BY SIPHOSETHU MABUZA
MANZINI– Beauty queens traded the pageant spotlight for traditional regalia as they joined thousands of maidens at this year’s Umhlanga Reed Dance, carrying their cultural heritage with pride.
Representing the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) Beauty Pageants Regiment, the queens have taken part in the annual ceremony as part of their journey to connect with and celebrate Eswatini’s culture.
Among those participating are Miss Siphofaneni Bongiswa Nxumalo and her First Princess, Sabusiswa Nyerenda, who have embraced the experience beyond the glamour and competition associated with beauty pageants.
Their participation has given the queens an opportunity to experience Umhlanga from a different perspective, while using their platforms to showcase pride in Eswatini’s traditions.
The regiment has also been joined by finalists of Miss South Africa Heritage 2026, including Ingiphile Nkosi, adding a cross-border dimension to the cultural experience.
For the beauty queens, being part of Umhlanga has been about more than simply attending one of Eswatini’s biggest annual cultural celebrations. It has offered them a chance to participate, learn and experience traditions that continue to connect generations.
The presence of the pageant representatives also highlights the growing relationship between beauty platforms and cultural promotion, with contestants using their visibility to engage with heritage beyond the pageant stage.
Nkosi, who is representing the Miss South Africa Heritage platform, has joined the ENCAC Beauty Pageants Regiment in experiencing the ceremony and reflecting on its cultural significance.
With their pageant titles and sashes taking a back seat to traditional dress and participation, the queens have become part of the colourful gathering of maidens at Umhlanga.
Their involvement has added another layer to this year’s celebration, bringing together beauty, culture and heritage while demonstrating how young women can proudly carry their cultural identity into different spaces.
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