The South African Winner Of Miss Universe 2019 Has A Powerful Message About Women's Place In The World

Back on the 8th of December, the Miss Universe 2019 competition was held in Atlanta, Georgia. Three contestants from Mexico, Puerto Rico and South Africa made it to the final and after an intense wait, Steve Harvey announced that the winner of this year’s title was South African model Zozibini Tunzi.

During the competition, the contestants were asked to give their opinions on various relevant topics and people loved Zozibini’s answers. She used the opportunity to deliver a powerful message about women empowerment and beauty standards that really resonated with people all over the world, with both celebrities and regular people quoting her online.

South African model Zozibini Tunzi was crowned Miss Universe 2019 back on the 8th of December

Image credits: zozitunzi

Zozibini is the third South African to win the title. She participated in her first pageant back in 2017, where she competed for the title of Miss South Africa. Sadly, at the time she didn’t make it to the top 12. However, she participated in the same competition two years later and won the title!

Zozibini shared a powerful message about beauty and body image

“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.” 👸🏿 pic.twitter.com/Cqlm7YVTi1

— Naomi Campbell (@NaomiCampbell) December 9, 2019

Image credits: zozitunzi

The model was born to Philiswa Nadapu and Lungisa Tunzi in Tsolo, Eastern Cape, on the 18th of September, 1993. Zozibini has two other sisters.

During her final question, Zozibini delivered a powerful message on women empowerment

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“I think the most important thing we should be teaching young girls today is leadership. It is 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. That is what we should be teaching these young girls… to take up space.” #MissUniverse2019 @zozitunzi #FinalQuestion

A post shared by Miss Universe (@missuniverse) on Dec 9, 2019 at 10:19am PST

Image credits: zozitunzi

Zozibini graduated from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and acquired a bachelor’s degree in public relations and image management back in 2018.

Image credits: zozitunzi

“I have been very vocal about my mission to break beauty stereotypes,” the model wrote in one of her recent social media posts. “I believe in inclusion and representation in every shape and form.”

Image credits: zozitunzi

“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,” said the model during one of the questions. “I want children to look at me and see my face and I want them to see their faces reflected in mine.”