Season 55
Miss South Africa is an annual South African beauty pageant which is aired as a television special, in which women from around the country between the ages of 18-25 compete to win the title, which they hold for a year.
The pageant began in 1956 and has been held annually ever since (with the exception of 1983, the only year in which there has been no pageant). The winner of the pageant traditionally represents South Africa at the Miss World pageant, and often at the Miss Universe pageant as well.
The 55th annual Miss South Africa pageant took place in the Sun City Superbowl on Sunday 11 December, 2011. It was broadcast live on DStv's Mzansi Magic channel from 17h30 - 19h00, preceded by a Red Carpet Special from 17h00.
Miss South Africa 2011
The Miss South Africa 2011 pageant took place at Sun City's Superbowl on Sunday 11 December and the crown was won by 22-year-old marketing graduate Melinda Bam.
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 had 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 in 2010 too - with Michelle McLean in the commentary booth and Bridget Masinga behind-the-scenes and on the red carpet.
The ceremony itself included performances by Big Nuz, LeAnne and RJ Benjamin and featured the 12 finalists strutting their stuff in bikinis 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.
Once each of the five had been asked their final questions, the three finalists were revealed and Melinda was announced as the winner.