The Miss South Africa 2011 pageant took place at Sun City's Superbowl last night (Sunday, 11 December) and the crown was snatched by 22-year-old marketing graduate Melinda Bam.
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The title of Second Princess went to 21-year-old Thuli Sangweni, who won the Miss Congeniality sash earlier in the evening too.
First Princess was won by 21-year-old Remona Moodley - the second time she's held a similar title. She was First Princess to
Zizo Beda in Miss SA Teen 2006.
The ceremony aired live on Mzansi Magic and was hosted by
ProVerb - who hosted last year too - with
Michelle McLean in the commentary booth and
Bridget Masinga behind-the-scenes and on the red carpet ...
The carpet coverage started with an interview with 2011's newly crowned Miss SA Teen Celeste Khumalo, who won the title on Saturday night. Celeste, who's just completed matric, told Bridget that her win hadn't sunk in yet and that she felt grateful and blessed to have won the crown.
She also showed signs of having a hovering (
Toddlers and Tiaras alert!) mother:
Bridget: I happened to bump into your mother yesterday after the pageant - she was elated.
Celeste: Yes, my mother has waited for this for so long, she's wanted this for me too and she's very proud. I'm so glad I got to make my mother proud in this way.
She went on to say that she feels headed towards a strong year and looks forward to doing things for the community.
Also spotted on the red carpet were Khabodacious - who choreographed the dance numbers for the ceremony, judge and designer Gert Johan Coetzee (in matching blue hair and mad hatter cravat), Sonia Sedibe and Sonia Boothe, who was guilty of the biggest fash. crime. of the night:
She wore a monstronsity by David Tlale that was obviously so boiling she couldn't breathe and got Twitter trending with shoutouts of horror.
The ceremony itself included performances by Big Nuz, LeAnne and RJ Benjamin and featured the 12 finalists strutting their stuff in bikini's and designer gear.
In between the performances: Thuli Sangweni was announced as the winner of Miss Congeniality, Frieda Du Plessis won the Veet Ms Legs title and the Top 5 were announced.
In the Top 5 but not the Top 3: Rolene Strauss and Sian Schleusch - who was a strong fan favourite.
Once each of the five had been asked their final questions, the three finalists were revealed and Melinda was announced as the winner. Here's what she had to say in answer to her question that asked her about her three biggest blessings:
"I think the first thing I'd count as my blessing is my health. It enables me to do the things that I want to do in life and to have the aspirations. I'm fit, I'm young and I'm energetic and it gives me the energy to take on everything that life throws at me.
"Secondly, I think my been-throughs are one of my most greatest blessings. They made me the person I am today and made me a strong woman. They enabled me to inspire other people as well.
"The third thing that I am most grateful for is all the support that I have, my family, my friends, everyone that do not know me personally but who believe more in me than I sometimes do in myself. It makes me so grateful, thank you."
Keep a lookout for in-the-action snaps and goss from the ceremony, comin' up soon.