Levern ‘Donatella’ José has withdrawn from the top 12 finalists in the Miss South Africa 2023 pageant due to bullying accusations. Shortly after she was mentioned among the top 12 finalists she was accused of bullying by schoolmates on social media.
Levern released a statement to announce her withdrawal.
“As a survivor of bullying, I learned how to protect myself from bullying during my school years. If my actions in protecting myself caused harm to anyone, I offer my sincere apologies. The pain of being a target has left an indelible mark on my heart, and I would never intentionally cause hurt or contribute to someone else’s suffering,” José said in the statement.
“Kindness, respect, and empathy have always been my guiding principles, and I have unwaveringly worked to adhere to these values. It deeply troubles me that such grave accusations could be leveled against me. While I firmly believe in my accountability and responsibility, I also hold steadfastly to the principles of fairness and justice.”
Jose is set to fight against bullying and create more awareness about the issue.
“The Miss South Africa organization does not condone bullying of any kind. We accept Levern’s decision to pull out of the competition and respect her for owning her truth and taking this time to focus on her healing,” the organization said in a press statement.
In other news – Zimbabwean woman arrested in SA for killing newborn baby
A 27-year-old Zimbabwean woman was arrested by South African police for allegedly killing her newborn baby before concealing the body in an empty stand at Ratsaka village in the Morebeng area of Limpopo Province.
In a statement yesterday, the South African provincial police spokesperson for Limpopo, Lieutenant Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the incident occurred last Thursday. Read More
