Natasha Joubert has returned to Miss SA to compete for the crown.
Images via Instagram: @natasha_joubert
‘She wanted to enter again’: Miss SA on Natasha Joubert’s return
Miss SA 2020 runner-up Natasha Joubert has returned to the competition after taking a break to ‘prioritise’ her mental health,
Natasha Joubert has returned to Miss SA to compete for the crown.
Images via Instagram: @natasha_joubert
Miss South Africa – or Miss SA – has defended Natasha Joubert’s right to enter the pageant for a second time.
This after the brunette placed in the Top 3 in 2020 and represented the country at the Miss Universe pageant
Natasha made the Top 30 cut in an announcement on Thursday, 25 May.
ALSO READ: Miss South Africa 2023: Meet the top 30 contestants [photos]
MISS SA ON NATASHA JOUBERT
In 2020, Natasha Joubert placed as second-runner up to Shudu Musida. In May 2021, the B.Com Marketing graduate would represent Miss SA at the Miss Universe pageant.
Unfortunately, Natasha did not make it to the Top 20 finalists.
however, the bubbly brunette is back in 2023, and Miss SA claims it is well within her rights to do so.
ALSO READ: Miss South Africa new rules: Entrants can have tattoos, piercings and kids!
Pageant spokesperson Janine Walker told The South African: “Natasha wanted to enter again, and Miss SA Organisation rules allow her participation.”
According to the pageant FAQ and eligibility regulations, applicants who placed as finalists in previous Miss SA competitions may enter again. However, it stipulates: “The applicant may not have placed as a runner-up within the two preceding pageant years nor have previously held the title of Miss South Africa.”
SECOND TIME LUCKY?
In a Miss SA Q&A, Natasha Joubert explained why she had returned to the competition.
“My journey started in 2020 when I first entered as a 22-year-old. I was honoured to later on represent South Africa at Miss Universe in 2021. Shortly afterward, I had to deal with depression issues and knew I had to prioritise my mental health. The result was a mindset change and a different perspective than I’d had before. It was growth and experiences I knew I wanted to share with our generation. I’ve never let circumstances determine my narrative.
On why she believes she deserves the crown, Natasha added: “Because I am a woman of resilience. I do not rely on talent but on my work ethic and hard work”.
When asked what her biggest disappointment in life was, Natasha Joubert said: “When I did not place at Miss Universe in 2021.
She continued: “South Africa has done so well the three years before my year, and I felt like I could not live up to what was expected from me. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, my schedule, drive, and motivation was gone in an instant”.
