By THERESE MARGOLIS

It should come as no surprise to those who know her and her extraordinary charm and beauty that Thando Nomthandazo Dlomo, wife of South African Ambassador to Mexico Dennis Thokozani Dlomo, has made it to the finals in the competition for Mrs. South Africa.

In total, 25 finalists were chosen for the pageant — the most important in South Africa for married women — during a lavish Winter Ball at Johannesburg’s prestigous Emperors Palace Hotel on Friday, Aug. 20.

The finalists announcement came after three days of intensive deliberations by an independent panel of seven judges, based on beauty, talent, social commitment and leadership skills.

The highly coveted title of Mrs. South Africa is aimed at celebrating diversity and uplifting women of all creeds, race, religions, cultures and abilities.

The pageant offers married women an acclaimed self-discovery program that allows them to further develop the skills of strong, talented and confident female leaders.

The organization also provides women with an opportunity to invest in themselves and to play a part in bettering the lives of those around them.

The final competition will be held in November, when the new Mrs, South Africa will be crowned at the Emperors Palace on Friday, Nov. 26, where Nomthandazo Dlomo will no doubt continue to place among the best.

A native of the KwaMashu township, just north of Durban, Nomthandazo Dlomo worked as a project officer in the KwaZulu-Natal region of South Africa, as well as as a business advisor for Tradepoint South Africa, before joining the Gagasi FM radio team as a content producer.

In 2014, she was named appointment secretary for then-South African Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Siyabonga Cwele and began working as a freelance journalist at Ukhasi newspaper, focusing primarily on business features.

One year later, she was recruited to work under then-South African President Jacob Zuma, and later joined the AIDS Foundation of South Africa.

In 1994, Nomthandazo Dlomo broke away from government work to begin a career in modeling with the Ruebo Models agency.

So far, she has competed in eight beauty pageants.