Actress Rea Malatji is making headlines after being named as one of the judges for Miss World SA.

Ten phenomenal women will compete in this year’s Miss World South Africa finale. The winner will represent South Africa at the 72nd Miss World in February 2025.

ACTRESS REA MALATJI TO HEAD MISS WORLD SA’S PANEL OF JUDGES

The organisation has since revealed its panel of eight judges, including Rea Malatji. Confirmed reports have it that she will also head the panel.

Speaking to the media, Miss World spokesperson Rich Mkhondo said, “Rea was master of ceremonies at the Netball World Cup last year in Cape Town.

“She is a humanitarian at heart, passionate about alleviating poverty to empower the youth and has trained more than 200 youth and women in various communities.”

She has been trending against the news. After all, despite being a pharmacist by profession, the seasoned actress is not new to pageantry.

She was the first black woman to be crowned Miss Pretoria in 1999.

She also participated in several competitions in her youth, including Miss Polokwane, formerly Miss Pietersburg, Miss South Africa Northern Province, and Miss Premier Soccer League.

OTHER JUDGES

The other seven include Dr Norman Cahi and Ntsoaki Ledimo (South Africa); Malaak Compton-Rock and Ava Lizette Hall (USA); Krystyna Pyszková and Michael Petr (Czech Republic) and Taibo Bacar from Mozambique.

NTSOAKI LEDIMO

Ledimo has worked with Miss World South Africa since its inception.

DR NORMAN CAHI

Dr Cahi is a celebrated dentist best known for giving back to the community and offering orphaned children free top-class dental care.

MICHAEL PETR

He is dubbed as one of the best dance choreographers in the world. He has worked with several models, including the reigning Miss World, Pyszková.

KRYSTYNA PYSZKOVA

The panel will also include the reigning Miss World (2023). She is a Charles University law graduate and undoubtedly a true definition of beauty with brains.

MALAAK COMPTON-ROCK

She traces her South African roots through her adopted daughter, Ntombi. She is a member of the New York Women in Communications and Cause Marketing Forum.

Like those before her, she has been involved in pageantry for years. She has co-judged several competitions, including the Harpo/ABC-TV reality show Oprah’s Big Give.

TAIBO BACAR AND AVE LIZETTE HALL AND TAIBO BACAR

The other two judges include Ava Lizette Hall, the Head of Content and Brand of The Africa Channel in Los Angeles. Fashion designer Taibo Bacar will also be on the Miss World SA panel.