Bokang Montjane-Tshabalala takes over Miss Supranational SA directorship after Miss SA pulled out

The Citizen

12-05-2025

Lebohang Raputsoe, who hails from the Vaal, will represent South Africa at next month's Miss Supranational in Poland.
Just days after the Miss South Africa organisation confirmed its non-participation at this year's Miss Supranational, former Miss SA Bokang Montjane-Tshabalala announced her role as the new National Director of Miss Supranational SA.
'I feel so honoured to announce that I am the new director of Miss Supranational South Africa,' said Montjane-Tshabalala.
Last week, the Miss SA Organisation announced that it had decided not to participate in the Miss Supranational 2025 competition and would not renew its license for the event.
Miss Supranational is an annual international beauty pageant that started in 2009. Most contests are held in Poland. Seven years later, a parallel male contest, Mister Supranational, was established.
JP Robberts, the CEO of Mr South Africa, was also announced as the National Director of Mister Supranational South Africa.
ALSO READ: Miss SA withdraws from Miss Supranational 2025, chooses not to renew event license
New director role
Montjane-Tshabalala said she has acquired the license for Miss Supranational.
'The international organisation said 'we think Bokang is the right person' because I've actually been doing this for quite some time,' she said, speaking to eNCA.
'I'm extremely excited about working with the Miss Supranational organisation. I cannot wait to see lives change through this beautiful platform,' Montjane-Tshabalala said.
Montjane-Tshabalala won Miss SA in 2010, and she said she has spent more than a decade advocating for the empowerment of young women from disadvantaged backgrounds.
'My life's work has been rooted in creating platforms that inspire, uplift and unlock the full potential of the South African girl child, I believe that pageantry, when rooted in purpose, can be a powerful tool for transformation,' read Montjane-Tshabalala statement.
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Representing SA
Traditionally, Miss SA runner-ups usually take centre stage for this international competition, while the winner represents South Africa through Miss Universe or Miss World.
South Africa has been a regular participant at Miss Supranational. Many were surprised when Miss SA 2021 winner Lalela Mswane participated and eventually won the pageant in 2022.
In 2023, Ayanda Thabethe, the Miss SA 2022 runner-up, represented South Africa at the Miss Supranational 2023 pageant in Poland.
Lebohang Raputsoe will represent South Africa at next month's Miss Supranational.
'We are extremely proud to have chosen a young woman who is kind, who has exceptional leadership qualities and one who has an inspirational story to share with our nation and [is] ready to make a difference and change lives,' Montjane-Tshabalala said.
Montjane-Tshabalala said they selected Raputsoe because she has been part of national and international pageants.
'We looked for somebody who has a genuine kind heart, and when she starts speaking about the projects that she's busy with, you will understand why she's the right person to represent South Africa,' said Montjane-Tshabalala on eNCA.
Raputsoe is pursuing her doctoral degree (PhD) in Human Resources Management and holds degrees in Industrial Psychology and Labour relations management.
'Navigating school, navigating this new journey and also the people that I want to inspire, how I can best do it has been the biggest challenge for me,' Raputsoe said, speaking to eNCA.
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