Our newly crowned Miss SA and speech therapist, Qhawekazi Mazaleni, took to social media to express gratitude for the immense support the public has shown since she embarked on her Miss SA journey and what it felt like during the crowning moment.
Mazaleni was crowned Miss SA 2025 on Saturday night, October 25, at Sunbet Arena in Pretoria.
South Africa proudly celebrated her win, and a lot of celebs, as well as the president of the country, joined in on the celebrations and wished her well on her reign.
The 24-year-old shared a video on TikTok, excitedly sharing her feelings and what this moment feels like for her.
She said: “Dumela, Thobela, Molweni, ninjani? Igama lami ngu (my name is) Qhawekazi Mazaleni, and I am your 67th official Miss South Africa.
“That fills me with so much pride and so much joy because this is not a journey I’ve walked alone.
@qhawemazaleni It’s still sinking in. I am surrounded by community and so incredibly honoured. I plan to continue the work I have already started. But now with the support and guidance from Miss South Africa and Empower Youth Africa, we are able to do it on a bigger scale and with more resources I am so incredibly humbled 🤍 @Miss South Africa #MissSA2025 #faceyourpower #embraceyourfuture ♬ original sound – Jabulile Majola
“I’ve carried so many of you guys with me and for me it really is a testament of intentional leadership and how if you really wanna see change within the systems that you step in, you need to just start somewhere,” the beauty queen revealed.
The Master’s student at University of Pretoria also excitedly shared that this is a full circle moment for her because she feels like she won the World Cup.
She further added: “My heart is so incredibly full. If I’m being completely honest it feels like I’ve won the World Cup. That’s the best way I can explain it.
“It feels like I’ve won the World Cup, but I walk – I was gonna say I walk out of this, but really I walk into this as a completely different woman. But I still carry my old self into it.”
Mazaleni also offered encouraging words to her supporters, emphasising that self-belief, a positive mindset, and the courage to pursue one’s dreams are often the only ingredients needed to achieve them.
“I want you guys to see the kind of courage that it takes, the kind of thought and the mindset it takes and how sometimes you really just have to be willing to bet on yourself to be able to take it like one step further,” she said.
“I am so incredibly grateful, ndiyanithanda (I love you all), and I can feel ukuba niyandithanda (you all love me),” she said at the end of the video.
The elegant beauty queen captioned her post: “It’s still sinking in. I am surrounded by community and so incredibly honoured. I plan to continue the work I have already started.
“But now with the support and guidance from Miss South Africa and Empower Youth Africa, we are able to do it on a bigger scale with more resources. I am so incredibly humbled,” she added.
Social media users flooded the comment section, revealing how proud and happy they are that she won the title.
“I’ve never really followed Miss SA through and through but there’s just something about you. What a bright light you are, without even trying hard,” @Thandomhlng commented.
“The first Miss South Africa I feel so connected to. You’re so deserving, you embody what it means to be Miss South Africa,” @gontsee_n added.
Her sister, Homba Mazaleni, a former Miss SA 2023 top 5 finalist added: “Endlessly proud of you. You have been my role model day in and day out. I’m so so proud of you. Qhawekazi ligama elikhulu (Qhawekazi is a big name.)”
