Johannesburg - This week, we feature model, dancer, and the newly crowned Miss South Africa, Lalela Mswane.
The 24-year-old, who comes from KwaSokhulu in Richards Bay, was last weekend crowned the winner of the prestigious beauty pageant.
She received a R4 million prize package, which includes R1 million in cash, the use of a fully-furnished apartment at Central Square Sandton, and a Mercedes Benz C-Class Sedan for the year of her reign.
Mswane graduated with a Bachelor of Law from the University of Pretoria and is also an accomplished model and dancer.
If there was one thing you could change in South Africa using your influence as Miss SA, what would it be?
It would definitely be period poverty. I think it's time we make sanitary wear free in schools and companies and in all public spaces. I have received a lot of messages on social media in relation to this, and I think it's time we have that conversation and we do something about it as it affects so many women in South Africa.
What are the three most popular items in your fridge currently?
Water, I always have to keep hydrated. Cheese, I love cheese. I am a great lover of cheese, and of course, chocolate. O my word, love, love, love!
Your favourite cheat meal is... ?
It has to be loaded fries, particularly chilli cheese fries. The more cheese there is, the better.
If you could only shop at one store for the rest of your life, which store would you choose to shop at?
I would definitely choose Woolworths, not because it's an official Miss SA sponsor, but because it literally has everything a person needs. There’s Woolies food, clothing and make-up, and it's all great products, so I would definitely say Woolworths.
Tell us about the worst date you've ever had...
Oh wow. It was a dinner date, and I had gone out with a mate of mine who I had met at the gym. I just thought we were mates, and we went out for dinner, and then he proceeded to tell me that he was into me. When he saw that my response was a negative one, he then quickly changed his mind and said he’s no longer into me, and after that, he started sweating profusely, and he got a bit aggressive, and it was terribly weird and the strangest thing for me.
The song that describes your life the best is..?
There isn’t a song that I’ve really found that best describes my life, but I can tell you my favourite song. It is Oblivion by Ástor Pantaleón Piazzolla played by the cellist Hauser. My word, when I heard that song, I actually thought there is a God because it was the most beautiful piece of music I’ve ever heard. I often say, when I walk down the aisle one day, that will be the track.
You are given the opportunity of being President of SA for the week. What is your first priority?
Education. I think we really need to evaluate the state of our education. We are moving into a very digital and creative age. We need to start adapting accordingly.
Your celebrity crush is...?
Beyoncé, because she’s a powerhouse of a woman, her ambition, success, and global influence are truly admirable, and she’s the epitome of everything I aspire to be.
The one thing that most people don't know about Miss SA is...?
I sucked my thumb for the first 18 years of my life, yet my teeth have remained straight.
If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have only two items, what would it be, and why?
Water, because it’s essential for survival and a knife to protect myself from any potential danger.