Qhawekazi Mazaleni Biography, career, Age 2025, Early Life, Net worth

Qhawekazi Mazaleni became Miss South Africa 2025 on October 25, 2025, at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria. The event featured bright lights, music, and cheers from the crowd. At 24 years old, she received the crown from the previous winner, Mia le Roux. This moment marked not just a beauty title, but a chance to make real changes in society.

Born in the Eastern Cape, Qhawekazi grew up in a home where languages like isiXhosa and English mixed daily. This shaped her love for helping children communicate better. As a speech therapist, she works with kids who face challenges in speaking or reading. Her win shows how pageants can support big goals, like better education for all.

This biography looks at her life step by step. We will cover her family background, school years, books she wrote, path in pageants, work for social good, daily joys, plans ahead, and final thoughts. Through her story, readers learn how one person can push for fair learning chances. Qhawekazi once said, “I am here to be impactful.” Her words remind us that true strength comes from helping others.

Her journey teaches simple lessons. For example, starting small, like writing a book for one child, can grow into national change. This article uses easy words to share facts from October 2025 sources. It aims to inspire readers to think about their own roles in building a better South Africa.

Early Life

Qhawekazi Mazaleni was born on December 15, 2000, in Gonubie, a quiet area near East London in the Eastern Cape. She is the youngest of three sisters in a close family. Her parents worked hard to give their daughters a strong start. Her mother served as a clerk in the Department of Education, while her father managed projects at Eskom, the power company.

Growing up, Qhawekazi spoke isiXhosa at home and English at school. This mix helped her see how languages connect people. Her family valued learning and kindness. They often talked about helping the community, which planted seeds for her future work. Her mother described her as having a “heart of gold,” always ready to support others.

Her sister, Hombakazi Mazaleni, known as Homba, played a big role too. In 2023, Homba reached the top five in Miss South Africa. This inspired Qhawekazi to try pageants later. After the 2025 win, Homba shared joyful posts online, calling her sister a true leader. The family celebrated together, with tears and hugs, showing their bond.

Life in Gonubie taught Qhawekazi about resilience. The Eastern Cape faces issues like limited school resources, but her home was a safe space. She attended Beaconhurst Primary School, where teachers noticed her focus and care for friends. These early years built her belief that everyone deserves a voice.

Key family influences include:

 

Bilingual talks that sparked her language passion.

Parents’ steady jobs modeling hard work.

Sister’s pageant steps showing sisterly support.

Community stories highlighting education needs.

 

These elements shaped a young girl into an advocate. By sharing her background, Qhawekazi connects with many South Africans facing similar roots.

Education

Qhawekazi’s school path focused on helping others through words and sounds. She finished high school in 2019 at a school in East London. Her subjects included accounting, Afrikaans, English, history, math, physical sciences, and life orientation. This broad mix prepared her for health studies.

In 2020, she joined Stellenbosch University for a Bachelor of Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy. The program taught her how to aid children with speech issues. She graduated in 2023, ready to practice. Now, at 24, she pursues a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Pretoria. Her focus is on autism, studying ways to include kids with special needs in regular classes.

During university, Qhawekazi volunteered in clinics. She learned Afrikaans to serve more patients, showing her commitment. Her thesis explores communication tools for neurodiverse children. This work ties to her job in Randburg, where she treats kids with cerebral palsy and other conditions.

Her education highlights include

 

Strong grades in science subjects for therapy base.

Hands-on training at Stellenbosch clinics.

Master’s research on autism inclusion.

Language learning for wider reach.

 

These steps show how school can lead to real help. Qhawekazi often says her studies opened doors to empower young voices. Readers can see how focused learning creates impact.

Literary Contributions

Qhawekazi entered writing to aid one child, but it grew into more. In March 2025, she self-published Amasele Amdaka (“The Dirty Frogs”), an isiXhosa book for young readers. It started as a gift for a nine-year-old patient with cerebral palsy who loved frogs. The story teaches counting and hygiene through fun adventures.

The book uses simple words and pictures to build reading love in home languages. South Africa struggles with literacy, with many Grade 4 kids unable to read well. Qhawekazi’s work fights this by making stories in isiXhosa, a key language in the Eastern Cape.

She sells it through her online store, Inclusive Roots, which offers tools in multiple languages. Plans include translating it to other tongues like Zulu and Sesotho. This will reach more families. Early sales helped buy books for local schools.

Her writing goals are:

 

Promote home-language reading from early ages.

Create accessible stories for kids with disabilities.

Partner with schools for free copies.

Inspire other authors from similar backgrounds.

 

Through Amasele Amdaka, Qhawekazi shows writing as a tool for inclusion. Parents can use it at home to spark talks, making learning playful.

Pageantry Journey

Qhawekazi’s pageant start was small and family-linked. As a teen, she joined school events at Beaconhurst, earning “First Princess” titles. These built her confidence. Her sister’s 2023 Miss SA run encouraged her to apply in 2025.

