Miss World South Africa: You're all invited to watch the beauty with a purpose crowning

Clarence Ford speaks to Carol Bouwer Miss World South Africa licence holder and two of the pageant's contestants - Amber Marais and Nande Mabala.

One thing the Miss World South Africa competition aims to change is the narrative around women 'parading' for the title of Miss World South Africa.

Bouwer says the competition's objectives are empowerment, leadership and purpose-driven while ensuring that women's voices are heard on a global scale.

"The competition is about beauty with a purpose, it's important that people understand that it's not just a mantra to give it substance, it's that because these young women are already accomplished in their own right and daily lives... and have already done the work to ensure that they are contributing to South Africa. Miss World South Africa gives them a larger and international scale to advocate and lead causes they are passionate about."

- Carol Bouwer, licence holder -  Miss World South Africa

"It is activism and it's something that for a long time so many of us had a problem with parading women on stage in bikinis but that is something that's long been eradicated from the Miss World organisation... the Miss World organisation does not have women parading in swimsuits... it's important that we have these conversations."

- Carol Bouwer, licence holder -  Miss World South Africa

"It's also to ensure that the voices of women are not drowned out by the perceptions of men and those who do not respect women." 

- Carol Bouwer, licence holder -  Miss World South Africa

Contestants are lawyers and doctors who want to change South Africa through politics, adds Bouwer.

Two contestants hoping to make huge impacts in their communities and the world are Amber Marais and Nande Mabala.

Marais joined the conversation telephonically to explain that her purpose is to use the Miss World South Africa platform to do more as a former hockey player and sports enthusiast who aims to develop sport for kids in underprivileged communities and schools.

Marais aims to use her Miss World South Africa platform to continue to make a difference as she has already launched an initiative called 'Sport Forward' where she gets sporting equipment from sponsors and gives them to underprivileged schools so they are able to start and develop sport programmes. 

While the second contestant, Nande Mabala joined Ford in studio to explain that joining Miss World South Africa is about authenticity, leadership and supporting her purpose which is Go Green South Africa - an organisation which promotes soft skills and teaches agriculture to combat food insecurity in rural areas. 

"It's about being authentic to who you are so you can't replicate what everyone has or is saying... what you have makes you unique and it is what makes you a leader... and when it comes to leadership, you need to know who you advocate for - it's what makes you a leader - without authenticity, you can't do that to the truest form."

- Nande Mabala - Miss World SA Contestant

The crowning of Miss World South Africa happens live on 5 October at Sun City Superbowl in Johannesburg at 6 pm - you're invited.

Book your ticket at Quicket to be part of the live event and walk the red carpet with the top 10 contestants.

Bouwer says it's an 'important event in women leadership in South Africa' and everyone is welcome.

"It's a chance to give South Africans access to what we believe will be an important event on women leadership in South Africa and how Miss World South Africa will be part of that."

- Carol Bouwer, licence holder -  Miss World South Africa