Just two years after Demi Leigh Neil-Peters took home the Miss Universe crown in 2017, we witnessed how it went back to South Africa again as their delegate Zozibini Tunzi for the 68th edition of the competition held on Monday, December 9, at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, USA triumphantly snagged the highly coveted title.
Consistently wowing us with her exemplary performances in each portion of the prestigious beauty pageant, there’s definitely no doubt onto why she was hailed as Miss Universe 2019.
Zozibini was the first one to qualify for the semifinals. Dazzling in a silver halter mini dress, the go-getter gal, who was revealed to be starting her every day by singing out loud, disclosed that her go-to song in the past week prior to the contest was “Brown Skin Girl” by Hollywood diva Beyonce featuring rappers SAINt JHN and Wizkid to “activate that black girl magic”.
Being the fourth to advance to the finals, Miss South Africa was among the huge percentage of South African students who had to stop their education due to ballooning student loans. However, due to her perseverance and persistence, she was able to go back to school after a year of working as a model and being part of Miss South Africa and eventually graduated.
She then slayed the catwalk with how she paraded in her floral two-piece with cape during the swimsuit showdown and stunned us with how she confidently sashayed in her shiny, elegant number that, according to her, represented where she came from.
With the confidence and grace she exuded in the early parts of the contention, her streak went on until the Final Round wherein she was among the Top 5.
Asked regarding her comments on the actions being taken by the world leaders towards protecting the future generations from climate change, Zozibini eloquently retorted, “I think that the future leaders could do a little bit more. However, I feel like we, as individuals ourselves, could also play a part in making the climate the way it should be in the future. Children are protesting for the climate, and I feel like adults should join as well, and corporations should join as well. The government should take it seriously. I mean, sixth grade have been learning that the climate is deteriorating and the planet is dying. It is up to us to keep our planet safe. Thank you.”
Because of her on-point answer, she’s able to advance to the Top 3, in which she battled it out with Miss Mexico Sofia Aragon and Miss Puerto Rico Madison Anderson as they answered the question, “What is the most important thing we should teach young girls today?”
Each one of them gave varied answers, but it was hers that definitely stood out the most:
“I think the most important thing we should be teaching young girls today is leadership. It’s something that has been lacking in young girls and women for a very long time not because we don’t want to, but because of what society has labeled women to be. I think, we are the most powerful beings in the world and that we should be given every opportunity and that is what we should be teaching young girls – to take up space. Nothing is important as taking up space in society and cementing yourself,” she conveyed.
WATCH: The winning answer of Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi
She was the one to start it, yet she was amazingly the one to end it for she was eventually hailed as the Miss Universe 2019. Miss Puerto Rico was her runner-up while Miss Mexico placed third.
Congratulations, Miss South Africa!