Zozibini Tunzi

Zozibini Tunzi, 26, of South Africa has been crowned Miss Universe 2019. She was the 68th titleholder of the international beauty pageant.

The Miss Universe 2019 coronation night took place at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, United States on December 8, 2019. It was hosted by Steve Harvey, 62, with Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo, 27, and Vanessa Lachey, 39, as the backstage presenters.

Including Tunzi, 90 candidates competed for the crown. Catriona Gray, 25, of the Philippines crowned the Mexican beauty queen as her successor, who wore a new crowned made by luxury jeweler Mouawad.

Four out of the seven members of the all-female jury are from the U.S. They were William Morris Endeavor chief marketing officer Bozoma Saint John, 42, Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart, 38, blogger Sazan Hendrix, 30, and Miss America 2018 Cara Mund, 26.

Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori, 32, of Japan was the only Asian member of the jury. Actress Gaby Espino, 43, of Venezuela and Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega, 26, of Colombia also served as judges.

Ally Brooke, 26, performed during the ceremony. It was broadcast on Fox and Telemundo.

“Are leaders of today doing enough to protect future generations from climate change?” Harvey asked Tunzi in the Top 5 question and answer portion. “If not, what more should they be doing?”

“I think that the future leaders could do a little bit more,”Tunzi replied. “However, I feel like we, as individuals ourselves, could also play a part in making the climate the way it should be in the future. Children are protesting for the climate and I feel like adults should join as well, and corporations should join as well.”

“The government should take it seriously,” the South African candidate added. “I mean sixth grade have been learning that the climate is deteriorating and the planet is dying. It is up to us to keep our planet safe. Thank you.”

In the Top 3 question and answer portion, Tunzi, Anderson and Aragon answered the same question. Harvey asked, “What is the most important thing we should teach young girls today?”

“I think the most important thing we should be teaching young girls today is leadership,” Tunzi answered. “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 labelled 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.”

“(We should teach them) to take up space,” Tunzi continued. “Nothing is as important as taking up space in society and cementing yourself. Thank you.”

Born in Tsolo, Eastern Cape, South Africa on September 18, 1993, Tunzi is a Cape Peninsula University of Technology alumna. Here is a clip from her coronation as Miss Universe 2019: