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After people offered criticism upon the newly crowned Miss SA, Lalela Mswane, following her decision to participate in the Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel, in less than a month, reports began to surface that Mswane had made the decision to withdraw from the 2021 pageant.

Also Read: Miss SA faces critique for participation in Miss Universe pageant in Israel

The criticism came as a part of Mswane’s newfound position as a public figure representing South Africa, and the very current contestation over Israel’s socio-political position, which many dub apartheid-centric in nature.

However, the Miss SA organisation has disposed of the withdrawal reports as “completely unfounded and untrue,” to the disappointment of critics and went on to express that the Miss SA organisation is not politically inclined.

How political are pageant figures? 

Much of the internet have taken to vocalising their thoughts on the apolitical stature of the Miss SA organisation, who stand tall on foundations of humanitarian endeavours from Human Rights to World Hunger, as they smile and pledge desires for a better world. While no one is accusing the pageant’s darling of having the same expectancy as a political figure, there’s a level of public gaze that pierces what is said when it comes to turbulence so eerily similar to South Africa’s past.

Although as the CEO of the Miss SA organisation reiterated, Miss SA is not a political organisation, it’s not quite as simple as that when you base your brand on the fact that you can help change the world, writes Cape {town} Etc’s Ashleigh Nefdt.

There are a myriad of people penning their thoughts on social media, and one of them is Nelson Mandela’s own grandson – Mandla Mandela.

According to Mandela, “apartheid Israel’s occupation is no less despicable than apartheid South Africa,” as the South African reports. 

Mandela, who is the chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council even made the decision to call for an international boycott of the Miss Universe Pageant. He specifically called for Mswane and all former Miss SA title holders to stand against the event in an official statement on his Instagram account.

“We call on Miss South Africa and the nation as a whole to boycott and withdraw all support for the Miss Universe pageant in Apartheid Israel. There is nothing beautiful about occupation, brutality and institutionalised discrimination against the Palestinian people,” he wrote.

His thoughts have been echoed by others, most evidently on Twitter under the hashtag ‘Apartheid’, which at the time of this article’s writing, is the trending hashtag on the platform.

What else has the Miss SA organisation said?

In their Instagram statement, they predominantly debunked withdrawal myths, alongside a few other points defending Mswane.

“Miss South Africa, Lalela Mswane, will represent South Africa at the Miss Universe competition, held this year in the picturesque Israeli resort town, Eilat, on December 13.

This is contrary to any indication otherwise. Miss South Africa Organisation CEO, Stephanie Weil, said that she was aware there were statements indicating that Lalela had pulled out but that these were completely unfounded and untrue, the Miss SA organisation wrote.

They added that they are “thrilled to make Lalela’s childhood dream – to wear the crown while representing her county globally – come true.”

In addition to defending Mswane’s childhood fantasy, they also expressed that she will not be bullied, in reference to those criticising her decision to participate, which Weil expressed to be a “very, very small but extremely vocal group.”

“She will not be bullied as an adult against fulfilling her ambition,” the statement read.

The organisation also drew parallels between Mswane and former Miss South Africa and Miss Universe icon, Zozibini Tunzi, in terms of Zozi deciding to wear her natural hair at the Miss Universe event, and Mswane’s decision to participate in the politically contested state of Israel.

“South Africa was placed very firmly in the 21st century when Zozibini Tunzi, proudly wearing her natural hair without trying to conceal it under a weave or a wig, was crowned Miss Universe.

“Her refusal to bow down to pressure to look a certain way was groundbreaking and opened the door to diversity and the rise of the individual as opposed to look-alikes.

“Like her, Lalela will be a role model to young women – not just across the country, but across the African continent.
“Anyone who wants to rob Lalela of her moment in the spotlight is unkind and short-sighted. She is the shining beacon for young women everywhere, showing them that being beautiful while being clever and educated is very possible,” the statement read.

On radio Station 702, Weil further expressed that “one person is not going to make a change, 70 other countries are attending this event. If she isn’t there she doesn’t have a voice. rather be there [and] make a change.”

Change of course is what the world needs – but what happens when it lives as a vague term?

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Picture: official_misssa

 

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