Miss South Africa Zozibini Tunzi has been crowned the winner of the Miss Universe 2019 pageant, held Sunday night (Dec. 8) at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.

Tunzi excelled through rounds of swimsuit and evening gown struts, and nailed questions on social issues and her explanation on why she should be crowned the winner.

“I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me—with my kind of skin and my kind of hair—was never considered to be beautiful,” she said in her final response. “I think it is time that that stops today. I want children to look at me and see my face and I want them to see their faces reflected in mine.”

The two runners-up for the crown were Miss Mexico (Sofía Aragón) and Miss Puerto Rico (Madison Anderson).

Tunzi was born in Tsolo, South Africa and was raised in the nearby village of Sidwadweni.

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Prior to winning Miss South Africa, she completed her Bachelor of Technology graduate degree in public relations management at Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

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