Zozibini Tunzi made history on the 8th of December, 2019 when she became the first black woman from South Africa to wear the Miss Universe crown. In 2017, Tunzi participated in the Miss South Africa pageant where she made the top 26. In 2019, she won the pageant, becoming Miss South Africa 2019, and then winning the crown at the Miss Universe Pageant.
South African, Zozibini Tunzi is Miss Universe 2019
Miss South Africa smiles as she’s named Miss Universe. Paras Griffin/Stringer/Getty Images (insider.com)
According to the Sierra Leone Times, Zozibini Tunzi’s role models are her parents. She learned kindness, humility and the need to help people from her mother and from her father, she learned the importance of hard work, education and discipline.
Zozibini Tunzi waves after being named Miss Universe 2019. Paras Griffin/Stringer/Getty Images (insider.com)
A proud daughter
She posted an emotional message of gratitude to her parents after her Miss Universe victory: “I am because you are. You’ve given me life, you’ve raised me to be the woman I am so that I can stand in a faraway land proudly knowing where I’m rooted and where I come from. You’ve sacrificed so much and fought battles I don’t even know about, everything so that we could have all the opportunities the Universe has to offer. I am forever grateful and hope to make you proud, every single day of my life! Ndiyabulela, kwaye ndinithanda ngentliziyo yam yonke.❤️”
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In the name of the girl child
Tunzi, 26, is an activist, dedicated to fighting gender-based violence. She also posted a word of encouragement for young girls all over the world. “Tonight a door was opened and I could not be more grateful to have been the one to have walked through it. May every little girl who witnessed this moment, forever believe in the power of her dreams and may they see their faces reflected in mine. I am #MissUniverse2019.”
