Miss SA reveals outfits for Miss Universe pageant

LIFESTYLE / 26 OCTOBER 2017, 3:16PM / NOKUTHULA NTULI

Malikah Hajee and Lloyd Kandlin from The Costume Department

Miss South Africa Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters on Wednesday revealed two of the outfits she will be wearing when the 66th Miss Universe pageant takes place at The Axis in Las Vegas next month.

She also showed off her official national gift, a stunning piece of jewelry made from gold and diamonds, called “The Daisies of Africa”. Twenty-two-year-old Nel-Peters, a B.Comm graduate, believes she is fully prepared for Miss Universe.

“My preparations started when I was crowned Miss South Africa 2017. Just as with the Miss South Africa platform, I understand the responsibility of being Miss Universe and the impact it has on millions of lives,” she said.

Earlier this month, qualified doctor and second lieutenant in the SANDF’s Military Health Service, Adè van Heerden, swopped her scrubs for designer gowns. She will be representing South Africa at the Miss World pageant. Her outfit is a Ndebele inspired traditional costume designed by Matome Seshoka of Antherline Designs.

Nel-Peters’ national costume, which she showed off at her farewell, has been designed by Malikah Hajee and Lloyd Kandlin and their team at The Costume Department, while Anel Botha has designed a number of outfits including the finale gown.

WATCH MISS SA SHOWING OFF HER DRESS

Botha said she was inspired by what the Miss Universe Pageant is synonymous with: “sophistication and glamour in a celebration of young women who are confidently beautiful.”

"Demi-Lee's Miss Universe gown reflects her beauty in a million ways and it also shows off her strength and her beautiful physique. It is a gown that will be remembered," she said.

Nel-Peters will be taking a piece of South African jewellery, designed by Miss South Africa sponsors, Jack Friedman Jewellers with input from her, as the national gift to Miss Universe.

The outfit is inspired by Namaqualand daisies, proteas and the map of Africa and is made with diamonds and gold and includes the artistic technique of vitreous enamelling. A quote by the late Nelson Mandela is engraved on the underside of the piece. Sun International and Cell C also wished Nel-Peters the best of luck for the pageant which takes place on Sunday, November 26.

https://www.iol.co.za/sunday-tribune/lifestyle/pics-miss-sa-reveals-outfits-for-miss-universe-pageant-11726815