18 November 2023: Crowning the New Mrs South Africa 2024
The much-anticipated crowning of the new Dallmayr Mrs South Africa 2023 took place on Friday, 17 November 2023 during a prestigious event held at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg, where 33-year-old Tshego Gaelae from Centurion, Gauteng, was named as its inspirational new Queen.
During the glamorous Grand Finale event, her two princesses, 1st Princess 31-year-old Pearl Nikolic from Pretoria, Gauteng, and 2nd Princess 47-year-old Noeline Rajbally from Durban, KwaZulu Natal, also received top honours in recognition of their achievements and self-development throughout their journey with Mrs South Africa.
In addition to new crowns and titles, the three women have also taken home some exceptional prizes, including beauty products and services, luxury home appliances and new furniture, business and public relations services, clothing, and travel packages. The new queen will also enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to represent Mrs South Africa on the Mrs World stage, as well as exclusive use of a Chery car courtesy of Chery Krugersdorp.
As the trio carry the organisation’s torch forward, 2022 Queen Palesa Matjekane offered a warm congratulations to Gaelae on her well-deserved win.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities the Mrs South Africa platform has awarded me to further my charity work and touch so many lives, as well as opening so many new doors for me as an individual. My experience has completely transformed my life for the better, although I have to warn Tshego that her journey is only just beginning – there’s still so much more that lies ahead, and I hope she makes the most of every minute,” said Matjekane.
Renowned as the country’s top empowerment programme for married women, Mrs South Africa’s continued popularity is driven by the example of powerful leaders such as Tshego, Pearl and Noeline. These are women who embody the values of strength, grace, and kindness, and who demonstrate the profound impact that the programme can have on the lives of its participants, as well as the profound impact that its finalists and winners in turn have on local communities, said Dallmayr Mrs South Africa CEO Joani Johnson.
“Throughout the Mrs South Africa journey, we aim to empower women through workshops from leading experts on a range of topics, equipping them with the skills needed to realise their dreams, and to show other women that no matter who you are or what your background is, you can make a truly positive and meaningful contribution to the world around you. That’s really the ethos of our entire programme – it’s not about looks or appearances, but about unleashing your inner power and leadership potential,” she notes.
“Each of the ladies that were crowned tonight have shown exceptional talent, beauty, and determination throughout the programme, and truly represent the best of what female leaders have to offer our society and our country. We’re very proud to have them as ambassadors for South African women and the Mrs South Africa brand, and to see what they achieve over the year ahead with the support and power of our platform behind them.”
The crowning is the conclusion of a build-up journey that has spanned nearly 12 months, during which finalists attended training and workshops, built their personal brands, and organised fundraisers for worthy causes such as The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), the South Africa Animal Cancer Association (SAACA), and the Family Protection Association (FAMPRO).
“Being crowned as Mrs South Africa is a truly humbling experience, and the culmination of months of hard work. I’m beyond grateful for the honour and to see what the next few months have in store,” said newly crowned Queen Gaelae.
“As Queen, I hope to ignite a ripple effect of empowerment and positive change, reaching every corner of our beautiful nation. My vision is to inspire women to embrace their strength, celebrate their uniqueness, and stand tall in unity. Through dedicated advocacy and meaningful initiatives, I aim to make a lasting impact on the lives of those we touch. As Queen, I hope to be a catalyst for transformation and a voice for the voiceless. So watch this space, as we embark on a journey of empowerment, resilience, and collective growth together!”
In closing, Mrs South Africa offered grateful thanks to its sponsors for supporting the organisation and its mission to empower women, including: Dallmayr Coffee, Brentoni Eyewear, BTL Aesthetics, Caribbean Tan, Chery Krugersdorp, Collagen Lift Paris, Hirsch’s Homestore, Kryolan Professional Makeup, Lashout, Maskscara, MSC Cruises, PKF Octagon, PR Worx, Slimz, Truewood Furniture, Urbantrend, Voelgoed Media, Whirlpool, and Wild Africa Cream.
