It’s one of the most anticipated nights on the local entertainment calendar and this year, the Miss South Africa pageant finale is set to be just as electric as ever. This time, however, the pageant has booked two of Mzansi’s hottest personalities right now to host the big event.
Anele Mdoda and Nico Panagio have been confirmed as the official co-hosts of the Miss South Africa pageant which will take place on Saturday, October 16, at the Grand Arena, GrandWest in Cape Town. The event will be screened live from 17h00 on M-Net (DStv Channel 101) and Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) and will also be streamed for an international audience on MissSA.live.
Anele has been associated with Miss South Africa since 2013 as a judge but this is her first time hosting the pageant. It’s second time around for Panagio who recently completed fronting the latest series of Survivor SA for M-Net.
“It’s the Top 10 who are centre stage, I am merely a vehicle that moves the night along with an insight of where the finalists’ minds should be and what the judges will be thinking, and I will be the one giving the audience at home the scoop!” Anele says about moving from the judges’ panel to centre stage/
She adds “It’s going to be a beautiful evening – finding our new Miss South Africa and celebrating an extraordinary reign from Miss South Africa 2020, Shudufhadzo Musida, who has really raised the bar. There have been big changes in the pageant since I started being involved. The team running it is younger and braver and there is no set standard of beauty. I used to get so annoyed when we were shown, for example, a Miss Venezuela and got told this was what international pageants were looking for, and I would be like, yes … for them! The main currency now is authenticity.”
Meanwhile, Nico is excited to be sharing hosting duties with Mdoda. “Anele epitomises celebrating life! She exudes passion and joy, and it’s always loads of fun engaging with her. I usually prefer working alone (I’m sure she does too!) unless it’s with someone like her. Co-hosting requires a different approach and can be great fun, if the person you work alongside, loves having a great time on stage. I know that is something we both share so I’m really looking forward to it,” he says.
Miss South Africa 2021 will take home a package of prizes and sponsorships worth more than R3 million. The Top 10 competing for the crown are Bianca Bezuidenhout, Catherine Groenewald, Cheneil Hartzenberg, Jeanni Mulder, Kaylan Matthews, Kgothatso Dithebe, Lalela Mswane, Moratwe Masima, Tiffany Francis and Zimi Mabunzi.