The highly anticipated Miss South Africa 2023 pageant took place on the 13th of August at the SunBet Arena in Time Square, Pretoria. Accompanied by 5 other leading South African designers, Gert-Johan Coetzee presented the five finale gowns, designed specifically for the glittering event and the graceful finalists.  

Coetzee, who is no stranger to designing stunning couture gowns, stated that the handmade pieces took seven women over 2000 hours to craft.  

“In creating the final gowns for the Miss South Africa top 5, I’ve drawn inspiration from the captivating diversity of our country. South Africa’s spirit, especially embodied by its incredible women, is a wellspring of inspiration,” says Coetzee.  “These gowns are a testament to the power of unity – just as countless individual beads come together to form these dresses, our rainbow nation’s strength shines brightest when we stand together.”