Beauty pageants stir up plenty of conversations these days. Critics question their relevance in our modern world and wonder about the fate of contestants once the spotlight dims. Meanwhile, supporters view these competitions as valuable launching pads that create meaningful opportunities for young women.But former Miss SA Peggy Sue Khumalo proves there's definitely life after wearing the crown. After her reign, she earned economics degrees from the University of Manchester, worked at Investec Bank UK, and later headed wealth management at Standard Bank South Africa. I recently caught up with her at the Miss SA 2025 crowning ceremony. We had a great conversation about the opportunities pageants create, her current projects, and her perspectives on black excellence in today's world.

Great to see you! What have you been up to lately? working on any interesting projects these days?

I'm still a Banker with Investec, an opportunity created by Nelson Mandela who asked Stephen Koseff to sponsor my education. I completed my Economics and Finance degrees and love being a black woman in this male-dominated field. My work speaks for itself with the impact I've made in financial services. My most passionate project involved getting South Africans engaged in the G20 Leaders Summit hosted here, supporting our government while thinking about policy recommendations and legacy projects - whether in digital transformation, finance, energy transition, or other global issues affecting our communities.

I used to care about supporting our government, but corruption and lack of accountability turned me off. What could actually make me interested in backing them again?

We shouldn't lose interest or hope in our government. Even during these challenging times in South Africa, it's essential that we continue to hold our leaders accountable for their actions. Yes, we're going through a difficult period right now, but I firmly believe we will overcome these obstacles. Let's pray our leaders do right by us. Remember Mandela's generation? They selflessly served everyone in the country. We can get back to that. They showed us what's possible when leaders truly put the people first. That same spirit of leadership and sacrifice can exist today if we demand it and support those who demonstrate it.

The path forward might not be easy, but by staying engaged and holding those in power accountable, we can help shape a better future for South Africa. Our democracy depends on active citizenship, not passive acceptance.

You've truly established yourself as one of the trailblazing black women in the financial services industry, breaking barriers and creating pathways where few existed before. This brings me to something I've been wondering about: What does the concept of "Black excellence" actually mean to you personally? 

Black excellence has always existed in our society, and it's about time it's finally being elevated and highlighted. To me,when I think about what black excellence truly means, several key elements come to mind. At its core, it represents purpose-driven action and leadership built on a foundation of character and integrity. It embodies those individuals who serve as innovators - the people actively changing and impacting society in positive, meaningful ways.That's what Black excellence should be.

We're at the MISS SA 2025 Crowning, and I'm curious - with all the mixed feelings about pageants lately and questions about their relevance in modern society, what do you think?

I believe pageants like Miss South Africa absolutely remain relevant in today's society, though the Miss SA Organization continuously needs to evolve to maintain that relevance. It's significant that we now refer to the finalists as "young female leaders" rather than simply "young girls" - this language shift reflects the changing nature of these competitions. When Basetsana Khumalo and I entered the pageant, we were teenagers, just 19 years old. Today's contestants are established women in their late twenties - 27 to 28 years old - who have already made their mark. These are accomplished young female leaders who are actively creating impact in their communities and achieving remarkable things in various fields. The pageant has transformed from being primarily about physical beauty to celebrating women who are taking up meaningful space in society and driving positive change.