The first-ever Miss World South Africa pageant recently took place at the State Theatre in Pretoria and was hosted by TV darling, Minnie Dlamini. The red-carpet show hosted by actor Lunga Shabalala global impact and transgender activist, Yaya Mavundla. The top five were made up of Claude Mashego, Motheo Mokoto, Asande Mchunu, Zoalise Jansen van Rensburg, and Alyssa Joan Smith. The beauty pageant saw medical doctor Claude emerge victorious as a winner and will represent South Africa at the Miss World pageant in 2024.

A DOCTOR

Claude is 23 years old and she graduated from the University of Pretoria with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and is now a practicing medical doctor. In 2022, she got her first-ever award through the Health Excellence Organisation for the work she did in her community, especially during her reign as Miss Mpumalanga 2021. 

During the competition, Claude informed the organisers that she would use this opportunity and her reign to build a network of young leaders through her non-profit organisation, the Young Leaders Network. "Can you imagine what we could achieve if young people across this country and continent came together with the common goal of building Africa into the powerhouse we know it can be," she said.

A BEAUTY QUEEN

Claude also emphasised how pageants are not only about beauty but about change. "For me, pageants have always been about finding a platform that give one an opportunity and resources to be a community-builder, finding my corner and brightening so much that my light inspires the next person to do the same in their corner." 

Hailing form Acornhoek, Bushbuckridge, in Mpumalanga, Claude was crowned Miss Mpumalanga in the year 2021. This year she joined the first-ever Miss South Africa World and describes herself as a speaker, leader and social entrepreneur.