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South Africa's Miss Universe Aims to Empower Women, Girls

Margaret Besheer

   UNITED NATIONS - Miss Universe 2019 is using her global platform to
   strive for gender equality, saying she wants to encourage girls and
   young women to "tap into their power" and use their voice.

   "We're really taught to be followers from a very young age --men lead
   and women follow," Zozibini Tunzi told a small group of reporters this
   week in New York. "I think it's important because we're killing so many
   dreams of young girls. We're killing so many opinions they have. They
   could resolve so many issues in the world, but they can't because
   they're not given their platform."
   So she has made it her mission as Miss Universe 2019 to give girls a
   platform and advance gender equality.
   Tunzi, 26, a model from Tsolo in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, was
   crowned Miss Universe on December8 in Atlanta, Georgia, defeating
   nearly 90 other women for the title. New York City will be her base
   during a year of international travel and appearances promoting her
   platform.

   "You're not taught to be ambitious as a woman. And so when you are,
   sometimes you shy away from it or you're scared of voicing your
   opinions," she said. "I think we need to start honing that at a young
   age to say, 'Don't be scared of your power. You have a voice. Learn to
   use it, because one day it might change the world.' "

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