ZOZIBINI TUNZI MAKES HISTORY
Former Miss SA (2019) Zozibini Tunzi made history as Miss Universe for several reasons. Firstly, she was the first black woman with afro-texture hair to win the pageant, according to Allure.

She was also the longest reigning Miss Universe with a reign of a total of 525 days (one year, five months and eight days). This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Zozi surpassed Leila Lopes’ reign of 464 days (one year, three months and seven days) from September 2011 to December 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She also became the third woman from South Africa to win the international pageant. She follows in the footsteps of Margaret Gardiner (1978) and Demi-Leigh Tebow (2017). The beauty queen was also the first black woman to be crowned Miss Universe in eight years after Lopes in 2011.

Zozi holds a degree in Public Relations Management from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

WHERE IS MISS SA 2019 NOW?
During her reign as Miss Universe, the beauty queen lived in New York City. She thereafter returned to South Africa to focus on her mental health foundation. She has since bagged presenting and acting gigs on TV and film such as role on The Woman King.

She remained in touch with the Miss SA Organisation as she was one of the judges on the Miss SA reality show Crown Chasers. However, rumours surrounding wardrobe drama on the show began to surface after Zozi was absent from the Miss SA 2023 pageant, where Natasha Joubert was crowned the winner.