South African model Tshego Gaelae has made history as the first Black woman to win the Mrs. World title.
The groundbreaking moment occurred at the 40th Mrs. World Pageant in Las Vegas, USA, held from January 29-30, 2025. Gaelae triumphed on the final day of the competition, claiming the prestigious crown.
This victory is a significant milestone for the pageant, which was founded in 1984 as the first beauty contest for married women. After her win, GaelaeTshego shared her joy and gratitude on Instagram.
She shared a heartfelt message, she wrote;
“To God Be The Glory. Thank you so much for the love and support, I am beyond grateful and elated! My beautiful South Africa, the crown is coming Home.”
The competition saw fierce rivalry, with Sri Lanka’s Ishadi Amanda claiming the title of first runner-up, while Thailand’s Ploy Panperm took second runner-up honors.
The Mrs. South Africa organization, which supported Tshego Gaelae’s journey, also celebrated her achievement in a post on social media.
“From Soweto to Vegas and now the World, @mrsworldpageant The Crown is Coming Home! Thank you to everyone who supported our Queen on her incredible Journey.
“Thank you to the @mrsworldpageant organisation and judges for everything you do, and for seeing our queen and her brilliance. What an honour to have a South African queen as the 40th Anniversary Mrs World, and first ever Black Mrs World,” the post read.
The post further expressed the honor of having a South African queen represent the 40th Anniversary of Mrs. World and break barriers as the first-ever Black winner.
See below;
View this post on Instagram