Miss Universe: Where to watch the pageant in South Africa

Miss SA runner up Bryoni Govender is representing South Africa at the Miss Universe pageant taking place in El Salvador on Saturday 18 November. Here’s where you can watch the pageant live in South Africa.

ALSO READ: Who is SA’s Miss Universe representative? Meet Bryoni Govender

WHERE TO WATCH MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT IN SOUTH AFRICA

Miss Universe South Africa Bryoni Govender has been dubbed as one of the front-runners at the Miss Universe competition which is currently underway in El Salvador. The finale of the international pageant takes place on Saturday 18 November.

The pageant will be broadcasted live on SABC 3 (DStv channel 193) from 03:00 on Sunday 19 November because of the time difference. The Miss Universe pageant will also be repeated at 19:30 on Sunday evening as well.

Miss Universe 2023 will be the 72nd Miss Universe pageant and will be held at the José Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador. Reigning Miss Universe, R’Bonney Gabriel (US), who was in South Africa for the Miss SA pageant in August, will crown her successor at the end of the event.

Contestants from 85 different countries will be competing in the pageant. The Real host Jeannie Mai and Miss Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo, along with US TV presenter Maria Menounos are the hosts of the night.

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Zuri Hall will once again serve as backstage correspondents. John Legend will perform at this year’s pageant.

ALSO READ: Bryoni Govender turns heads in El Salvador! Her best looks

CHANGE OF RULES

For the first time, the Miss Universe Organisation allowed married women and mothers to compete in the international pageant. Rikkie Kollé of the Netherlands and Marina Machete of Portugal are the second and third transgender entrants to compete at Miss Universe, following Ángela Ponce of Spain in 2018.

Camila Avella of Colombia and Michelle Cohn of Guatemala are the first married women and mothers to compete.

According to a press release by the Miss SA Organisation, the 72nd edition of the pageant also marks:

• The debut of Pakistan
• Return of Denmark, Egypt, Guyana, Hungary, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Mongolia, Norway and Zimbabwe to the competition.

The Miss Zimbabwe Universe contestant, Brooke Bruk-Jackson, is also Govender’s roommate.

South Africa is one of the top pageant countries in the world and has had an impressive track record at the Miss Universe pageant:

• 2017 – Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters (Tebow) crowned Miss Universe
• 2018 – Tamaryn Green (Green-Nxumalo), first runner-up
• 2019 – Zozibini Tunzi, crowned Miss Universe
• 2021 – Lalela Mswane, second runner-up

ALSO READ: Mzansi to Miss Universe: Three South African winners

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