Fresh debate over identity has emerged in South Africa following the coronation of Romanda Hombir as Miss World South Africa 2026.

Ms Hombir, a 27-year-old clinical audiologist from Mpumalanga, was crowned at the Barnyard Theatre in Menlyn, Pretoria. She will represent South Africa at the 75th Miss World competition scheduled from 9 August to 5 September in Vietnam.

Soon after her victory, some social media users questioned her identity, drawing comparisons with the 2024 Chidimma Adetshina controversy that dominated the country’s beauty pageant scene.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Ms Adetshina withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant after questions were raised about her nationality. She later represented Nigeria at Miss Universe 2024, where she finished as first runner-up.

Unlike the Ms Adetshina case, however, neither the Miss World South Africa organisation nor South African authorities has questioned Ms Hombir’s eligibility to compete.

Social media reactions

The pageant result has generated mixed reactions online, particularly on X, where some users claimed Ms Hombir should not represent South Africa.

Others criticised the pageant organisers and the country’s Human Rights Commission, alleging, without evidence, that her victory was intended to provoke public outrage and deepen divisions.

Despite the online criticism, organisers have not suggested that Ms Hombir failed to meet the competition’s eligibility requirements.

Who is Romanda Hombir?

Beyond pageantry, Ms Hombir is the founder of the Caring Purpose Foundation, a community initiative that promotes healthcare access, literacy, nutrition, mobile health screenings and skills development in underserved communities.

She is also an advocate for women’s health, focusing on conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and uterine fibroids.

Romanda Hombir (Credit_ Instagram@missworld_southafrica)

According to her profile, she is of Swati, Zulu and German heritage.

Her Beauty With a Purpose project seeks to expand healthcare access while creating educational and economic opportunities for young people through community-based programmes and partnerships.

Ms Hombir has also said she hopes to influence global health policy through organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations.

Eligibility requirements

Under South Africa’s Citizenship Act, citizenship by birth applies to individuals born in the country where at least one parent is a South African citizen. Citizenship may also be acquired through adoption by a South African citizen or permanent resident, subject to the law.

Miss World South Africa says all contestants must satisfy its citizenship requirements before they are admitted into the competition.

According to the organisation, applicants must be South African citizens aged between 17 and 27, possess a valid passport, and must never have been married or had children.

Miss World South Africa, Romanda Hombir (Credit_ Instagram@missworld_southafrica)

It also states that contestants are assessed on their commitment to the pageant’s core value of “Beauty With a Purpose.”

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