Here are five things to know about the crown that the new Miss South Africa (SA), who will be crowned on Saturday 13 August, will wear during her reign, from the R500,000 cost to the symbolism.
1. THE CROWN OF MISS SA IS WORTH 500,000 RAND
In 2019, uBuhle’s crown cost a whopping 500,000 Rand.
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2. THE MISS CROWN IS CALLED THE UBUHLE CROWN
According to The Sunday Times, the Crown was named after the phase uBuhle bethingo lenkosazana. It means the beauty of the rainbow.
The design of the colorful band of jewels around the base of the crown was inspired by traditional Ndebele designs. On the other hand, the large princess stones that tower over the crown resemble shooting stars.
3. FORMER MISS UNIVERSE ZOZIBNI TUNSI WAS THE FIRST TO WEAR THE CROWN
The uBuhle crown was first worn by beauty queen Zozibini Tunzi. Sasha-Lee Olivier then wore the crown when Zozibini was crowned Miss Universe. Miss SA 2020 Shudufhadzo Musida became the third beauty queen to wear the crown, followed by Miss SA 2021 Lalela Mswane.
The newly crowned Miss SA will thus become the fifth beauty queen to wear the uBuhle crown.
4. THE MISS SA CROWN IS AS HEAVY AS A 500ML BOTTLE
The crown weighs 517 g, which is equal to the weight of a 500 ml bottle.
5. UBHULE FLASHES 182 CARAT BLING
So these aren’t actually real diamonds, but the sterling silver crown is studded with 2,586 fine-cut cubic zirconias. It took 36 hours to sort these stones. However, it reportedly took 192 hours to make.
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