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Zozibini Tunzi

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Zozibini Tunzi
Born (1993-09-18) 18 September 1993 (age 31)
Tsolo, Eastern Cape, South Africa
EducationCape Peninsula University of Technology
Height5ft 8in (1.73 m)
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss South Africa 2019
Miss Universe 2019
Hair colorBlack
Eye colorBrown
Major
competition(s)		Miss South Africa 2017
(Top 26)
Miss South Africa 2019
(Winner)
Miss Universe 2019
(Winner)

Zozibini Tunzi (born 18 September 1993) is a South African model and beauty pageant queen who was crowned Miss Universe 2019. Tunzi had previously been crowned Miss South Africa 2019. She is the third woman from South Africa to win the title, and the first black South African to be crowned Miss Universe.

With her win, 2019 became the first year that all four major United States-based pageants were won by black women; other titleholders were Nia Franklin (Miss America 2019), Kaliegh Garris (Miss Teen USA 2019), and Cheslie Kryst (Miss USA 2019).[1] Additionally, 2019 would also become the first year that black women won the two most prestigious international pageants after Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica later won Miss World 2019.[2][3]

Early life

Tunzi was born in Tsolo, Eastern Cape to parents Philiswa Nodapu and Lungisa Tunzi, and raised in the nearby village of Sidwadweni.[4][5] Tunzi is one of four sisters.[6] She later moved to Cape Town, settling in the Gardens suburb in order to attend Cape Peninsula University of Technology. She graduated with a National Diploma in public relations management in 2018.[7][8] In 2017, Tunzi was working as a model and living in East London, Eastern Cape.[9]

Prior to winning Miss South Africa, Tunzi was completing a Bachelor of Technology graduate degree in public relations management at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, and worked as a graduate intern in the public relations department of Ogilvy Cape Town.[10][11]

Career

Miss Universe

Miss South Africa 2019

Tunzi began her pageantry career in 2017, when she was accepted as one of the top 26 semifinalists of Miss South Africa 2017, although she was not selected as one of the twelve finalists.[12] She returned to pageantry to compete in Miss South Africa 2019. On 26 June 2019, Tunzi was confirmed as one of the top 35 semifinalists of the competition, among initial applications.[13] After further auditions, Tunzi was announced as one of the sixteen finalists on 11 July.[8][14]

After being selected as one of the finalists, Tunzi went on to compete in the Miss South Africa 2019 pageant in Pretoria on 9 August.[15] She progressed through the stages of the final, advancing to the top ten, then top five, and finally the top two until she was crowned the winner by predecessor Tamaryn Green, besting runner-up Sasha-Lee Olivier.[16][17] Following her win, Tunzi received prizes including R1 million, a new car, and a fully furnished apartment in the Sandton neighbourhood of Johannesburg, which is valued at R5 million, for her to use throughout her reign.[18] The achievement allowed Tunzi to represent South Africa at the Miss Universe 2019 competition.[17]

Miss Universe 2019

Tunzi arrived in Atlanta, Georgia for Miss Universe 2019 in November 2019.[19] She competed in the preliminaries on 6 December, and competed in the finals on 8 December at Tyler Perry Studios. During the competition, Tunzi advanced to the top twenty as the first semifinalist for the Africa/Asia-Pacific continental region. She then advanced to the top ten, then the top five, and ultimately the final three. By the end of the event, Tunzi was crowned Miss Universe 2019 by outgoing titleholder Catriona Gray of the Philippines, besting first runner-up Madison Anderson of Puerto Rico and second runner-up Sofía Aragón of Mexico.[20][21][22] Tunzi's win is South Africa's third Miss Universe crown; the first black South African woman to win the Miss Universe title, and the first to do so with afro-textured hair.[23] During the final round, the top three were each asked the same question: "What is the most important thing we should teach young girls today?"[24] To which Tunzi replied:

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 labelled 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 these young girls, to take up space, nothing is as important as taking up space in society and cementing yourself, thank you.[25]

As Miss Universe, Tunzi will reside in New York City, and will take part in a number of events and appearances throughout the world.[26] After winning Miss Universe, Tunzi was succeeded as Miss South Africa by her first runner-up Sasha-Lee Olivier.[27]

In her capacity as Miss Universe, Tunzi has traveled to Indonesia,[28][29] various cities and states within the United States,[30] and her home country of South Africa.[31]


