University of Pretoria (UP) alumna Lalela Mswane was recently crowned Miss South Africa 2021. The 24-year-old hails from KwaSokhulu in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal and graduated from UP with a Bachelor of Law degree in 2020.

The Miss South Africa pageant was held on Saturday 16 October 2021 in Cape Town and Mswane won R1m in cash and other prizes worth R3m.

“I’m not a ‘pageant’ girl,” she told Sowetan after her victory. “But that’s why I think it’s important for people to stop seeing Miss SA as a mere beauty pageant, which is why I often shied away from pageantry. Miss SA is an empowerment platform for women, and could be a launchpad for so many other opportunities.”

Miss South Africa 2021 Lalela Mswane graduated from UP with a Bachelor of Law degree in 2020.

Through her Miss SA campaign #BeReady, Mswane plans to put the spotlight on youth employment. “[My campaign] focuses on youth employment from the perspective of no longer waiting for opportunities from the state, but instead empowering the youth by providing them with entrepreneurial skills to take charge economically,” Mswane told Sowetan.

UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Tawana Kupe said Mswane’s victory is testament that at UP you do not just walk away with a degree, but with confidence and skills, ready to face the world. “Congratulations, Lalela, we are all proud of you, and we are confident that you will make an impact during your reign,” he said. “As a UP graduate you are an ambassador of this institution. Represent us well out there, and continue to FLY@UP! Your message on the importance of entrepreneurship as a pathway to a fulfilling life resonates strongly with UP, which runs a free online entrepreneurship course for all students, a Centre for Entrepreneurship, and our business incubator TuksNovation.”

Miss South Africa 2020 Shudufhadzo Musida is also a UP graduate, and is set to represent South Africa at the Miss World competition in December 2021.