Miss SA 2023 | 7 photos from Natasha Joubert's crowning moment

Miss SA 2023 Natasha Joubert.

Natasha Joubert, the 26-year-old from Gauteng, was crowned Miss South Africa 2023 at a glittering pageant finale on Sunday night.She takes over from Ndavi Nokeri."This moment is the epitome of a full circle moment for me. A dream that started 11 years ago," Joubert said in her acceptance speech.

Natasha Joubert from Tshwane was crowned Miss South Africa 2023 at the spectacular pageant finale held at the SunBet Arena at Time Square in Pretoria on Sunday night.

The 26-year-old is a BCom Marketing Management graduate and is the owner and fashion designer of Natalia Jefferys, a company she started when she was 19.

AS IT HAPPENED | Miss South Africa 2023 pageant

Joubert said she was truly humbled and grateful to win the title and to be the first to wear the glittering new Mowana ("Tree of Life") crown from Nungu Diamonds.

She received R1 million in cash in a prize and sponsorship package that includes the use of a serviced apartment at the lavish Brookfield at Royal in Kensington – developed by Tricolt – for the year of her reign. She will also get to drive a Mercedes-Benz GLC and a trip to Paris sponsored by L'Oreal.

In her acceptance speech, Joubert said: "I am incredibly honoured and humbled to be crowned Miss South Africa 2023. As I step into this new role, I am filled with a sense of responsibility to make a positive difference in the world around me. I believe that success is not just about personal accomplishments but about the opportunities we have to give back and uplift those around us. I will strive to be a source of inspiration and support for others, just as I have been supported on my journey now and before.

"This moment is the epitome of a full circle moment for me. A dream that started 11 years ago - and which three years ago did come to fruition after proudly representing my country on an international stage at Miss Universe at Miss Universe South Africa - has today become a reality. It took a lot of hard work, grit, self-confidence and support to keep my dream alive and to keep on believing in the beauty of second chances. It is a journey that I will forever be grateful for, which moulded and shaped me into the woman I am today.

TAKE A LOOK AT HER CROWNING MOMENT HERE:

The runner-up was Bryoni Govender from Johannesburg, who also won the Motherkind fitness award and the winner of the special Crown Chaser of the season award, as voted for by the public, was Lungo Katete.

Stephanie Weil, CEO of the Miss South Africa Organisation, said: "Huge congratulations to Natasha, our newly crowned Miss South Africa 2023. A worthy winner, she embodies the Miss South Africa Organisation's vision that if you can dream it, you can achieve it and that just one person can make a big difference."

She added: 

President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulated the beauty queen on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Congratulations to our newly crowned #MissSA2023 Ms@NatashaJoub. Your resilience is testament to our fighting spirit as a nation. We wish you a fruitful year of reign and we look forward to you making a positive impact as our Miss South Africa," he wrote. 

READ MORE | 'A full-circle moment': Newly crowned Miss SA Natasha Joubert believes in second chances