References

  1. ^ Harmata, Claudia (December 10, 2019). "Making History: Current Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, Miss Teen USA Are All Black Women". People. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  2. ^ "Miss Jamaica crowned Miss World 2019". 15 December 2019.
  3. ^ Zaveri, Mihir (15 December 2019). "Black Women Now Hold Crowns in 5 Major Beauty Pageants". The New York Times.
  4. ^ Wilson, Samantha (8 December 2019). "Zozibini Tunzi: 5 Things To Know AboutMiss Universe 2019". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 10 December 2019
  5. ^ "Women's Day messages from Miss SA finalists". IOL. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019
  6. ^ Walsh, S.M. (8 December 2019). "Zozibini Tunzi, Miss Universe 2019: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy. Retrieved 10 December 2019
  7. ^ "Everything we know about your new Miss South Africa - Zozibini Tunzi". Sierra Leone Times. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019
  8. ^ a b Richardson, James (11 July 2019). "Miss South Africa 2019: Meet the 16 finalists – pictures". The South African. Retrieved 10 December 2019
  9. ^ "Zozibini Tunzi". Miss South Africa. Archived from the original on 2016-11-29. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Zozibini Tunzi - Miss SA Top 16 Finalist". Miss South Africa. 16 July 2019.
  11. ^ "Diploma and Degrees". Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Retrieved 9 August 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019
  12. ^ Prince, Shanaaz (10 August 2019). "Miss SA 2017 Semi-Finalists revealed!". Retrieved 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019
  13. ^ Prince, Shanaaz (26 June 2019). "Meet your top 35 Miss SA finalists!". Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  14. ^ Mazibuko, Thobile (19 July 2019). "Meet the Miss SA 2019 finalists". IOL. Retrieved 10 December 2019
  15. ^ "Uncertainty over: Miss SA pageant is set to continue". 2019-05-12. Retrieved 29 June 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019
  16. ^ Richardson, James (9 August 2019). "Miss South Africa 2019 is Zozibini Tunzi from the Eastern Cape". The South African.
  17. ^ a b Zeeman, Kyle (9 August 2019). "Zozibini Tunzi crowned Miss SA 2019". Times Live. Retrieved 10 December 2019
  18. ^ "Miss SA Zozibini Tunzi moves into her new R5m home". Big News Network. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019
  19. ^ Bhengu, Cebelihle (2 December 2019). "Look! Miss SA, Zozibini Tunzi, is living her best life in Atlanta". Times Live. Retrieved 10 December 2019
  20. ^ DeSantis, Rachel (8 December 2019). "Miss South Africa Zozibini Tunzi Crowned Miss Universe 2019". People.Retrieved 10 December 2019
  21. ^ Lapin, Tamar (8 December 2019). "Miss South Africa Zozibini Tunzi crowned Miss Universe 2019". New York Post.Retrieved 10 December 2019
  22. ^ Morin, Alyssa (2019-12-09). "Miss South Africa Zozibini Tunzi Is Crowned Miss Universe 2019". E!. Retrieved 10 December 2019
  23. ^ "Miss South Africa Zozibini Tunzi Crowned Miss Universe". Okay Africa. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019
  24. ^ "Miss Universe 2019: 'May every little girl see their faces reflected in mine'". BBC. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019
  25. ^ "TRANSCRIPT: Miss Universe 2019 final word answers". Rappler.
  26. ^ Maxouris, Christina (8 December 2019). "Miss South Africa crowned 2019 Miss Universe". CNN News. Retrieved 10 December 2019
  27. ^ Coetzee, Nikita (17 January 2020). "Sasha-Lee Olivier on taking over the Miss SA crown and having the courage to speak about surviving sexual abuse". Channel 24.
  28. ^ Coetzee, Nikita (2020-01-27). "PICS: Zozibini Tunzi explores Indonesia". Channel. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
  29. ^ "Zozibini Tunzi, Sireethorn Leearamwat et Antonnia Porsild sont arrivées à Jakarta" (in French). missitems.be. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  30. ^ USA: South Africa"s Zozibini Tunzi wins Miss Universe 2019, retrieved 2020-02-07
  31. ^ "This is when and where you can meet Miss Universe, Zozibini Tunzi, in SA". Channel. 2020-02-05. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss Universe
2019 		Incumbent
Preceded by Miss South Africa
2019 		Succeeded by
Gauteng Sasha-Lee Olivier
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