Miss South Africa Zozibini Tunzi has been crowned with the title of Miss Universe 2019, beating more than 90 contestants, including Miss India on Sunday.
South Africa wins Miss Universe 2019 Crown
The 26-year-old Tunzi was declared the winner at a televised event, hosted by American comic-turned-TV personality Steve Harvey, at the finale held at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. Steve Harvey hosted the event along with fashion influencer Olivia Culpo and TV personality Vanessa Lachey serving as backstage correspondents throughout the star-studded evening.
The 2019 Miss Universe Pageant had 90 contestants who competed in swimsuit, evening gown and on-stage question rounds. India’s Vartika Singh also contested in the pageant and made it to Top 20 but lost out on the Top 20 battle.
Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Thailand, and South Africa were among the top five contenders, but the South African beauty beat the others in the run up to the coveted crown. Miss Puerto Rico Madison Anderson was named the first runner-up, followed by Mexican contestant Ashley Alvidrez as the second runner-up.
India’s Vartika Singh in Top 20
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, from the Philippines, presented Tunzi with the crown. She is the second winner of the pageant from South Africa after Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters in 2017.
The event also featured a musical performance by one of Fifth Harmony members, Ally Brooke. American singers Camila Cabello and Normani Kordei performed on stage as well.
After Zozibini Tunzi won the Miss Universe crown, Oprah Winfrey tweeted to congratulate her. She wrote, “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 (sic).”
