Miss Universe South Africa 2025, Melissa Nayimuli, celebrated a special milestone this week—her 30th birthday. The beauty queen shared heartfelt reflections on her last year in her twenties, posting, “My last year in my 20s felt like a miracle. Like God looked at me and said, ‘Okay… now what else do you want?’ The journey to the ‘wins’ was anything but easy. My 20s were pure character development, because YOH! Every lesson, every delay, every stretch season had purpose, even when it didn’t feel like it at the time. As I step into my 30s, I do so humbled, deeply grateful, and genuinely excited for what this next chapter holds. Hello 30!!!”
Melissa also thanked her fans for the birthday wishes, saying, “A 30-year-old. Thank you so much for the birthday wishes, guys!”
Her fiancé, film director Mandla N, shared a touching message celebrating the milestone. “Another year older, and honestly, I’m just grateful I get to do life with you. You make the ordinary days better, the hard days easier, and the good days unforgettable. Watching you grow into yourself is something I never take for granted. Happy Birthday my love, I can’t wait for all the moments still ahead of us,” he wrote.
The couple recently shared an Instagram post capturing a magical moment from their trip to Thailand in December 2025, when Mandla proposed. Captioned, “Our favourite scene yet: Saying yes,” the romantic post quickly went viral, drawing attention from fans across social media.
2025 has been a landmark year for Melissa professionally as well. A former Miss South Africa finalist, she proudly represented South Africa as one of 120 contestants at the prestigious Miss Universe pageant in Thailand. Melissa took to the stage on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, for the highly anticipated preliminary competition, showcasing her poise and confidence on the global stage.
As Melissa steps into her 30s, she does so with grace, gratitude, and an excitement for the future—both in love and in her career. Fans and well-wishers continue to celebrate her journey, inspired by her words about growth, perseverance, and embracing every chapter of life.
