Miss South Africa organization, through their official social media, announced the appointment of Ayanda Thabethe as the new Miss Supranational South Africa 2023 in the beginning of the month this year. The Pietermaritzburg beauty was a crowd-favourite at Miss South Africa 2022, winning the People’s Choice vote and placing as the first runner-up.

Ayanda Thabethe is 23 years of age. She is an entrepreneur and a model preparing to represent her country at the upcoming edition of Miss Supranational. She is pursuing a degree in dietetics and human nutrition from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Ayanda hopes to one day develop the nutritional guidelines in South Africa to help address both malnutrition and obesity. She established Project Khulisa recently which aims to improve the future of all South Africans through nutritional intervention and innovation by mobilising food solutions through initiatives such as community vegetable gardens, food parcels and education about diet.

Ayanda quoted, “By breaking the poverty cycle, I hope to combat malnutrition and hunger. After visiting a KZN orphanage, I was surprised at how little consideration is taken by those preparing and funding the meals into providing the children with nutrient-dense meals as most of their meals are supplied by their schools during the day.”

“I hope to transform the standard of food given to children in schools under the National School Nutrition Programme as well as starting a much-needed conversation about following a healthy diet and the importance of it. I’ll be getting my hands dirty starting up these gardens while also posting short videos on all aspects of healthy living from the do’s and don’ts to practical examples”, she added.

If Ayanda wins Miss Supranational 2023, she will create history by winning a back-to-back win for South Africa at Miss Supranational. The reigning Miss Supranational is Lalela Mswane from South Africa who will crown her successor at the end of the event finale.