10 things about Miss World South Africa 2023 Claude Mashego

Dr. Claude Mmakgaka Mashego represented South Africa in the 71st edition of Miss World. Representing the African country, Rolene Strauss and Penelope Coelen won the international beauty pageant in 1958 and 2014, respectively.

BIOGRAPHY

Hailing from Acornhoek, Bushbuckridge, Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga, South Africa, Mashego is a South African medical doctor, surgeon and beauty queen. She speaks English, Sepedi, Setswana, siSwati, Sotho, Venda, Xhosa, Xitsonga and Zulu.

Mashego is 5’6″ tall. Here are 10 more things about her:

1. She is an alumna of Orhovelani High School in Thulamahashe, Bushbuckridge and the University of Pretoria in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
2. She is the founder of the Young Leaders Network (YLN), a nonprofit that fosters emerging leaders and community contributors in South Africa through mentorship and guidance.
3. From January 2012 to November 2015, she was a Orhovelani High School student.
4. From January 2016 to December 2021, she attended the University of Pretoria where she earned her medical degree.
5. In November 2018, she visited Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
6. On December 1, 2019, she was named Face of Miss Boss Couture 2019.
7. She is Miss Mpumalanga 2021.
8. She won Miss World South Africa 2023.
9. She was a Miss World 2023 quarterfinalist.
10. On March 25, 2025, she turned 26.

TIMELINE

Mashego completed her degree in medicine and surgery two years earlier than the national average in South Africa. Two years before competing at Miss World 2023, she started working as a medical intern in Africa’s largest hospital, which is also the third largest hospital in the world. 

2021

• In February 2021, she became the deputy secretary general of the Maripi-Orhovelani Alumni Organization.
• On May 29, 2021, she was crowned Miss Mpumalanga 2021 at Emnotweni Casino in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.

2022

• In March 2022, she founded Young Leaders Network.
• On June 15, 2022, she visited NP Mathabela Secondary School in Acornhoek.
• In November 2022, the Health Excellence Organization recognized her with an honorary award as a community builder.

2023

• On August 18, 2023, she visited Lekete High School in Acornhoek.
• On October 28, 2023, she competed against 11 other Miss World South Africa 2023 finalists at The South African State Theatre in Pretoria and won the title.

2024

• On January 19, 2024, she attended the announcement of the 2023 Grade 12 National Senior Certificate Examination Results at the University of Mpumalanga in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.
• On March 9, 2024, she represented South Africa at Miss World 2023 and competed against 111 other candidates at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India. She finished in the Top 40.

2025