Mbali Dlamini thought she was just documenting a dream trip to New York.
Instead, the South African beauty queen found herself at the center of a viral frenzy—because some people genuinely believed she was someone else entirely.
Not just anyone either, but Nandipha Magudumana, the controversial figure accused in one of South Africa’s biggest criminal scandals in recent memory.
Miss Charm 2024 Goes Viral for Her Uncanny Lookalike
While casually vlogging her sightseeing moments in New York City, Mbali Dlamini—former Miss SA finalist and reigning Miss Charm 2024—unexpectedly sparked a social media storm.
Her TikTok clip, which showed her strolling through Manhattan, drew comments from viewers who were convinced they were looking at the infamous aesthetics doctor, Nandipha Magudumana.
The reactions online were a mix of shock and suspicion.
Some people joked, others sounded dead serious.
One user commented, “The justice system has failed us!” Another quipped, “New country, new life for Magudumana?”
It didn’t take long for the video to gain traction—and suddenly Mbali’s face was being compared to one of the most controversial names in South African crime news.
Mbali Speaks Out and Sets the Record Straight
Amused but clearly a bit unsettled, Mbali took the comments in stride.
She responded to the chatter with a message asking people to stop the comparisons.
In her captioned TikTok reply, she wrote, “First vlog, really nervous.”
And with that, she subtly made it known that she was just trying to share her travel experience—not be mistaken for someone facing serious criminal charges back home.
Why the Confusion Happened in the First Place
To be fair, the resemblance is striking. Both women share similar facial features—slim builds, high cheekbones, and a polished sense of style.
It’s not the first time the comparison has been made, either.
Mbali’s elegance and camera presence have always drawn attention, even back in 2019 when she was a Miss SA finalist alongside Zozibini Tunzi.
Since then, she’s grown her public image, recently earning the crown as Miss Charm 2024.
She’s also a Strategic Brand Communication graduate from Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, and continues to build her brand in modeling and content creation.
Meanwhile, the Real Nandipha Is Still in Custody
While Mbali enjoys her travels and deals with unexpected internet fame, the real Nandipha Magudumana remains behind bars.
She’s currently held at Kroonstad correctional centre and awaiting trial alongside her partner and co-accused, Thabo Bester.
The pair faces serious charges, including allegedly orchestrating Bester’s prison break in 2022, fraud, and abuse of multiple deceased bodies.
Earlier this month, a pre-trial hearing was held at the Free State High Court, but proceedings were postponed until 19 September.
The full trial is set to begin on 10 November at the Bloemfontein High Court.
Is It Just a Coincidence—or Something More?
The internet can be quick to jump to conclusions, especially when a familiar face pops up unexpectedly.
But in this case, Mbali Dlamini’s only crime is looking a bit too much like someone whose name is all over the headlines for the wrong reasons.
So, what do you think—do they really look that alike? Or is it just another classic case of internet mistaken identity?