As part of her philanthropic duties for that whole beauty with a purpose thing, SA's fairest of them all Demi Leigh Nel Peters joined some volunteers as part of the Maslow Hotel's Soup Kitchen initiative which saw 300 children receive meals yesterday.
And while the purpose of the post was to highlight the current Miss SA doing good, some South Africans were focused on something entirely different.
Why is Miss SA wearing surgical gloves though??? https://t.co/rBviVhSyLP
— Flo Letoaba (@floletoaba) July 5, 2017
All volunteers were asked to wear gloves when handling food for hygiene purposes.
— Miss South Africa (@Official_MissSA) July 5, 2017
What the hell is the story with Miss SA and the latex gloves?
— Conrad (@DBNBOYGP) July 5, 2017
What did she think she will catch from the kids.
Those pictures of Miss SA wearing gloves around black kids disturbs me 💔
— pumpkin (@minnie_luu) July 5, 2017
The situation then became a talking point for the nation with many coming to Miss SA's defence, posting images of other instances in which she completed her charity work without wearing gloves.
@DemiLeighNP I am confused Miss SA.Was these pics taken on the same event? If so why are you not wearing gloves on the other pic? pic.twitter.com/e42Gp77ujQ
— Sir [email protected] (@dramuada75) July 6, 2017
But at the centre of it all was Demi Leigh who had gotten word of the accusations and took to social media last night to clarify the situation. In the video, Peters is visibly emotional as she tries to clear up what she calls a misunderstanding.
She said that she wore gloves purely for hygiene purposes and that the other volunteers also had gloves on. She also added that the focal point of this should be the fact that children who otherwise go hungry got meals that they don't usually get.
Most social media users are not accepting her explanation however and continue to question her wearing the gloves.
If our Miss SA has Put on those Gloves for Hygiene purposes then why didn't she put on Hair Net and an Apron. aaaaarg man don't fool us pic.twitter.com/4PEq1SH8GP
— IG:IAM_Tido_Benedict (@Thato_Sewetsi) July 5, 2017
So Miss SA na sa tshwanela ho rwala di gloves ho bontsha hore o rata bo darkie?!
— MommySelf 😛😛😛 (@Thato_hatsi) July 6, 2017
What do you think? Unnecessary outrage or justifiable scrutiny?
Update:
South African social media users tried to ridicule Miss SA by creating the #MissSAChallenge in which they completed ordinary tasks while wearing gloves and other things wrapped in plastic
Me looking at twitter #MissSAChallenge cause like ya'll are dirty 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/HHJJ2ECZjg
— Unathi (@FirstLadyNathi) July 6, 2017
#MissSAChallenge studying can be hard when you have to consider hygiene pic.twitter.com/QZSn8pbMlo
— Griffiths Mahlangu (@King_Mahlela) July 6, 2017
#MissSAChallenge
— 🎂💎 23rd June 💎🎂 (@Tumi_majadibodu) July 6, 2017
Was at work minding my own business but then i remembered. Hygiene 1st pic.twitter.com/Wf81zsdTT4
Jack Mabaso always knew it's #SafetyFirst #MissSAChallenge pic.twitter.com/RLG0Lemj7F
— Nomalanga (@ElleLiraGobeni) July 6, 2017
But, PLOT TWIST, Miss SA was in on the joke too and used if for a good cause. She posted her own #MissSAChallenge video and challenged South Africa to join her at the next soup kitchen in order to make a real difference in the lives of the children at the shelter.
Plus it looks like homegirl is a little shady and petty because she ended the video by blowing South Africa a kiss with a hand covered by a glove. We see you Demi Leigh
Hey SA , here's my challenge to you... #misssachallenge pic.twitter.com/MaeT6Q31jJ
— Demi-LeighNel-Peters (@DemiLeighNP) July 6, 2017
View the rest of the #MissSAchallenge tweets by clicking here. They are comedy GOLD.
Main image credit: instagram.com/official_misssa