Bajabulise Thela
Bajabulise Thela | |
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| Born | Bajabulise Thela 2003 (age 22–23) KaNyamazane, Mpumalanga, South Africa |
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| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
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Major competitions |
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Bajabulise Thela (born 2003) is a South African model, philanthropist and beauty pageant titleholder who won the Miss African Beauty Universe 2026 and the Miss Universe South Africa 2026. She will represent South Africa at Miss Universe 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Thela also won several beauty titles includes Miss Teen Grand South Africa 2021 and Miss Mpumalanga 2024. She is the founder of Mambane Foundation.
Pageantry
Early pageantry
Miss Teen Grand South Africa 2021
Thela began her pageantry career at a very young age when she became the first Miss Teen Grand South Africa 2021.[1] But she failed to complete at international stages, because she faced financial problems.[2] In 2023, she was crowned Teen Universe South Africa 2023 and later represented South Africa as the ambassador at the Teen Universe International beauty pageant in Spain with Hlonela Mrwetyana.[3][4]
Miss Mpumalanga 2024
In 2024, Thela was crowned the winner of Miss Mpumalanga 2024.[5] During her reign, she actively partnered with organizations like the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator (MER) to promote responsible behavior and youth education.[6] After her final walk in 2025, she entered the Miss South Africa 2025, but she was not selected.[7]
Miss African Beauty Universe 2026
In May 2026, Thela joined Miss African Beauty South Africa competition, where she was competing for three titles and included in the top 30.[8] In June, she was included in the top 20 of the competition after Shannon Benting was crowned the winner of Miss African Beauty Supranational 2026.[9][10][11] She was later included in the top 9 finalists of the Miss Universe South Africa 2026.[12] On the 18th July 2026, she won Miss African Beauty Universe 2026 and recently crowned the winner of Miss Universe South Africa 2026.[13]
Miss Universe 2026
Thela will represent the South Africa at the Miss Universe 2026 competition in Puerto Rico in November 2026.[14]
Advocacy
Thela has participated in youth–focused awareness activities in the Mpumalanga province. In 2024, she was identified as an ambassador for the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator (MER) and participated in school–based activities addressing underage gambling and related risks.[15] She founded her own nonprofit organization, Mambane Foundation. Her foundation focus on addressing hunger and malnutrition, food insecurity and poverty, as well as supporting the empowerment of young girls.[16]
References
- ↑ Khulu, Ntombi (19 February 2025). "Miss Mpumalanga eyes the 2025 Miss South Africa Crown". News24. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ Mpande, Bridget (28 November 2021). "Aspiring model wants to compete internationally". Mpumalanga News. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ Khumalo, Bongekile (29 March 2024). "Miss Mpumalanga 2024 wants to inspire the youth". Mpumalanga News. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ Fray, Tammy (16 February 2023). "EL's Hlonela off to Spain as Miss Teen Universe SA contestant". GO! & Express. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ Khumalo, Bongekile (29 March 2024). "Miss Mpumalanga 2024 wants to inspire the youth". Mpumalanga News. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ "Miss Mpumalanga 2024 and MER urge citizens to be responsible". Mpumalanga News. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ Khulu, Ntombi (19 February 2026). "Miss Mpumalanga eyes the 2025 Miss South Africa Crown". News24. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ Makhura, Kamogelo (12 May 2026). "The race is on: meet the top 30 contestants of Miss African Beauty SA 2026". IOL. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ Maako, Keitumetse (8 June 2026). "Meet the top 20 finalists vying for Miss World and Miss Universe SA crowns". News24. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ "Shannon Benting named Miss Supranational South Africa 2026". Glamour. 8 June 2026. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ Dyantyi, Inam (20 June 2026). "Local models in Mpumalanga earn spots in Miss African Beauty South Africa 2026". Mpumalanga News. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ Makhura, Kamogelo (17 July 2026). "Miss Universe SA 2026: Meet the Top 9 finalists competing for the crown this weekend". IOL. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ Ramalepe, Phumi (19 July 2026). "'Dream come true' as Bajabulise Thela is crowned Miss Universe South Africa 2026". News24. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ Keteyi, Oluthando (20 July 2026). "Bajabulise Thela crowned Miss African Beauty Universe: A new face for South Africa at Miss Universe". IOL. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Khulu, Ntombi (19 February 2025). "Miss Mpumalanga eyes the 2025 Miss South Africa Crown". News24. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
- ↑ Khulu, Ntombi (21 July 2026). "From Mpumalanga to the world: Bajabulise Thela is Miss Universe South Africa 2026". News24. Retrieved 13 August 2026.