Season 56
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 56th annual Miss South Africa pageant took place in the Sun City Superbowl on Sunday 9 December, 2012. It was broadcast live on DStv's Mzansi Magic channel from 17h30 - 19h00, preceded by the final episode of The Road to Miss SA at 16h30.
Miss South Africa 2012
It was time to say goodbye to Melinda Bam and hello to a new Miss South Africa. The 2012 Miss South Africa pageant featured a line-up of 12 leggy hopefuls in the cat-fight for the crown.
The process they went through to be selected aired on Sundays in the reality show The Road To Miss SA, which aired weekly on Mzansi Magic.
The hosts this year were Jo-Ann Strauss (who was Miss SA in 2000), Channel O presenter and Rhythm City actor Lungile Radu and All Access presenter Bridget Masinga.
The evening featured three main competitive struts: cocktail dresses, evening gowns and swimwear. Fashion fundis JJ Schoeman and Gideon designed the cocktail and evening gowns respectively and Dax Martin designed the swimwear.
Musicians who performed in between the runway sessions were the Bala Brothers, Jacques Terre'Blanche, Zakes Bantwini and Toya Delazy.
The second princess was Pearl Nxele, the first princess Stacey Webb and Miss South Africa 2012 was Marilyn Ramos.