
After working on an RDP housing audit project in the Eastern Cape, Katlego found it important to bridge the gap between housing, dignity and access to opportunity, particularly for young people.
Lesego Khumo Nyathela
The cum laude Business Management graduate from Boston City Campus was propelled by her personal experience with chronic illness in her family to advocate for health and wellness, with a special focus on young people.
She aims to shift mindsets about organ donation, which is often not spoken about in black households, preventative healthcare and early diagnosis. These challenges stretch further than South Africa, and she therefore aims to spread healthcare awareness across Africa.
Makhosazana Azana Masango
The award-winning musician and "Your Love" hitmaker’s ability to move seamlessly across various areas of work while also pursuing her LLB demonstrates her intentionality about multiple streams of income-an important skill in the current economy.
Azana Masango’s experiences in underserved communities are the main inspiration behind her advocacy for improved libraries, school infrastructure, laboratories and other educational resources. In addition to the personal growth she tirelessly pursues, the 25-year-old from KwaZulu-Natal is also running a school choir programme and is a mentor for upcoming musicians.
Ndiwanga Muravha
A proud African, Ndiwanga Muravha’s work centres around entrepreneurship, innovation and business development across the continent that she calls home. The Mpumalanga-born Master of Science in Agriculture graduate from the University of South Africa equips young people with digital skills, mentorship and future-focused opportunities through her company, Crimson Creative.
She is well on her way to establishing her international footprint, having represented Mzansi on an Entrepreneurship Study Tour to Ireland through THENSA in 2024, and a year earlier she participated in the South Africa-Germany Connect & Act Youth Exchange Programme.
Palesa van Rooyen
Palesa van Rooyen is a medical doctor who is highly focused on child health, protection and development. The Stellenbosch University graduate’s advocacy for nutrition and quality early childhood development suggests that her passion is as much for young lives as it is for the future of her country.
Her advocacy has touched the lives of many children through the work she does with the Impilo Project, Marotholi Outreach and Hlokomela Bana, and she believes that community-based support is one of the best ways to amplify child protection.
Simone Nonhlanhla Tshituka
The 26-year-old from Johannesburg is a Senior Actuarial Associate with an insatiable hunger for education, currently pursuing a professional qualification through the Actuarial Society of South Africa. When she's not forecasting financial risks, Simone Nonhlanhla Tshituka is advocating for the improvement of foundational mathematics education in underserved communities.
Some of her time is also spent on her passion for the improvement of education systems, problem-solving and expanding access to STEM opportunities for young people, as well as imparting what she discovered about the underrepresentation of black women in actuarial science during her own academic journey.
Tiyani Makamu
Through her platform, Hubsela, Tiyani Makamu amplifies economic participation by supporting entrepreneurs and helping small businesses grow sustainably.
The 27-year-old from Bronkhorstspruit who graduated from the Pearson Institute of Higher Education is a passionate entrepreneur and youth advocate.
It has been said that a lot of businesses don’t survive their first five years, and Tiyani hopes to solve this by equipping entrepreneurs with the tools, systems and support that can help them achieve sustainability. The work she did during her tenure as a Mfudumalo Foundation board member contributed to the establishment of a community library in Ivory Park among other achievements.
Zoalize Jansen Van Rensburg
At the tender age of 20, the overachieving Zoalize Jansen Van Rensburg is already a published author and went international when she was just 18, speaking at the United Nations International Social Justice Conference. The Smile Foundation ambassador has also been nominated for the Women of Stature Award and has been leading Never Too Young To Advocate for more than five years.
Zoalize is currently pursuing a law degree through the Open University of London, and her passion for bespoke fashion led her to co-found Emberman Official. She sees meaningful education beyond traditional academics and believes in the nurturing of creativity, critical thinking and innovation.
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