'I am going to create a legacy of change' - Qhawekazi Mazaleni's first moments as Miss SA 2025
Qhawekazi Mazaleni's Miss SA 2025 crowning moment was a memorable one.
Image: Supplied.
As newly-crowned Miss South Africa Qhawekazi Mazaleni is set for her first full day of official duties, her reign comes following an epic evening of festivities.
The speech therapist from East London in the Eastern Cape’s first moments as the titleholder was one filled with emotion, applause and gratitude.
The 24-year-old was stunned when she was announced as the nation’s beauty queen on Saturday, October 25. As her predecessor, Miss South Africa 2024 Mia le Roux placed the glittering crown on her head, her captivating smile lit up the SunBet Arena at Times Square in Pretoria.
The golden confetti streamed down and celebratory pyrotechnics went off and Mazaleni gracefully embraced le Roux as well as first princess Luyanda Zuma, 23, from KwaZulu-Natal, and second princess Karabo Mareka, 27, from Gauteng.
Qhawekazi Mazaleni on stage with first princess Luyanda Zuma and Miss SA 2024, Mia le Roux.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
Mazaleni, still elated and waving to the cheering crowd, then answered questions from the media. She used this opportunity to emphatically announce her mission for her reign: “I really champion inclusive education,” the beauty queen said.
She added: “You are not just Miss SA, you are an agent of change in the country and that's the biggest thing of it all.”
“It's knowing that in this journey, I am not going to do something within this year, I am going to create a legacy of change in this country and that is something that is so incredibly exciting.”
Miss South Africa 2025 Qhawekazi Mazaleni answering questions from the media.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
Mazaleni’s passion for inclusive education impressed the judging panel, which consisted of Miss South Africa 2018 Dr. Tamryn Green Nxumalo, Ndavi Nokeri who was the titleholder in 2022, actress Cindy Mahlangu, award-winning broadcast journalist Heidi Giokos and brand strategist Thebeetsile Ikalafeng.
She is the author of the isiXhosa children's book, called “Amasele Amdaka”, which was inspired by her work as a speech therapist.
During the love finale, Mazaleni spoke passionately about this project and during her impact statement as part of the Top 9, she declared: “I’ve already started this mission (of inclusive education) by publishing a children’s book and I want it to be translated in every South African language.”
Mazaleni is passionate about education and holds a Speech, Language and Hearing Therapy degree from Stellenbosch University. She is also doing her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology with a focus on Autism.
She is also fluent in several languages, including isiXhosa, English and Afrikaans while also learning Sepedi and isiZulu.