Bajabulisile Thela being welcomed by the people of Mpumalanga.
The people of Mpumalanga joined the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation (DCSR) in giving a warm homecoming to Bajabulise Thela, the newly crowned Miss Africa Beauty Universe, celebrating her remarkable achievement on the international beauty pageant stage.
The 23-year-old beauty queen from KaNyamazane was welcomed home following her victory at the Miss Africa Beauty Universe pageant, where she was crowned on July 18, in Menlyn.
The title has earned her the honour of representing South Africa at the 75th Miss Universe pageant, which will be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in November.
The homecoming celebration recognised not only Thela’s success in pageantry but also her role as an ambassador for Mpumalanga and South Africa.
The DCSR praised Thela, for flying the provincial flag high and inspiring young people to pursue their dreams through hard work, determination and perseverance.
A marketing graduate and qualified flight attendant, Thela has built a reputation that extends beyond the runway. She is passionate about making a difference in communities through The Mambane Foundation, an initiative dedicated to combating malnutrition and hunger among vulnerable families.
Her commitment to social development has become one of the defining aspects of her advocacy, earning admiration from supporters both within and beyond the province.
Thela’s pageantry journey has been one of determination and resilience.
In 2021, she made history by becoming the inaugural Miss Teen Universe, marking the beginning of a promising career in beauty pageants.
She continued her rise by competing for the Miss Mpumalanga title in 2024, where she emerged victorious and further established herself as one of the province’s leading beauty ambassadors.
Last year, she also entered the Miss South Africa competition. Although she did not progress to the official contestant stage, she remained focused on her goals and continued working towards achieving success on larger platforms.
Her recent victory as Miss Africa Beauty Universe is being celebrated as a testament to perseverance and self-belief.
As preparations begin for the Miss Universe pageant later this year, Mpumalanga residents have rallied behind Thela, expressing confidence that she will proudly represent both the province and South Africa on one of the world’s biggest beauty stages.
