Miss South Africa, Zozibini Tunzi, has emerged the winner of the 2019 Miss Universe Pageantry, one of the big four global beauty pageants.
Excelling through rounds of swimsuit and evening gown prances, questions on social issues and why she is the right choice, Tunzi was picked ahead of two runner-ups: Sofia Aragon (Miss Mexico) and Madison Anderson (Miss Puerto Rico).
In her last response, she said, “I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me – with my kind of skin and my kind of hair – was never considered to be beautiful. I think it is time that that stops today. I want children to look at me and see my face and I want them to see their faces reflected in mine.”
Tunzi becomes the fourth African to clinch the crown after Mpule Kwelagobe (Botswana), Leila Lopes (Angola) and Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters (South Africa), all of whom won the beauty pageant in 1999, 2011 and 2017, respectively.
The previous edition’s winner, Catriona Gray from the Philippines who spoke during the pageantry said that the past year has been “unforgettable, life-changing and purposeful.”
“We’re getting this amazing platform to voice the things we’re passionate about, the things we care about. I always had a voice, but Miss Universe allowed me to amplify it.” she said via a video feed.
The competition was hosted at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.