'Education is key': Miss SA's mission to transform South Africa
Qhawekazi Mazaleni spoke to Breakfast with Martin Bester after being crowned Miss South Africa 2025. The current Miss South Africa discussed her dreams, the importance of education, and her ultimate inspirations.
On Saturday, 25 October, Qhawekazi Mazaleni was crowned Miss South Africa 2025.
"The moment before my name was announced was the longest ever."
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Originally from Gonubie, East London (and now residing in Randburg), Mazaleni holds a Speech, Language, and Hearing Therapy degree from Stellenbosch University and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Pretoria, focusing on Autism.
"A man had a stroke, and it affected his speech, and then that's when I realised that is what I wanted to do," she says.
Making a difference in her community is important to Mazaleni, and her biggest contribution has been through her therapeutic work in bridging cultural and linguistic gaps in speech therapy while remaining informed about our political, economic, and social worlds.
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Her motto: "It's only embarrassing if you're embarrassed. Don't be afraid to be seen trying."
The judging panel included former Miss South Africa and Miss Universe runner-up Dr Tamaryn Green, journalist Heidi Giokos, actress Cindy Mahlangu, former Miss South Africa Ndavi Nokeri, and brand strategist Thebe Ikalafeng.
Listen to her full interview on Breakfast with Martin Bester here:
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