On Sunday i.e., 14th June 2020, an article was published in City Press speculating that Miss South Africa 2019 Sasha-Lee Olivier might be pregnant. They posted a picture of Sasha in which she is wearing a mustard off-the shoulder and she seems bloated but the City Press had speculated that she might be pregnant.
The article further explained that they approached Miss South Africa organization for a comment which they have strongly denied and stated that ‘Miss South Africa 2019 is not pregnant.’ The article in City Press further stated that Sasha had filled in Zozibini Tunzi’s shoes after she was crowned Miss Universe 2019 and if she is pregnant, this could be the first big scandal to hot South Africa’s most popular pageant.
The City Press article also included comments from former Miss South Africa coordinator Thobie Sithole which stated that if Sasha is pregnant, she is “against international standard rules”. She also stated, “It would also go against what the beauty pageant stands for because she is a role model and she have to portray a good image because every girl looks up to her.” Sithole said there had been instances when some contestants were disqualified and replaced because they either fell pregnant or had broken the rules during the early stages of the competition.
A little later, Miss South Africa organization released a statement in order to clarify everything. They stated, it has "no knowledge of any such person and can state that no-one of that name has worked on the pageant since 2013. To this end, the Miss South Africa Organisation is further appalled by the lack of vetting utilised when asking for official comment and representation from the organisation itself."
The organization further stated, "The article is pure body shaming, implying that if Sasha-Lee is not pregnant then she is fat. Let us put it on the record that Sasha-Lee Olivier is a real person and is deeply hurt by what appeared. As part of the 2019 campaign, Sasha Lee stood as an advocate for fuller figure women and expanded on the organisation’s prior representations of beauty. We as an organisation stand strong with Sasha Lee with this understanding of beauty and do not take lightly to any form of body shaming and discrimination which is intended to disempower and humiliate her. The Miss South Africa Organisation will be taking legal advice and action."
Miss South Africa 2019 Sasha-Lee Olivier went on live recording on her social media account for addressing something like this which has hurt her deeply and she has expressed her sadness. She stated, “I know I’m not pregnant. I know who I am. I am comfortable in my skin. I’m speaking up not for myself but for every single person I represent on this platform. It’s not even about weight. It’s about every girl that hasn’t felt comfortable or like she does not fit in. You don’t have to fit in. Just be yourself. That’s all and that’s enough. I’m so disappointed in the fact that we’re supposed to be building each another up but we choose to break each other down. I hope this is a teachable moment for every single one of you. You have a responsibility to use your platform to build and lift each other up. Let’s focus on what’s important." The diva and then entire beauty pageant community is saddened to read something so demeaning about someone who has been trying to do her duties so well.
Miss South Africa organization has recently announced the top 35 delegates for the Miss South Africa 2020 competition. They will be competing for the national title and an opportunity to represent the country of South Africa at international stage.