Clinical audiologist, model and community development advocate crowned Miss World South Africa 2026 on Mandela Day
At a time when conversations around healthcare access, women’s health and youth empowerment remain more urgent than ever, 27-year-old clinical audiologist and community advocate Romanda Hombir is taking South Africa’s story of purpose, resilience and grassroots impact to the global stage.
Hombir, who hails from kaNyamazane in Mpumalanga, was crowned Miss World South Africa 2026 on Mandela Day, 18 July 2026, at the Barnyard Theatre in Pretoria. She will now represent the country at the 75th Anniversary Edition of the Miss World Festival, taking place in Vietnam from 9 August to 5 September 2026.
But for Hombir, the crown is about far more than beauty.
It is an opportunity to amplify the work she has already been doing for years through her organisation, the Caring Purpose Foundation, which focuses on improving access to healthcare, education, nutrition and skills development in underserved communities.
Her Beauty With a Purpose project is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: healthcare should not be a privilege determined by where a person lives or what they can afford.
Through the Caring Purpose Foundation, Hombir has been involved in health screenings, literacy programmes, nutrition interventions, educational initiatives, skills training and partnerships with organisations serving vulnerable communities.
Now, as she prepares to represent South Africa internationally, she hopes to use the Miss World platform to take these conversations further – particularly around the need for accessible healthcare and education for young people and underserved communities.
“This crown represents a responsibility far greater than myself. I come from a community that has shaped me, and I know first-hand how important access to information, healthcare and opportunity can be. My purpose is to use every platform available to me to create awareness, inspire action and contribute to meaningful change,” says Hombir.
A qualified clinical audiologist, motivational speaker and model, Hombir also advocates strongly for women living with endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and fibroids — conditions that continue to affect millions of women while often remaining misunderstood, underdiagnosed or inadequately addressed.
Her advocacy is informed by her broader commitment to health literacy and ensuring that people are empowered with the information they need to make informed decisions about their wellbeing.
Of Swati, Zulu and German heritage, Hombir represents the diverse identity of modern South Africa. Her journey from kaNyamazane, Mpumalanga, to the international Miss World stage is also a story of persistence. She was previously crowned second runner-up at Miss World South Africa 2024 and placed in the top three at the Miss Supranational South Africa 2026 competition before ultimately claiming the national Miss World title this year.
Hombir’s long-term ambition is to work alongside international organisations, including the United Nations, to advance access to healthcare, education and nutrition globally.
As she prepares to travel to Vietnam for the 75th Miss World Festival, her mission is clear: to ensure that her platform is not only seen, but used. “I want people to understand that purpose can come from anywhere. It can come from a rural community, a clinic, a classroom or a conversation. My journey is about showing young people that where you come from does not have to limit where you are going,” she says.
For South Africa, Hombir’s participation at Miss World offers more than a moment of national pride. It presents an opportunity to spotlight the work being done by young South Africans who are using their professional skills and personal experiences to address some of the country’s most pressing challenges. From healthcare screenings and literacy initiatives to advocacy for women’s health, Hombir is taking a distinctly purpose-driven approach to the Miss World stage.
And as she prepares to compete in Vietnam, the clinical audiologist from Mpumalanga is carrying with her a message that extends far beyond the crown: that access to healthcare, education, nutrition and opportunity should not be a privilege, it should be a right.