A new Miss Universe was crowned on Sunday: Miss South Africa 2019, Zozibini Tunzi. The 26-year-old took the crown on Sunday night at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.
Tunzi is the first black woman from South Africa to hold the Miss Universe title. She is an activist who fights against gender-based violence and is an advocate for natural beauty, as described in her bio on the Miss Universe website.
Also competing in Sunday night's Miss Universe pageant was Miss USA 2019, Cheslie Kryst, who has crowned Miss USA in May. Kryst earned a spot in the top 10 finalists at Sunday's pageant.
On Monday, Kryst congratulated Tunzi on becoming the new Miss Universe via an Instagram post, pointing out that Tunzi's crown makes her the fourth woman of colour to win a major pageant title in 2019.
The Miss USA titleholder started her Instagram post by thanking those who supported her in the Miss Universe 2019 competition, writing: "I'm so excited and proud that I had the opportunity to compete alongside such talented, accomplished, beautiful women and I'm even more proud and honoured that I had the pleasure of representing my country."
"Congrats to our new Miss Universe, @zozitunzi!!!! You represented us with class and grace and humility and I'm thrilled that I can call you a sister and, now, ROOMMATE!!" Kryst continued.
Kryst's second photo in the Instagram post was a collage showing herself and Tunzi, along with the 2019 titleholders of Miss Teen USA and Miss America, Kaliegh Garris and Nia Franklin, respectively.
Kryst went on to celebrate the fact that the four pageant winners are all women of colour, writing: "Swipe for a little #BGM because, you guessed it, Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, and Miss America are all women of colour!!!!!!!"
"Proud to be a part of this group and happy reading all of your excitement and love as I chow down on cheesecake and brownies with Nutella this morning," Kryst finished her post.
2019 has been a monumental year for women of colour competing in major beauty pageants and competitions
The 2019 titleholders of Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, and Miss America are all women of colour.
"This moment is historic for our organizations, and we congratulate the Miss Universe Organization on their newest team member," Mallory Hagan, a Miss America Organization communications representative, told Insider in a statement via email.
"We believe that representation matters and that seeing smart, diverse, community-driven women of colour serving as brand spokespeople for national organizations will broaden the dreams and possibilities of young women, no matter their race, around the world," Hagan continued.
Nia Franklin represents Miss America 2019. She was crowned in September 2018 and was the first winner of the revamped Miss America competition, known as Miss America 2.0, which removed the swimsuit competition portion, as well as reduced some antiquated requirements that placed an emphasis on competitors' appearances.
The Miss America Organization is a separate entity from the Miss Universe Organization. The Miss Universe Organization hosts the Miss Universe competition, as well as the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants.
Kaliegh Garris, who was crowned Miss Teen USA 2019 in April after holding the title for Miss Connecticut Teen USA, wore her hair in natural curls at the pageant finale. Garris was the third Miss Teen USA winner ever to be crowned while wearing a natural hairstyle. The previous two winners were Ashley Coleman, Miss Teen USA 1999, and Janel Bishop, Miss Teen USA 1991.
Garris previously told Insider's Amanda Krause that her natural hair makes her "feel beautiful."
"Some people would scroll down on my Instagram and find old photos of me when I still chemically straightened my hair, and would say I looked better then," Garris told Insider. "But no matter what anybody says, it's not going to make me change myself, or make me feel bad about wearing my natural hair because it's what makes me feel beautiful."
Kryst, Miss USA 2019, also wore her hair in natural curls when she was crowned in April.
"Some people would scroll down on my Instagram and find old photos of me when I still chemically straightened my hair, and would say I looked better then," Garris told Insider. "But no matter what anybody says, it's not going to make me change myself, or make me feel bad about wearing my natural hair because it's what makes me feel beautiful."
Kryst, Miss USA 2019, also wore her hair in natural curls when she was crowned in April.
The Miss Universe Organization, which oversees Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA, did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
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