South African Zozibini Tunzi is Miss Universe 2019 after beating out 89 other contestants during a pageant held in Atlanta on Sunday night.
The new #MissUniverse2019 is… SOUTH AFRICA!!!! 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/gRW8vcuT3A
— Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) December 9, 2019
Tunzi edged out her runner-up, Miss Puerto Rico Madison Anderson, as well as Miss Mexico Sofía Aragón, who came in third place.
Her biography describes the 26 year-old as a “passionate activist, engaged in the fight against gender based violence”.
“She has devoted her social media campaign to changing the narrative around gender stereotypes. She is a proud advocate for natural beauty and encourages women to love themselves the way they are,” the bio continues.
This is not the first time South Africa has claimed the coveted crown, in 1978 Margaret Gardiner won the Miss Universe crown followed by Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters in 2017.
Social media was awash with congratulatory messages for Tunzi including from Oprah Winfrey who said that ‘Leadership is the most powerful thing we should be teaching our young women’.
Congratulations Miss South Africa, the new Miss Universe @zozitunzi! Agree with you…leadership is the most powerful thing we should be teaching young women today. We welcome your visit to #OWLAG, our Leadership Academy for Girls 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 https://t.co/YL0NeO40QU
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) December 9, 2019
She's not just queen of the world, but South Africa's Zozibini Tunzi is THE QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE!! Make this trend go through the stratosphere!! Huge congratulations!! 🎉🇿🇦👑 #ZozibiniTunzi #MissUniverse2019 pic.twitter.com/jRVBo91g8u
— Ulrich Janse van Vuuren (@UlrichJvV) December 9, 2019
South Africa. True Giant of Africa winning everything this year 🎈🏆👑
So Proud. 🇿🇦#MissUniverse2019 #ZozibiniTunzi #RugbyWorldCup2019 pic.twitter.com/DGbLCdbV20
— R H U L A N E™ 🇷🇺 (@SaRhulane) December 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/Savviworldwide/status/1203938899409678336?s=20
