I've just checked the Miss International contestant list and note that Matapa Maila will be representing South Africa at the pageant early in November. Matapa competed at the 2008 Miss Earth pageant where she was unplaced.Her participation at Miss International is probably courtesy of Beauties of Africa Inc, a pageant production company that promotes African beauties at various international events. They were responsible for sending Bokang Montjane to the 2009 edition of Miss International.
Matapa's participation is a tad surprising since I was under the impression that the cut-off age for entrants at Miss International is 23. Well it was 23 until recently. Given that black women traditionally don't perform well at this Japanese-run pageant, I'm also surprised that any organisation would spent time and money entering a black delegate.
I have always been of the opinion that Sun International should secure the Miss International franchise and send their white titleholders (or a white runner-up should Miss SA be non-white) to Miss International after her participation at Miss Universe. A non-white titleholder (or a non-white runner-up should Miss SA be white) should compete at Miss World and give the Miss International pageant a miss.
Merit aside, Nicole and Matapa will be competing at the "wrong" pageants. Nicole would stand a better chance at Miss International and Matapa would stand a better chance at Miss World of at least making the semi-finals in these pageants.
I could be wrong, but I don't think either contestant will be successful at the pageants they are attending. Not because they don't deserve to, but because they don't fit the mould.