She entered as Miss Eastern Cape, facing 29 others. The journey included interviews, swimsuit rounds, and talks on social issues. On October 25, 2025, at SunBet Arena, performers like Makhadzi added energy. Qhawekazi won over judges with her poise and plans for education.

First runner-up was Luyanda Zuma from KwaZulu-Natal, an actress. Second was Karabo Mareka from Gauteng. Qhawekazi received R1 million, a car, and a year of support. She called the night “like winning the World Cup,” grateful for family cheers.

Her pageant path includes

 

Early school wins for basic skills.

2025 entry inspired by sister.

Focus on purpose over looks.

Crowning as a step for advocacy.

 

This journey proves pageants can highlight real talents, not just appearances.

Advocacy and Social Impact

Qhawekazi uses her title to fix education gaps. She pushes for learning in home languages, as mismatches cause high failure rates. In South Africa, millions of kids struggle with English-only classes. Her goal: more resources in tongues like isiXhosa.

As the first ambassador for Empower Youth Africa (EYA), launched in 2025, she leads workshops on literacy and health. EYA, started by Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, aids youth growth. Qhawekazi plans drives to share books in rural areas.

She also fights stigma around natural hair and body types, sharing her “big chop” story online. President Cyril Ramaphosa praised her on October 27, 2025, for women and youth focus.

Her impact efforts

 

Book distributions to boost reading scores.

Talks on autism awareness in communities.

Campaigns against gender biases in media.

Ties to UN goals for quality education.

 

These steps create lasting change, showing advocacy starts with personal action.

Personal Life

Outside work, Qhawekazi enjoys simple pleasures. She ran her first half-marathon in 2024, loving the fresh air and goals. She crochets clothes, turning yarn into cozy items. Movies and books fill her quiet evenings, with Taylor Swift songs as her soundtrack.

Family time is key. She cooks traditional Xhosa meals with her sisters and visits Mpumalanga for its green hills. Her Instagram shows authentic moments, like gym sessions or pet cuddles. She speaks isiXhosa, English, and Afrikaans fluently, plus learning Sepedi.

Daily habits include:

 

Morning runs for clear thoughts.

Crocheting as stress relief.

Reading to unwind.

Family chats for grounding.

 

These keep her balanced, proving queens need rest too. Her life reminds us joy fuels big dreams.

Future Reign

Qhawekazi’s year as Miss SA, from October 2025 to 2026, will focus on action. She plans national tours to donate books, aiming for 10,000 copies in schools. Partnerships with EYA include youth camps on skills and health.

By mid-2026, she hopes to influence policies for mother-tongue teaching. Her Master’s finish will add research to these pushes. Long-term, she sees herself leading therapy centers nationwide.

Legacy plans

 

Widespread book access for literacy rise.

Mentorship for young therapists.

Model for purpose in pageants.

Inspiration for Eastern Cape youth.

 

Her reign builds on past winners, aiming for measurable wins like better test scores. Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane called her a pride on October 26, 2025.

Conclusion

Qhawekazi Mazaleni’s life weaves family love, learning drive, creative words, stage grace, bold stands, quiet joys, and forward vision. From Gonubie child to 2025 Miss SA, she proves purpose trumps polish. Her work on literacy and inclusion touches millions, showing small acts grow big.

This biography highlights facts from her October 2025 crowning. It invites readers to join her call: support local reads or learn a language. As she said on October 29, 2025, “I’m going to be impactful.” Her path urges us all to speak up for the silent.

FAQs

Who is Qhawekazi Mazaleni?

She is a 24-year-old speech therapist from the Eastern Cape, crowned Miss South Africa 2025 on October 25, 2025. She advocates for kids’ education and literacy.

What is her educational background?

Qhawekazi holds a Bachelor’s in Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy from Stellenbosch University (2023). She is doing a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Pretoria, focusing on autism.

What book did she write?

Her first book, Amasele Amdaka, came out in March 2025. It is an isiXhosa story for children, promoting reading and counting, inspired by a patient.

How did her family influence her pageant path?

Her sister Hombakazi placed top five in Miss SA 2023, motivating Qhawekazi. Her parents taught values of service, celebrated her win on October 26, 2025.

What is her main advocacy focus?

Inclusive education, especially home-language learning to fight illiteracy. She works with EYA to empower youth, as shared in interviews on October 31, 2025.

What are her hobbies?

Running (half-marathon in 2024), crocheting clothes, watching movies, and listening to Taylor Swift. She loves Mpumalanga’s nature.

What prizes did she win as Miss SA 2025?

R1 million cash, a luxury apartment, a car, and sponsorships. These support her projects through 2026.

What are her future plans?

Book tours, policy pushes for mother-tongue education, and therapy center growth. She aims for impact during her reign ending in 2026.

These questions cover key parts of her story. For more, check her LinkedIn or Instagram updates from late October 2025.