South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi crowned Miss Universe 2019

A 26-year-old activist from South Africa was crowned the new Miss Universe on December 8 at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia in the USA.

Zozibini Tunzi, who is “engaged in the fight against gender-based violence”, bested 89 other candidates for the chance to be the first to wear the new $5m diamond-studded Miss Universe crown designed by Mouawad.

She received the crown from outgoing queen Catriona Gray from the Philippines, who coincidentally was crowned in 2018 by South Africa’s Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters. This marks South Africa’s third victory in Miss Universe (after Margaret Gardiner in 1978 and Nel-Peters in 2017), and third consecutive placement in the Top 3 of Miss Universe (last year, Tamaryn Green placed first runner-up).

Puerto Rico’s Madison Anderson and Mexico’s Sofía Aragón finished first and second runners-up, respectively. Top favorites Paweensuda Drouin of Thailand and Gabriela Tafur of Colombia completed the Top 5.

The rest of the Top 10 included the delegates from USA, Peru, Iceland, France, and Indonesia. The representatives of Albania, Brazil, Croatia, Dominican Republic, India, Nigeria, Philippines, Portugal, Venezuela, and Vietnam made it to the Top 20.

Best National Costume went to Gazini Ganados of the Philippines, while Poland’s Olga Bulawa was named Miss Congeniality. Missosology.Org