Now you guys, Miss SA is currently trending after Qhawekazi Mazaleni was officially crowned Miss South Africa 2025.

The moment Qhawekazi’s name was announced as the winner, the internet was instantly set ablaze with a furious debate, with a large segment of Mzansi—the South African public—expressing outrage, believing that the First Runner-Up, Luyanda Zuma, was unjustly “robbed” of the crown.

The controversy is far more intense than a typical post-pageant debate, highlighting deep-seated sentiments about beauty, qualifications, and the perceived fairness of judging criteria in high-stakes competitions.

The immediate backlash saw social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, flooded with comments vehemently supporting Luyanda Zuma, who was crowned First Princess.

Some people believe that Qhawekazi won because of her beauty and the fact that she’s “already in the industry,” a vague accusation that suggests favoritism or an unfair advantage based on prior celebrity or connections, though Qhawekazi is a qualified Speech-Language Pathologist currently pursuing her Master’s degree, indicating a profound commitment to education and social advocacy.

The comments, which are flying back and forth in the comment sections, reveal the public’s deep emotional investment in the outcome.

Someone commented and said, “TBH Luyanda deserved it more.”

Another person said, “Wrong winner in my opinion.”

And obviously they’re going back and forth in the comment section.

I’m just going to be putting um the comments, you guys, on the screen.

You can read for yourself.

Another one said, “I will never heal Shem.”

Luyanda deserved that win.

Another one, “Luyanda deserved the crown.”

It is so, so crazy, you guys.

The collective grief and frustration are palpable, with many users employing hyperbolic language to express their feeling of having been personally cheated by the result.

This intense reaction has naturally provoked a counter-reaction from those who support Qhawekazi and the judges’ decision.

One person said, “Ah, why everyone is saying Luyanda was robbed?”

“God, everyone was given a chance to showcase themselves and they did, and the best one won. As simple as that, you know.”

This side of the argument insists on accepting the official outcome, emphasizing that the competition was fair and that Qhawekazi’s victory was a result of superior performance, particularly highlighting her strong answers and her detailed plans for her reign focusing on inclusive education and literacy.

Qhawekazi, a 24-year-old from the Eastern Cape, brings a powerful academic background to the title, with her Master’s research specializing in Autism.

Her platform has consistently focused on addressing literacy challenges in the foundation phase and promoting multilingual learning, a cause she actively championed even before the pageant through her written children’s book in isiXhosa.

Supporters argue that her depth, intellect, and clear, purpose-driven vision, backed by actual, verifiable work—which you can see by following her page—made her the standout choice for the ultimate title.

This narrative focuses on substance over mere superficial appeal.

On the other hand, Luyanda Zuma, who previously made it to the Miss SA Top 10 in 2022 and was widely considered a fan favorite and a strong contender, clearly resonated with the public on a massive scale.

Her stunning beauty, stage presence, and the narrative of returning to the pageant to strengthen her cause, earned her an almost cult-like following.

The “robbed” narrative suggests that the judges may have prioritized one type of queen (the academic, issue-focused one) over another (the highly glamorous, public-facing one), or that public sentiment, which often heavily influences the outcome of major national events, was ignored.

The controversy even prompted Luyanda Zuma, the First Princess, to publicly dismiss rumors that she was upset or felt “petty” about the loss.

She has stressed her full support for Qhawekazi Mazaleni and the entire Miss SA organization, stating that her work to empower and inspire women will continue, regardless of the crown.

However, the public narrative is difficult to control, and the “Luyanda was robbed” cry persists.

This situation perfectly illustrates the perpetual tension in beauty pageants between objective judging criteria (which typically include intelligence, advocacy, and stage presence) and subjective public opinion (which is often swayed by charisma, personal connection, and perceived glamour).

The argument that Qhawekazi’s victory was cemented by her answers and the clear evidence of her pre-existing social work is a compelling one, aligning with the modern direction of the Miss SA pageant to crown women of substance and genuine impact.

This is a stark contrast to the accusations that her win was purely based on industry connections.

The complexity of the debate reveals a deeper conversation in South Africa about what qualities a national representative should embody: raw, captivating star power, or quiet, profound intellectual and social commitment.

So yeah, you guys, let me know what you guys think about this.

Who do you think um should have won?

For me personally, I just think they did um well by choosing Qhawekazi, you guys, ‘cuz also with her answers, it was just not um her having the perfect answer for the questions, but more of what she is currently doing.

We have seen more of her work.

You can follow her page and see for yourself.

The Miss SA 2025 finale has certainly delivered a winner with undeniable academic credentials and a clear purpose, but it has done so at the cost of immediate public consensus, leaving a highly divided Mzansi still fuming over the result.