Kimberley, Northern Cape
Mabalane was born Gail Nkoane and raised in the town of Kimberley, Northern Cape in South Africa. She is the middle child of three children. Her mother entered her into her first pageant, "Miss Tinkerbell" when she was five years old. It was at this point that her family noticed her potential. In 2005, she was a Top 5 Miss SA Teen Finalist.