South African model Tshego Gaelae has made history by winning the 40th Mrs. World pageant, which took place in Las Vegas, USA. Gaelae’s victory marks a significant milestone as she becomes the first-ever Black Mrs. World, adding to South Africa’s growing list of beauty pageant successes.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Gaelae expressed her gratitude, stating, “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.”
Sri Lanka’s Ishadi Amanda was named the first runner-up, while Thailand’s Ploy Panperm secured the second runner-up position.
Mrs. World, the first beauty pageant for married women, was conceived in 1984. Gaelae’s triumph comes as part of a growing beauty pageant rivalry between South Africa and Nigeria, further heightened by recent events in the Miss Universe competition.
Celebrating Gaelae’s Achievement
The pageant organization that supported Gaelae’s journey, Mrs South Africa, also celebrated her achievement, sharing a post on social media that read, “From Soweto to Vegas and now the World, the Crown is Coming Home!” They thanked everyone who supported Gaelae along her journey, and praised the Mrs. World judges for recognizing her brilliance.
Gaelae’s victory is seen as a historic moment for both South Africa and the pageant world, marking her as a trailblazer in the beauty industry.
South Africa vs Nigeria: A Beauty Pageant Rivalry
Gaelae’s win comes just a few months after Chidimma Adetshina of Nigeria made waves in the Miss Universe competition. Adetshina finished as the first runner-up in the Miss Universe 2024 pageant, held in Mexico City, making history as the first Nigerian and West African to achieve such a feat. However, Adetshina’s victory was not without controversy, as her South African citizenship led to debates, especially after she withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition.
The rivalry between South Africa and Nigeria in beauty pageants continues to spark conversations, further solidifying both countries as powerhouses in the beauty world.
