Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi commenced her New Year’s celebration with a powerful and inspiring message for the world to behold. She posted a picture of her on social media with a caption, “To the year of disrupting toxic status quo! To the year of shaking tables! To the year of being fearless! Happy New Year”.
Zozibini Tunzi was crowned Miss Universe 2019 on 8th December 2019 at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America by her predecessor Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray of Philippines.
Zozibini Tunzi’s win was marked as one of the most pathbreaking win on the Miss Universe platform as she is the third black woman from South Africa to win the crown. The public relations graduate has been praised for using the platform to breakdown beauty pageant stereotypes. Zozibini Tunzi after winning the crown took her social media to share her joy with the world with a picture and caption, ‘So here sits the crown, beautifully so on my kinky coarse hair. I hope I make South Africa proud.’
On The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi expressed her feelings about how she had to deal with online bullying by the people of her home country; South Africa after she was crowned Miss South Africa 2019. She revealed that people commented on her picture how she was a ‘downgrade’ from the previous Miss South Africa and about her skin. The diva stated that she is not mad at the people who commented on her skin because that’s how the society has labelled beauty to be. The further you are from being fair, the uglier you are and, in that moment, she just saw it as an educational moment. She recalled a moment where she put up a post about the incident and took a stand against colourist and racism. She wants to her purpose and everything she’s passionate about to reflect her even after she steps out of the crown.
The 26-year-old diva revealed during an interview that she was advised to wear a wig during the competition by her team as well as her closed ones but, she decided to go with her natural hair for the competition and won the title. It was right from the beginning of the event that Zozibini had already impressed the judges and when it came time for the question and answer segment, she aced it.
She was asked, “What the most important thing is to teach girls today.?” To which the diva answered that according to her the most important thing young girls should be taught is leadership. Girls or women in general are the most powerful beings on the Earth and should be given every opportunity. They should know to acquire space in the society and cement themselves.
Zozibini Tunzi will have a filled 2020, with her travelling all over the world sharing her feeling on issues she is passionate about. There will be several events she will be attending which will see her alongside Hollywood’s best. It will no doubt be an exciting time for her.