The Miss SA pageant finale is strutting closer, and the hosts for the final curtain have been announced. However, the announcement of one half of the duo saw Twitter trolls brewing up a storm.
Radio Presenter Anele Mdoda is teaming up with the host of Survivor SA, Nico Panagio, to host the occasion that will see Shudufadzo Musida’s crown graciously passed on to our next Miss SA. The crowning is set to take place on October 16 at The Grand Arena/ GrandWest in our Mother City.
And your host for Miss SA @Official_MissSA this year… MEEEEEEEEEE alongside my favourite… pic.twitter.com/z4yh9b7rUH
— Anele Mdoda (@Anele) September 20, 2021
Introducing Our MISS SA 2021 Pageant Finale Co-Host! ?
Alongside the talented Anele Mdoda we have South Africa’s best loved TV personality @NicoPanagio! His Charisma matched with @Anele‘s passion and energy makes them the perfect combo as this year’s finale hosts.#MissSA2021 pic.twitter.com/sZOWCzxlbj
— Miss South Africa (@Official_MissSA) September 20, 2021
While reactions to the announcements were largely warm and congratulatory, Anele’s announcement saw bouts of shade from Twitter trolls and had Kelly Rowland entering the conversation. Yes, the Kelly Rowland.
For context, last week, Anele and Kelly’s names were circulating the internet hand-in-hand based on a tweet from Anele’s younger years.
Many moons ago, Anele tweeted that Kelly wasn’t as pretty as the other members of Destiny’s Child as The South African reminds. Some remember things differently, expressing that Kelly was actually called ugly. Regardless, time would pass and life would progress and last week would come around seemingly innocently. Anele went about her day-to-day, making locals laugh and posting some lux Instagram pictures. One such picture saw her in a beaming swimsuit, done-up in yellow, posing lavishly by the ocean. Unproblematic, no?
Following Anele’s moment in the sun, Kelly Rowland proceeded to post a picture in an identical swimsuit, with a very similar setting. Again, seemingly unproblematic.
However, South African Twitter decided otherwise, and the storm of speculation was unleashed as people started musing that Rowland was taking the opportunity to throw yellow shade at Anele.
The speculation saw South African and American Twitter going toe-to-toe.
South Africans like exaggerating things?its not the same swimsuit, Anele’s Swimsuit doesn’t have a strip on the stomach area compared to the one clearly visible on Kelly’s swimsuit ??? pic.twitter.com/5HCXkfukNX
— The?Saint (@Mzwakhee_) September 16, 2021
Anele vs Kelly Rowland beef ???
— Mwiinga (@MwiingaX) September 20, 2021
Kelly and bey have been on that yacht in Europe for over a week. Way before aneles post. So she ain’t bothered by anele. I doubt she even knows her. She didn’t run to Europe and board a yacht just to spite Anele. Y’all South Africans should get a grip of yourselves
— jboogie5986 (@jboogie5986) September 20, 2021
Kelly was in a $4 million a week yacht. You’re saying Anele influenced her? Similar environment?? ??? https://t.co/LFMkvzOAN0
— Hoeverbs 31 Woman ? (@LungyMpisane) September 19, 2021
Guys Anele was just comparing the most beautiful amongst the Destiny’s child. She never said Kelly is ugly. You’ll just wanna see Anele depressed. Your dark energy can be scary sometimes. Black Twitter and hate ?? don’t @me pic.twitter.com/rL8gsn8rBs
— mabula_allen (@mabula_allen) September 19, 2021
The Kelly / Anele thing must end now.
— Mmagwe Sunshine ????? (@MabifhiT) September 17, 2021
The war was brewing for a while as people defended Anele and Kelly respectively, dismissed the matter as nonsense or took the opportunity to use the trending Twitter terms to promote their businesses because it was such a popular topic.
Things seemed to calm down until the recent announcement of Anele as the Miss SA host relayed on the internet. Some of Twitter succumbed to weaving in shade amongst a myriad of congratulations.
Congratulations ???? pic.twitter.com/ZBYglehxGU
— TheBigGuy (@BanziTheBigGuy) September 20, 2021
I heard that my sister from another mother @KELLYROWLAND will be a guest judge ?♂️?♂️?♂️
— Wayne Muha (@WayneMuha) September 20, 2021
Show us receipts where she called someone “ugly”……………. I’ll wait
— lulamile nkompela ?? (@Bralu_nkompela) September 20, 2021
Gosh these Kelly people must just lay off. Enough already… Congrats @Anele you going to be fantastic, as you are with everything you do ?
— Zeenith Ismail (@ZeenithI) September 20, 2021
Anele has for the most part remained unbothered by all the commotion, although the Twitter drama has somehow taken the spotlight off the actual pageant. In light of her position as host, she expressed (as per IOL) that it’s “the top 10 who are centre stage, I am merely a vehicle that moves the night along with an insight of where the finalists’ minds should be and what the judges will be thinking, and I will be the one giving the audience at home the scoop.”
“There have been big changes in the pageant since I started being involved. The team running it is younger and braver, and there is no set standard of beauty. I used to get so annoyed when we were shown, for example, a Miss Venezuela and got told this was what international pageants were looking for, and I would be like, yes … for them! The main currency now is authenticity.”
Hopefully, Twitter will allow the pageant to exist separately. The Twitter tribe may have spoken, but perhaps the tribe would like to rest.
Picture: Miss South Africa