A wave of excitement is building in Vhembe as family, friends, community leaders and the modelling fraternity prepare to give 17-year-old beauty queen Shibe Naho Comfort Denga a royal send-off before she departs to represent South Africa on the international stage.
The farewell ceremony will be held at the Thohoyandou Town Hall (George Phadagi Hall) on Friday, 3 July, under the theme Carrying Our Name, Our Culture, Our Dreams to Singapore.
Event organiser Dinah Denga said the ceremony is more than a farewell celebration. “It is an opportunity for the community to unite behind one of its own as she prepares to compete in the prestigious Miss Global Universe 2026 pageant in Singapore and Malaysia from 7 to 12 July,” she said.
Speaking ahead of the event, Comfort said she wanted to celebrate with the people who believed in her long before she earned national recognition.
Born and raised in Ha-Mangilasi Block E, Comfort is currently a Grade 11 learner at LTT Murunwa School of Excellence in Louis Trichardt. Earlier this year, she was crowned Miss Global Universe South Africa 2026, earning the right to represent the country against contestants from across the world.
Her rise in the modelling industry has been inspiring. She only began her pageantry journey in 2024, while in Grade 9, but has quickly established herself as a determined young ambassador who balances her studies with modelling, while promoting confidence, discipline and perseverance among young people.
Comfort says she will proudly carry not only the South African flag but also the rich cultural heritage of the Vhavenda onto the international stage. The royal send-off is also expected to serve as a platform for businesses, organisations and individuals wishing to sponsor her international campaign.
For more information about the event, phone 076 254 5153 or 076 071 0401.