The Miss Universe pageant is fast approaching and while Miss South Africa Zozibini Tunzi is anticipating taking on the worldwide stage, she said that her short reign had not been a simple one.
The 25-year-old, who hails from Tsolo in the Eastern Cape, was crowned Miss South Africa on Women’s Day in August.
But despite of the charm and the glory that accompanied the title, it hadn’t been a smooth ride.
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“She’s so underwhelming, we could’ve done better”, “why is a man representing South Africa?”
These are some of the remarks and cyber bullying that Tunzi needed to bear soon after being crowned Miss SA.
“It was crazy at first. Colourism and racism is a real thing and coming into the competition I knew I would shake the table. I knew I would be the first non-conventional Miss South Africa to have won because no one has ever won with their hair or looking like I do.”
In any case, Tunzi, who has short, characteristic hair has generally earned her recognition, she entered the competition to challenge beauty stereotypes.
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“So people are so uncomfortable with change, once it became too real for them they started acting out but then it started changing slowly, people are like, ‘hey maybe I can do it too. Maybe I can wake up and just rock my hair and be okay and feel beautiful and feel accepted.’”
In just over a month, Tunzi will gracing the worldwide stage, hoping to take this message with her.
“I am so excited for it, I feel like it’s our time. Whether I win, I feel like me setting step on there, looking the way I look being the way that I am, with the message that I have, means a lot to us. Just by that, I would’ve won already.”
Tunzi is planning to be the third South African to bring the title home.
