Keyi is key to SA’s beauty closet
ALEXANDRA – Thulisa stands tall among the top at Miss World pageant.
Thulisa Keyi, the first runner-up in the 2018 Miss SA Beauty pageant made the top 30 at the Miss World’s 68th pageant in China.
The event was held on 8th December at the Crown of Beauty Theatre in Sanya, China and contested by brainy beauties from 117 countries. In a statement by the pageant organisers, 26-year-old Keyi from Mdantsane, East London, represented the country in the contest which was won by Miss Mexico, Vanessa Ponce de Leon. “The event was watched live by a global audience of more than one billion and screened in South Africa on SABC3. Leading to the finale, Keyi won the Miss World Designer Award which she shared with the contestant from the People’s Republic of China. Also, she was placed in the Top 5 for Miss World Top Model,” the statement read.
“We are incredibly proud of Thulisa. She worked really hard in the build-up to the contest and we are delighted that she made the Top 30,” said Claudia Henkel of the organisers, Sun International.
Moreover, the occasion had an African feel with former Miss South Africa and Miss World 2014 Rolene Strauss as one of the judges. Zimbabwean Donel Mangena, who was a Voice UK finalist and, was in South Africa earlier this year courtesy of ITV Choice, performed live at the pageant while Miss Uganda, Quiin Abenakyo was named Miss World Africa and placed in the Top 5.
An aspirant accountant, Keyi, was crowned Miss World South Africa in May while doing her articles at one of the big four audit firms. She is a BComm Accounting and PGDA graduate from the University of Cape Town and had not entered a pageant before, however, she was a professional model for five years while she completed her university studies.
Meanwhile, the nation waits with bated breath as Miss SA 2018 Tamaryn Green pits her chance at the 67th Miss Universe pageant which will be on Monday, 17 December in Bangkok, Thailand.
