Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa claimed the Miss Universe 2019 crown on 8th December 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The beauty queen beat 90 contestants to take the crown in the final of one of the world’s most prestigious pageants becoming the third Miss Universe to hail from South Africa. Since her crowning, Zozibini has been quite busy with her reigning responsibilities but has her home coming scheduled from 8th – 15th February 2020. Tunzi is scheduled to embark on a week-long celebration that includes visits to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Mthatha and the two villages she grew up in, Tsolo and Dutywa in the Eastern Cape.
Zozibini Tunzi landed to her home country on Saturday and was met with singing and loud cheers by the people. She was welcomed by a delegation of government officials including Minister of Communications and Telecommunications, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and current Miss South Africa Sasha-Lee Olivier. Addressing the crowds at the airport on Saturday, Zozi thanked South Africans for their overwhelming support. "I have been feeling the love of South Africans since I got crowned Miss South Africa, even before going to Miss Universe. Because of that, while I was walking on the Miss Universe stage, I knew that I was there as one body, but as I stood on that stage, I stood as millions of South Africans.”
During a triumphant homecoming, Tunzi was also welcomed by the deputy minister for Department of Arts and Culture, Maggie Sotyu. “Her crown is our crown, so we are all Miss Universe. Thank you for making us so proud, thank you for giving us something to brag about. Thank you for making us proud to be ourselves. Thank you for making that young girl out there actually believe in herself and know that it can be done.” said Sotyu.
Speaking during her homecoming celebrations at Mthatha Stadium in the Eastern Cape on Sunday, the 26-year-old beauty pageant winner said her Miss Universe title was a symbol of representation and inclusion. "I say it means inclusion, because when you see me, you see yourselves through me, and you are able to fight for the things that you want," she said.
Zozibini mentioned that she is very excited to start working in South Africa for the things she has always wanted to fulfill. She’s grateful to have a platform where she’s able to tell the world about her story and the truth of South African women and children. "I want all of us to fight for it so I can hand over my crown right here at home, so that young girls can look at it up close and personal and see that it's possible for all of us. This is about us believing in ourselves and our dreams, because your dream may not be to be Miss Universe, your dream might be for something else, but because you are able to see things happen, we are able to believe in ourselves," said Tunzi.
On Sunday i.e. 9th Februray 2020, she unveiled a mural that has been made in her honor by young Eastern Cape artists. The artwork was painted on a library wall in the reigning queen’s home town of Tsolo and depicts Zozi in full traditional dress surrounded by young people. At the unveiling, the queen thanked the team, pointing to their depiction of her saying: "They got me. That painting is beautiful and I love that they put me in traditional garb – a brightly colored Xhosa bead necklace and a beaded headscarf. It’s relatable to everyone who lives here and I can carry this image with me wherever I am in the world." On 13th February 2020, Zozibini Tunzi will be honored as a personal guest of President Cyril Ramaphosa at the State of the National Address in Cape Town.
Zozibini Tunzi will spend the next 12 months residing in New York as part of the Miss Universe Organization, where she will work alongside several charities and organizations.