Miss South Africa's national costume for 71st Miss Universe revealed
The national costume of Miss South Africa 2022 Ndavi Nokeri for the upcoming 71st Miss Universe pageant has been officially revealed.
Hosted by former Miss South Africa and Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi, the official reveal took place on Tuesday, December 6 at The Maslow Hotel in Gauteng.
The special event which also happened to be Ndavi's official farewell also gave the fans a glimpse of what to expect for her Juan William Aria preliminary and final evening gowns for the international competition this January in New Orleans.
Made by Sello Medupe of Scalo Designer, the "I am Africa" national costume was inspired by her Tsonga and African heritage. The wings which were built by Hend Henderson of Henderson Worx showcase flight and represent something that is ascending because African women in the world are busy rising as in so many pop culture moments such as 'The Woman King' and 'Wakanda Forever' films.
Miss South Africa Creative Director Werner Wessels shared: “This year we wanted the national costume to have a distinctly African feel. We love the fact that Ndavi is proudly Tsonga. It is at the very core of who she is, and so part of the costume is inspired by her Tsonga culture and it is beautifully represented in the choice and use of fabrics.”
For Ndavi, part of her mission was always to represent her people and where she came from, and this is what her national costume is about. She said, “From the very beginning of my Miss South Africa journey, I always wanted people to know that I was standing for Tsonga people because growing up as a child I felt as if we were under-represented. At the same time, we've incorporated the fact that I'm South African and African; this is so beautiful because I've come to learn that as Africans we are more alike than we are different thanks to our shared experiences and values. It is a proud moment for me to make all Africans feel seen, understood and represented."
Photos: SJ van Zyl Photography / Miss South Africa
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