In an exciting turn of events, 23-year-old Zoë Magdalene Naidu, a student at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), has emerged as a finalist for the highly-esteemed Miss World South Africa pageant set to take place at the Pretoria State Theatre in Gauteng on 28 October.
This year’s pageant holds a unique distinction as it marks the first time that the Miss South Africa competition no longer holds the license for a South African Miss World representative. Instead, the honour goes to South Africa’s own Carol Bouwer, the first Black woman to acquire the rights to this globally renowned platform.
When Naidu received the news of her selection as a finalist, she was thrilled beyond words. She was in the middle of a lecture at DUT when she received the call and was told to keep the news a secret.
She said: “I couldn’t stop smiling for the rest of the day. It was surreal because this was a dream come true. Even now, when I wear my sash, I’m reminded of how far I’ve come with God’s grace.”
Naidu’s family had always playfully dubbed her the “future Miss World” due to her extroverted nature and fascination with the world of pageantry. She decided to take the leap when she came across a call for entries for Miss World South Africa (MWSA) on social media in June this year.
This decision came while juggling her demanding academic responsibilities as a fourth-year student pursuing a BHSc Degree in Chiropractic.
Naidu, who is a passionate advocate for equality, diversity and representation, aims to use her platform to address these critical issues.
“My passion for helping others began with my interest in medical sciences at a young age, which led me to choose a career path that combines my academic pursuits with my desire to make a positive impact,” she said.
What makes Naidu’s journey even more extraordinary is that she had no prior modelling or pageant experience when she secured her spot in MWSA.
“I had entered Miss South Africa at the beginning of 2023 but was rejected. Despite that setback, I’ve been working tirelessly to prepare myself for the big night by attending workshops, classes and events. Additionally, I’ve chosen to sing as my talent piece for the pageant.”
If crowned Miss World South Africa, Naidu sees it as an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a world plagued by inequality. “My purpose in life is to serve and being crowned MWSA would not be a throne but a door to transform lives globally,” she added.
