The 30 hopefuls are a diverse group: from B Com to science, psychology graduates, as well as lawyers, a teacher, architectural student, a film creative and student pilot.
Anelisa Nxele, 22, from Inanda was placed third when she first entered Miss KZN Queen which is a provincial pageant that had an advocacy centred around mental health and combating it. Now she has made it to the Miss South Africa Top 30.