The 23-year-old from Tzaneen in Limpopo was crowned on Saturday night at Pretoria’s Time Square’s SunBet Arena. For the second year in a row, media personality Anele Mdoda hosted the pageant. The judges’ questions ranged from mental health to how they would hold leaders accountable, from period poverty to social and economic issues. Nokeri made Top 3 alongside fellow contestant Lebogang Mahlangu and Ayanda Thabethe.
During the final question-and-answer session, when asked what the most important thing is to keep our nation united, the BCom Investment Management graduate said history is the best teacher.
“To know where you are going, you need to know where you come from. Being a nation that comes from a history of a past of racial segregation, we know that when we were divided, we were at our weakest. So as Miss South Africa I would implore us to stand together and embrace every single culture, gender, race and sexuality because in our diversity we are strong.”
Nokeri will represent South Africa in three pageants: Miss World, Miss Universe, and Miss Supranational. She succeeds Lalela Mswane, who was recently crowned Miss Supranational.
Congratulations to our new Queen.