Powerful Zozibini

Miss Universe, Zozibini Tunzi, has spent the first week of her reign making us proud in every respect.

Since her elevation to the title, she has shown the world her mettle as a diplomat, talking passionately about our collective need to realise that we have only one planet and warning that global warming is happening very quickly.

But Zozibini is also a social justice activist. She has signalled that she will use the massive platform provided to her to speak about gender-based violence, a scourge in this country and in other parts of the world.

Already she has stated emphatically that we must put a stop to racial profiling.

It may be argued that this statement, spoken on a stage in Atlanta, Georgia, was aimed primarily at a US audience. However, we all have allowed race to negatively define our impressions of others in a manner that denudes them of their full humanity.

And yet, Zozibini’s success is significant not least because she refuses to disavow her own identity as a black South African woman, even asserting her preference for natural hair.

At every turn, she has affirmed her heritage, including boasting about her home in the Eastern Cape —“where the sun rises ”— at Sidwadweni village, Tsolo, and talking about her family.

While her success in the Miss Universe pageant reflects a range of positive attributes including a personable character, her response to questioning in the final round of the contest had most people spellbound.

Criticising the way society defines and labels women, Zozibini stated emphatically that women are “the most powerful beings in the world”.

As a result, women, she said, should take up space in society and cement themselves in the world. That is the most important lesson to teach young girls.

We suggest that Zozibini also can teach us about continuing to strive for success despite failing short, as she was ousted from a previous run at the Miss SA leg of the international competition.

At a more personal level, she wants children to “see their faces reflected in mine”.

These are powerful words for SA, but also for the world.

We feel sure that, based on what she has already revealed about herself, Zozibini will not restrict her impact on the universe to a physical representation.

There must be an alternative to those nonentities who believe they are worthy of our attention.

To be sure, what the world needs now is a galvanising, fresh look in every respect.

May Miss Universe, Zozibini, continue to be that on every stage she treads.

She wants children to “see their faces reflected in mine”. These are powerful words for SA, but also for the world