Publications
Partners
- We catch up with the former Miss Universe, Zozibini Tunzi, at Sandton Apartments.
- She tells us about reinvention and doing work close to her heart.
- Although she has made it look seamless, she says transitioning to other things has not been easy.
The relevance and role which pageants play are often under scrutiny, with people asking whether society needs to be pay attention to beauty queens strutting their stuff and then being judged on who gave the most intelligent answer on matters of societal importance.
But such questions also concern pageant queens, who worry about having meaningful conversations and being impactful during their reign.
The former Miss Universe, Zozibini Tunzi, managed to answer such questions with poise and purpose.
A girl from Tsolo, in the Eastern Cape, with a buzz cut, managed to rattle conversations around beauty standards across the world.
And just like the gift that keeps on giving, years on, she proves why pageants matter.
We catch up with Zozibini at Sandton Apartments, where she has lived for over a year.
She tells us how she continues to do work that matters.
"I am working on my foundation for women and girls. It is so close to my heart. You know, it's something that I've always wanted to get off the ground."
READ MORE | Zozibini Tunzi to host Miss SA's Crown Chasers with judges Bonang Matheba and Leandie du Randt
One of the things she has managed to see come to fruition is Crown Chasers, a series in which Miss South Africa finalists are given challenges related to four pillars - duty, championship, empowerment and beauty.
Zozibini is the host and executive producer of the show.
"It's been an interesting journey for the show. I'm also working on a couple of shows. I am just crossing fingers and, hopefully, they will have a great reception," she teases about her executive producing work.
The other day, she was belting out notes on The Masked Singer. What else can the longest-reigning Miss Universe do?
We ask her about how seamless she has made it look for one to reinvent and reintroduce themselves.
"I mean, look, it may look seamless, but nothing ever really is because if I'm going to be honest, it's so hard coming back from, you know, being Miss Universe and trying to figure out what can I do next?"
The former Miss South Africa says things aren't as easy to navigate as they may look. It has taken courage, work and waiting. "It is all a process," she said.
READ MORE | Zozibini Tunzi the latest celeb to 'take it off' on The Masked Singer SA
"I'm taking it in my stride and making sure that I do the things that I'm passionate about, things that I love. And so it hasn't been really simple, but it has been an experience."
Our conversation with her ends with a salmon pasta dish from @Deli by Acsiopolis, a grocery store in her building. This dish, is part of a Harvest Table recently launched.
She tells us it is her recipe and one of her favourite things to eat.
"I actually put it together with the chef. I love a good pasta and I love to make this. I really want something quick. And so this literally takes about 10 to 15 minutes."
If you were wondering what else she can do, well, she assures you that she is a beast in the kitchen too.
"People might think I can't cook, but I can. I have three sisters and a mom, so they would not allow me not to be able to cook. I just don't have the time, but when I do have, I do love to do it when I get the time to."
