Click pic to enlarge to max size.
She ditched the Miss World pageant earlier this year but Miss South Africa Melinda Bam's
definitely going to Miss Universe.
The pageant's coming up on Wednesday, 19 December in Las Vegas and Melinda's organised to go. She'll be leaving for the build-up on 29 November - which means she won't be here to hand over to the new Miss South Africa who'll be crowned on 9 December.
Instead she'll be involved in the final preparations for the pageant while side-eyeing the competition which consists of 87 other contenders. 88 countries have entered in total and everyone will be judged in three categories: swimsuit, interview and evening gown - which Melinda's wearing in the pic above.
It's been designed by Italian designer Peter Bondesio who says he chose the green to complement Melinda's skin tone and eyes. It's inspired by mermaids and made of liquid satin and mesh. The sparkles are bronze and green diamantes.
A week before the actual pageant there's a national costume ceremony where all of the contestants wear a costume that represents their country. This is what Melinda's wearing for it:
Click pic to enlarge.
It's been designed by a crowd called Go Wild Designs and symbolises South Africa's mineral wealth. Her sceptre's made of meranti wood with an 18-carat yellow gold-plated Protea that's scattered with Swarovski crystals. I don't know what Swarovski crystals are exactly but they obviously cost a bomb.
Her crown's inspired by the South African Coat of Arms - it's yellow gold plated, also with Swarovski crystals - and her shoes look like kickbutt space boots. Very universal I thought.
The national ceremony doesn't usually air on TV but the pageant always does. It'll very probably be broadcast on Star! on TopTV again this year - I'm waiting to hear if it will be and will confirm once I know.
Goodbye current Miss Universe, Miss Angola Leila Lopes ...
Hello Melinda?