South Africans Urged to Welcome Miss Universe Zozi Tunzi Home This Weekend

The SA Government has called on all South Africans to welcome Miss Universe 2019, Zozibini Tunzi, home this weekend when she arrives at OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday.

This will be the homecoming queen’s first visit back to South Africa since she was crowned Miss Universe in December 2019. She’s been based in New York ever since, and says she can’t wait to get back to the “calm” of SA, compared to busy (but “amazing”) New York.

Zozi said in a video yesterday (while she was packing) that the thing she’s most looking forward to is SA food.

“I miss South African food so much,” she admitted. “I miss my family too. So I think having food with my family is what I’m looking forward to the most.” Zozi – whose developed a sweet tooth since moving in with flatmate Cheslie – said her favourite food in New York is pizza – she says NY pizza is the size of her face and they don’t make it the same in SA.

Zozi’s also looking forward to “celebrating with South Africans, because they’ve been sending me so much love since I won, so I’ll finally get to feel the love in person.”

On the flight over to Joburg she’ll be reading Michelle Obama’s book ‘Becoming’, she said.

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) has urged South Africans to arrive in their numbers at the O.R Tambo International Airport on Saturday.

The build-up event will start at 7am. This will be followed by a press conference which will be held shortly after Tunzi’s arrival.

“Tunzi flew the South African flag high and that of the African continent when she bagged the coveted title during the Miss Universe pageant, last year, wherein she emphasised the importance of celebrating and recognising black women and their natural beauty.

“She expressed her passion on the empowerment of women and fighting issues of gender-based prejudice, which is one of the priorities of government,” GCIS said in a statement.

Zozi will be going on a road tour in SA. She’ll see at least three towns – her home village in the Eastern Cape, Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Zozi is expected to visit Canaan Academy Primary School in the Eastern Cape on Monday.

On Thursday, she will embark on an early morning street tour of Johannesburg and in the evening she will be amongst the President’s special guests for the State of the Nation Address.

“As a young nation, South Africa is proud of the strides that we have made in this sector, and government is particularly proud of Tunzi,” GCIS said.

Zozi revealed she also can’t wait to visit Ghana, as she’s never visited any country in Africa outside of SA.

Sources: Miss Universe and SAnews.gov.za

https://www.facebook.com/MissUniverse/videos/209271366878338/

https://www.facebook.com/MissUniverse/photos/a.293443054046/10158118137529047/?type=3&theater