The South African beauty Lalela Mswane made history by being crowned as the first black and the first South African Miss Supranational. The finale of Miss Supranational 2022 was held on 15th July 2022 in Nowy Sacz, Malopolska, Poland.
Personal and Family background
Lalela Mswane is 26 years of age who was born in Richards Bay, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa on 27th March 1997. Her father, Muntu Mswane, was an Eswatini-born former diplomat and minister who died in 2010. Her mother Hleliselwe Mthiyane-Mswane worked as an accounts clerk and homemaker. She is the youngest of three children, having an elder brother and sister.
Educational Qualifications
Lalela Mswane is a is a South African ballet dancer, model, singer and beauty queen. After completing her secondary education at Pro Arte Alphen Park in 2015, Mswane enrolled in the University of Pretoria, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree. Mswane worked as a professional model signed to the South African modeling agency Alushi Models. Lalela speaks Zulu, French and English fluently.
Pageantry Experience
Mswane began her pageantry career after participating in the Matric Experience 2015 pageant, where she finished as the first runner-up. In 2021, Lalela became a part of the Top 30 competing for Miss South Africa 2022. The finals of Miss South Africa 2021 were held on 16th October 2022 at Grand West Arena in Cape Town where she won the Miss South Africa 2021 crown.
As Miss South Africa 2021, Mswane won the opportunity to represent South Africa at Miss Universe 2021.
Mswane received widespread criticism within South Africa for agreeing to compete in Miss Universe 2021, which was set to be held in Israel, due to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. She did compete at Miss Universe 2021 and placed as the second runner-up. Lalela, on 15th February 2022, was appointed Miss Supranational South Africa 2022.
Advocacy
In June 2020 she established her nonprofit organization called the Lalela Mswane Foundation, which strives to empower the youth to soar beyond the boundaries that life has placed before them. She also launched a new advocacy campaign titled #BeReady. The program aims at helping budding entrepreneurs learn how to become employers rather than job seekers. Mswane, at the same time, embarked on her own entrepreneurial venture – an online clothing company with positiviTee’s at its core.
On her win
Lalela, on winning Miss Supranational 2022, exclaimed, “With this crown I carry the hopes, dreams of women who have come before me and those to come. It serves as affirmation that no dream is too small, no journey insurmountable to conquer. May it be a constant reminder to allow your feet to lead you to wherever it is your heart desires. Thank you @misssupranational for trusting me with this crown. I look forward to making this year a truly incredible one. My beloved @official_misssa ,South Africa and team Lali, your love kept me going and I’m filled with so much gratitude. We did it Mzansi.”
