South African model Tshego Gaelae has been crowned the winner of the 40th Mrs World pageant, held in Las Vegas, USA.
Sri Lanka’s Ishadi Amanda was named the first runner-up, while Thailand’s Ploy Panperm secured the second runner-up position.
Celebrating her win, Gaelae expressed her gratitude in an Instagram post, writing, “To God Be The Glory🙌🏽👑🇿🇦🙏🏽. Thank you so much for the love and support, I am beyond grateful and elated! My beautiful South Africa, the crown is coming Home.”
Mrs World is the first beauty pageant for married women, conceived in 1984.
The organisation that supported her journey, Mrs South Africa, also hailed the achievement in a social media post, stating, “From Soweto to Vegas and now the World, @mrsworldpageant The Crown is Coming Home! Thank you to everyone who supported our Queen on her incredible Journey.
“Thank you to the @mrsworldpageant organisation and judges for everything you do, and for seeing our queen and her brilliance. What an honour to have a South African queen as the 40th Anniversary Mrs World, and first ever Black Mrs World.”
Gaelae’s triumph comes in the wake of intensified beauty pageant rivalry between South Africa and Nigeria.
In 2024, Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina made history as the first Nigerian and West African to finish as the first runner-up at the Miss Universe 2024 competition held in Mexico City in November.
Adetshina, who also won the title of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, faced scrutiny over her South African citizenship, a controversy that led to her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant.
Adetshina was then invited to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 pageant, which she won.
The situation fueled discussions over the growing competition between both nations.
