More than a crown: Talitha Oosthuizen's campaign against GBV
Mrs SA 2nd Princess Talitha Oosthuizen launches a bold 16 Days campaign to tackle GBV and human trafficking: “More than a crown – breaking the chains of GBV.”
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Talitha Oosthuizen isn’t interested in glamour. Fresh off being crowned Mrs South Africa 2nd Princess, she’s stepping straight into the country’s fight against gender-based violence — and she’s doing it with urgency.
Unveiling her 16 Days of Activism campaign, “More Than a Crown – Breaking the Chains of GBV,” Oosthuizen said she’s using her platform to drive real impact. She joined the national Women for Change demonstration this week, signalling that her reign will be rooted in activism, not pageantry.
South Africa’s GBV crisis paints a bleak picture. In the first three months of 2025 alone, 137 women were murdered and over 1,000 were raped. Research shows one in three women has experienced physical intimate partner violence — a lifetime reality for millions.
“These are not just statistics,” she said. “I refuse to let a crown just sit pretty. I will use every opportunity I have to shine a light on the darkest corners of our society, where far too many women and children suffer in silence.”
Oosthuizen is no stranger to advocacy. She says trafficking and GBV are often intertwined through exploitation, coercion and violence.
Her message to survivors is direct: You are not your trauma. She urges women to seek help, reclaim their worth and refuse to be defined by past abuse.
She also hopes more women will seize opportunities for growth, including entering the Mrs South Africa pageant. “It’s never too late to chase your dreams,” she said. “Whether it’s entering a pageant, pursuing a career, or advocating for change — your voice and your story matter.”
Perfection isn’t the requirement, she added. “You don’t need to be perfect. You just need the courage to stand up, to speak out, and to lead.”
“I may wear a crown, but I carry a mission to help break the chains of gender-based violence, to uplift women, and to fight for a South Africa where women and children live in safety, dignity, and hope.”
Shattering Shackles says funding is critical to expand its work. Founder Susan Saila said donations help pay investigators, psychologists and other frontline professionals who support survivors. With limited capacity nationwide, only one in 250 trafficking victims is currently found and freed in South Africa.
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