After taking the leap and placing her name in the hat for the 2025 Mrs South Africa season, Wilmarie Kriel (36), was named a semi-finalist for the famed Mrs South Africa pageant.
According to the former Boland College tourism student, she sees her participation in the competition as the beginning of a journey to inner confidence, growth, acquiring valuable skills and transformation. “It’s about embracing my unique purpose and a chance to unlock potential I never knew I held within,” Kriel says.
The big draw for Kriel is the pageant’s promise of genuine empowerment, personal transformation, and the ability to make a lasting impact. Kriel says Mrs South Africa is more than just a pageant, with the main purpose of equipping women with hands-on leadership and communication skills.
For contestants this means public speaking workshops, brand-building sessions, and mentorship. Ultimately the ladies are tasked with amplifying their voices as forces for positive change.
“I hope to inspire people of all ages to boldly pursue their passions and create their own paths. Challenge self-doubt, overcome limitations, and reach for your dreams.”
For Kriel, her reason for joining the Mrs South Africa sisterhood was clear. “Despite facing various life challenges, including the loss of my father as a teenager and later, the passing of an employer, I have grown in resilience and adaptability. My time exploring the world as an air hostess fuelled my determination to pursue a new dream. I’ve entered this competition to become the best version of myself.”
Joining the Mrs South Africa sisterhood means “live the questions now” for Kriel.
Mrs South Africa’s candidate list has steadily grown over the past few years motivating the executive team to expand their efforts to support the many women who want to participate but might find it difficult to do so.
Joani Jacobs, CEO of Mrs South Africa explains: “This year, we wanted to go the extra mile for the wonderful ladies who support us each year, and bring the National Public Casting Day as close to them as possible. As such, we decided that Gauteng would be just the first of our live casting events, before we take the show on the road to Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal, encouraging Kriel and her fellow contestants to give their all and seize every opportunity that the women’s empowerment programme has to offer.
“This is your year to step into your power – own your inner strength and let your voice be heard. Thousands of women have walked this road before you, and you will never have to walk it alone. Your sisters, mentors, judges, and the Mrs South Africa executive team are here to build you up and help you achieve your best self. All you need to do is be open to the change that’s about to come.”
Shortly after the casting events, semi-finalists participated in their first workshop-weekend.
Mentors and experts from a variety of fields coached them on public speaking and interview preparation. Help with personal branding and social media use, as well networking and building relationships with sponsors, were all part of the day.
Charity and community work was also discussed as contestants will have to participate in a number of charity events, upskilling sessions, professional shoots, and more, culminating in the grand finale in November.
