Zozibini Tunzi from South Africa was named the winner of the 2019 Miss Universe election in Atlanta. The 26-year-old Tunzi beat ninety other candidates and left Miss Puerto Rico (second) and Miss Mexico (third) behind in the final battle.
Zozibini Tunzi is happy with her symbolic victory. “I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me, with my skin color and hair, was never considered beautiful,” she voiced out. But Tunzi explained that “it’s time for that to change,” and she wants her “children to be able to look at me and see themselves. I believe in natural beauty and want to encourage women to love themselves, just as they are.”
She is the first black Miss Universe to be crowned since Leila Lopes in 2011. Tunzi is also a women’s rights activist who actively participates in campaigns in South Africa. “I hope that with this title, I can draw attention to the fight against violence against women. People who know that it is wrong must become role models for those who are not yet aware of it.”
Another notable candidate this year was Miss Myanmar, named Swe Zin Htet, who was the first openly lesbian participant in the election. The 21-year-old Htet consciously came out with it around the Miss election.
Steve Harvey again in error
Four years after his blunder in which he proclaimed the wrong Miss as the winner, presenter Steve Harvey made another mistake. This time he announced the wrong winner in the Costume category. During the award ceremony, he designated Miss Philippines as the winner in that category. However, the photo of the lady shown and standing next to him was Miss Malaysia, she explained to him.
Steve tried to save the incident by explaining why he made a mistake. “I just read this on the autocue, you really have to stop it,” said Steve, referring to the producers of the show. “I can really read and just hear in my ear that they are going to adjust. This also happened in 2015, when they played a joke with me. Anyway, this is Miss Malaysia with a beautiful costume.”
