Instead of bringing a national gift from their country, the more than 80 contestants were required to customise a blank cape that they received from the Miss Universe organisers, taking inspiration from anything that could be related to their cause or the country that they represent. The capes – which will be auctioned instead of national gifts with proceeds going to charity – are worn during the Miss Universe swimsuit competition and were revealed earlier during the preliminary round.

PHOTO: pageantcircle.com

Miss South Africa Ndavi Nokeri worked on the striking design, titled “Perfectly Imperfect”, with graphic artist Ashlyn Atkinson from iDesign South Africa and Sinead Fletcher who painted the cape, along with the voices of South African women.

Say Nokeri and Atkinson: “Throughout the centuries women have been made to feel unworthy based on any physical characteristics that might not have been desirable for the male gaze. With the South Africa cape, and as part of a broader message of the Miss Universe platform, women are reclaiming the narrative around their bodies and what makes them beautiful.”

Continues Nokeri: “For me, the design represents liberation to be free from other people's expectations of what I, or any woman, should look like in order to be considered beautiful. Beauty has no definition, it has no skin tone, it has no size and it is definitely not perfect.”

Adds Atkinson: “I hope that the design emphasises that all women are beautiful in their own unique imperfect way. The Miss Universe contestants come from around the world and have different shapes and skin tones. The one thing that truly makes women beautiful is our shared womanhood, our cellulite, our stretchmarks, our scars, our curves, our different sized breasts, our different hair and our voices.”

Says Miss South Africa Organisation CEO, Stephanie Weil: “The cape came from the voices of South African women that we spoke to. We hope to inspire a movement of perfectly imperfect women with powerful voices to step into the light.”

Nokeri also revealed a dress by Juan William Aria during the preliminary rounds. The dazzling outfit was inspired by the sands of Limpopo and the Gabaza Village where Nokeri was born and raised. 

The Miss Universe finale takes place on Sunday 14  January 2023 in the US and will be broadcast live on 1 Magic (DStv Channel 103) from 03h00 on Monday 15 January, and repeated in a prime time slot (details to be announced).

Nokeri has a proudly South African support team in New Orleans cheering her on, including Miss South Africa Organisation CEO Stephanie Weil, creative director Werner Wessels and her parents Moses and Betty Nokeri.

Miss South Africa is presented by Weil Entertainment in association with M-Net, Mzansi Magic and Sun International.  

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