South Africa
Mrs South Africa 2nd princess leads united fight against GBVF─── ZENANDE MPAME 14:01 Wed, 26 Nov 2025
The second runner-up in the Mrs SA says being crowned was highly personal as it’s been a lifelong dream since she was eight.
But Talitha Oosthuizen is preparing to use her platform for the greater good by driving conversations about gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) and human trafficking. In March, she will embark on a symbolic climb to Everest base camp, raising awareness of these social ills.
The annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign, which was launched in Midrand on Tuesday (25/11), is a reminder of the impact GBVF has on women, children, and vulnerable groups. The campaign runs until Wednesday, 10 December, under the theme Letsema, a Tswana word meaning people coming together to achieve a common purpose.
It calls on men, women, boys, and girls to unite in collective action to end GBVF. Her personal motto, “More than a crown – breaking the chains of GBVF”, reflects her commitment to confronting GBVF and human trafficking, causes shaped deeply by her own lived experiences.
“After entering Miss South Africa with no success, I later joined Mrs South Africa in 2014, but my dream wasn’t accomplished then. So when I decided to enter again this year, I returned stronger, grounded, and determined to use my platform with intention.
“Speaking about my experiences with injustice and GBVF has changed me, and now I can amplify what I stand for.”
Oosthuizen believes that speaking out is the first step toward a collective healing. She urges women to rediscover their worth by confronting their truths with honesty and courage.
She plans to expand her outreach across schools, communities, and corporate spaces as she encourages women to reclaim their worth and pursue their dreams without fear.
Working closely with Shattering Shackles, one of the few organisations in the country dedicated to combating human trafficking, she is determined to raise awareness about the link between trafficking and GBVF.
“This mission is personal and began long before my pageant journey; it stretches back to childhood experiences that taught me both resilience and the importance of reclaiming one’s voice.
“I unfortunately experienced injustice as a child, and that came with a ripple effect of so many things that have happened to me, so I want to leave a legacy of bringing change and hope for victims and survivors.”
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