As congratulatory messages pour in for newly crowned Miss South Africa, Qhawekazi Mazaleni, the Eastern Cape government has hailed her as a beacon of hope and an embodiment of the province's "Home of Legends" spirit.
The 24-year-old Mazaleni was crowned during a glamorous ceremony at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria on Saturday.
Fondly known as Qhawe, Mazaleni hails from Idutywa in the Amathole District Municipality and has built an inspiring reputation as a speech therapist, author, and digital creator.
Mazaleni becomes the second Miss South Africa to emerge from the Eastern Cape, following in the footsteps of Zozibini Tunzi, who won the national title in 2019.