Miss SA top 12 finalist Levern José withdraws from the pageant
Levern ‘Donatella’ José has withdrawn from the top 12 finalists in the Miss South Africa 2023 pageant due to bullying accusations.
Levern José withdraws from Miss SA top 12 finalist due to bullying accusation
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 levelled against me. While I firmly believe in my own accountability and responsibility, I also hold steadfastly to the principles of fairness and justice.”
Jose is set to fight against bullying and to create more awareness about the issue.
“The Miss South Africa organisation 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 own healing,” the organisation said in a press statement.
