A 19-year-old Eldorado Park-based University of the Witwatersrand BA in Political Science & International Relations student, Paige Harvey couldn’t had wished for a more timeous eve of birthday (she would be turning 20 in a few hours from her triumph) gift than being crowned the 44th Miss Soweto when the White Star Super Maize Meal sponsored pageant was staged at the Soweto Theatre on November 25, 2023.
Amidst a groundswell of supporters rooting for various contestants from varying neighbourhoods of Soweto, the elegant and pretty-looking lass had the considerable support of an enthusiastic contingent from her neck of the woods in lock-stock-&-barrel mode rooting for her above the decibel inside the acoustic designed main theatre of the Jabulani arena!
Whereas previous iterations of the resume enhancing pageant have witnessed a protracted queue of African queens such as Motlalepula Hlabatau, Fikile Masilela, Doris Msibi, etc., this year’s judges must had been impressed enough to break the mould and give their nod to Harvey, who in the politically correct context of colour obsessed South Africa, would be deemed an ‘outsider’ based on her Coloured origins and the fact that the location she represents technically falls without Soweto.
But on ‘Black Saturday’ (immediately succeeding so-called ‘Black Friday’) such pettiness was relegated to irrelevance – at least according to the reasonings of the event’s proprietor and the ebullient audience – in order for the nitty-gritty of the early summer eventide to assume center stage!
Erstwhile queen of the very pageant, Lerato Kganyago comfortably presented proceedings ably assisted by Expresso presenter, Thabiso Makhubela.
Deciding the progress and destiny of the contestants were judges, Bridget Masinga (a former pageant contestant herself), Sammy Mhaule, the Kicks Sportswear originator, Grace Mantjiu and Emmanuel Tjiya (the Sowetan S Mag editor who was adjudicating the contest for a third consecutive time.)
‘Uzugcin ‘Impilo Yam’ hitmaker and gospel singer, Bucy Radebe, had some with a spiritual feel in the audience up on their feet whilst singing along to her familiar renditions. And the live performance entertainment interludes were rounded off by the energetic and leaping antics of the ‘Queen of Amapiano’ Kamo Mphela, the Soweto-raised flashy dancer and singer.
Amidst camera shutter clicks and expressions of appreciation from her mother and fans, outgoing queen, Tshiawelo-raised Tsakane Sono was invited onstage to bid farewell to her reign – thus signifying a passing of the baton to the pretender to the throne.
Lauded as a Showcase of Talent, Grace and Community Spirit, 24-year-old Jabulani-based Lethaukuthula Maseko was announced the First Princess whilst Diepkloof resident, 22-year-old Nhlakanipho Mkongi was declared the Second Princess – to makeup, alongside Harvey, the final three from the Top 5-placed contestants out of a total of 19.
Harvey banked away a cool R100 000 cash prize for her victory whilst; Maseko and Mkongi were rewarded with R25 000 and R10 000 respectively.
In her publicity profile, Harvey had the following to say: “This for me is not just a beauty pageant where I get to wear a beautiful crown and get a title, this is a stepping stone to better the community of Soweto.”
All images Jacob MAWELA (Miss Soweto 2023 Paige Harvey, flanked by first Princess Lethaukuthula Maseko-right- and second princess Nhlakanipho Mkongi, on stage at the Soweto Theatre).
