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About us
Beauty Beyond Borders
Miss Swimwear South Africa is a modern, inclusive national swimwear competition and women's empowerment platform celebrating confidence, purpose, personality, wellbeing and self-expression.
Purpose
Our mission
Miss Swimwear South Africa exists to discover and develop a South African representative with a proposed pathway to represent the country at Miss Swimsuit USA International Worlds, subject to the international organiser's eligibility requirements and written agreements. Beyond the title, the platform promotes body respect and awareness of visible and invisible disabilities, illnesses and health conditions, giving every finalist a stage that is judged on confidence, purpose, personality and wellbeing, not on a single beauty standard.
What we stand for
Our values
Inclusion
Contestants of different ages, sizes, abilities, cultures and backgrounds are welcomed as equals, not exceptions.
Body respect
The competition celebrates the body a woman lives in today, including visible and invisible disabilities, illness and health conditions.
Confidence
Confidence is treated as something built through self-expression and purpose, not granted by conforming to one look.
Purpose
Every finalist carries a personal cause. The platform exists to amplify that purpose, not only a photograph.
Inclusion & body respect
One Rainbow Nation. Every Body. Every Story.
- From trauma to triumph.
- From victim to victorious.
- From fear to courage.
- Every body deserves to be seen.
- Every story deserves to be heard.
- Disability does not define destiny.
Miss Swimwear South Africa is not based on one age, size, ability, colour or conventional beauty standard. The platform celebrates women with different ages, body types, cultures, abilities, backgrounds and life experiences. Every finalist should feel seen and respected.
Founder story
Leanda Jane Talbot
Leanda Jane Talbot is a South African-born entrepreneur, creative director, former national dance champion, professional performer, published model and advocate for visible and invisible disabilities. She is the founder of Crystal Princess and Miss Invisible Crown, initiatives that promote confidence, inclusion and awareness of visible and invisible disabilities.
Leanda created and performed a dance at a special event held in honour of Ronaldo Hoffman, alongside Ronaldo's best friend, who has cerebral palsy. The event brought together people affected by visible and invisible disabilities and raised awareness that both experiences deserve recognition. Through Crystal Princess and Miss Invisible Crown, her advocacy has sought to bring both communities together without comparing their challenges or allowing either to be overlooked.
Leanda lives with epilepsy and PTSD. She came to Ireland to heal from epilepsy and trauma, and rebuilt her life through resilience, grit and determination. At 41, she placed in the Top 10 at Miss Swimsuit UK 2026 and qualified for the international stage.
In October, during what was expected to be another important chapter in her pageant journey, her fiance Stevie proposed. Together, Leanda and Stevie are creating Miss Swimwear South Africa.
Her professional background spans dance, modelling, Pilates, fitness, performance, creative direction, campaign development, brand storytelling and advocacy, with experience across South Africa, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Miss Swimwear South Africa is built as a national platform, not a one-woman show. Leanda leads it, but the stage belongs to every contestant who steps onto it.
A journey of resilience
Three Nations story
Born in South Africa. Healing in Ireland. The United Kingdom became her stage. Miss Swimwear South Africa carries that same journey forward for every woman who enters: a path from where you started, through what you overcame, to the stage where you are seen.
- 01
Born
South Africa
- 02
Healing
Ireland
- 03
Stage
The United Kingdom