South Africa Wins Miss Universe 2019

African women once again win their spurs as South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi is crowned this year’s Miss Universe 2019. She won out of a total of 90 contestants and 20 semi-finalists with a talk about women leadership. What many might not have noticed is that this moment is very special because it happened right after three other black women won Miss America, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.

“Tonight a door was opened and I could not be more grateful to have been the one to have walked through it. May every little girl who witnessed this moment forever believe in the power of her dreams and may they see their faces reflected in mine,” Tunzi commented on Instagram.

On December 8^th, the pageant took place at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. Puerto Rico’s Madison Anderson came in as first runner-up and in third place was Sofia Aragon from Mexico. When asked by the host Steve Harvey ‘What is the most important thing we should teach young girls today?’ both of them replied with the message to ‘Be Yourself’.

If you’re wondering about Tunzi’s winning answer, here it is: “I think one of the most important things we should be teaching young girls today is leadership. It’s 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. And that is what we should be teaching these young girls – to take up space. Nothing as important as taking up space in society.”

By Sarah Guirguis