Miss SA Lalela Mswane Wins Miss Supranational 2022: “We Did It Mzansi”
Miss South Africa 2021 Lalela Mswane, made history this weekend – becoming the first black woman to be crowned Miss Supranational since the annual competition began in 2009. The SA beauty queen (and law school graduate, model and dancer) beat 68 other candidates from around the world to scoop the dazzling, new crown. (A possible […]
Miss South Africa 2021 Lalela Mswane, made history this weekend – becoming the first black woman to be crowned Miss Supranational since the annual competition began in 2009. The SA beauty queen (and law school graduate, model and dancer) beat 68 other candidates from around the world to scoop the dazzling, new crown. (A possible good luck charm for South African contestants! Zozi Tunzi won Miss Universe 2019 when a new crown was introduced.)
After Lalela’s controversial journey to the Miss Universe contest in Israel last year (December 2021) – where she was named second runner-up, her gratitude for those who stuck by her (when even the SA government withdrew its support for the Miss SA organisation) was palpable. The 24-year-old thanked everyone for their love which “kept me going” and said “I’m filled with so much gratitude. We did it Mzansi !!! ??????”
WATCH Miss South Africa crowned Miss Supranational 2022 in Poland
Congratulations to our Miss Supranational 2022 @Lalela_lali 💃🔥👑
Once again history has been made 🇿🇦
We can’t contain our excitement! We are so proud of you @Lalela_lali . You’ve represented our nation in its fullness. 🤩#LalelaMswane #MissSupranational2022 pic.twitter.com/HbKQ4F73C9
— Miss South Africa (@Official_MissSA) July 15, 2022
Lalela won the Miss Supranational 2022 title during the pageant’s coronation night held at Nowy Sacz in Malopolska, Poland. She was crowned by last year’s winner, Chanique Rabe from Namibia.
Miss SA organisers posted photos of Lalela’s crowning moment and said: “We still can’t get over this moment ??. @lalela_mswane South Africa will forever be proud of you ✨??”
We still can't get over this moment 🥺👑. @Lalela_lali South Africa will forever be proud of you ✨🇿🇦#LalelaMswane #MissSupranational2022 pic.twitter.com/j7y639kw2O
— Miss South Africa (@Official_MissSA) July 16, 2022
“… allow your feet to lead you to wherever it is your heart desires”
Lalela took to Instagram yesterday to say:
“I’m simply at a loss for words… With this crown I carry the hopes, dreams of women who have come before me and those to come. It serves as affirmation that no dream is too small, no journey insurmountable to conquer. May it be a constant reminder to allow your feet to lead you to wherever it is your heart desires.
“Thank you @misssupranational for trusting me with this crown. I look forward to making this year a truly incredible one. My beloved @official_misssa, South Africa and team Lali, your love kept me going and I’m filled with so much gratitude. We did it Mzansi !!! ??????”
Former Miss SA beauty queen Thato Mosehle, who was second runner up in 2021’s Miss Supranational congratulated Lalela and said “Tjo?? I even feel like getting a “I’m a South African” tattoo.”
Moments after being crowned, Lalela explained in an interview that she’s not as serious as people presume, and that her passion projects are tackling unemployment and women empowerment. As a child Lalela was bullied for being an ‘outlier’ and found that dance was one of the few reassuring constants in her life. She has since set up a foundation to help empower young women to have entrepreneurial skills. (She lives up to the motto on her Instagram page: ‘choose courage over comfort’.) She also displayed her excellent social skills, telling a Polish reporter how wonderful the food has been, and that the people have been even better.
To her “Supra Sisters?”, Lalela said: “Thank you for the beautiful journey, the lessons and the most special of moments. I wish you all love, peace and success as you continue being agents of change (or chaos ?) All my love ???”
The runners up are: 1st runner-up Praewwanich Ruangthong (Thailand) and 2nd runner-up: Nguyen Hyunh Kim Duyen (Vietnam).
Luis Daniel Galvez from Cuba was crowned Mister Supranational 2022 (the male contest has been running since 2016).
South Africa does it again:
View this post on Instagram
WATCH Interview with Miss Supranational 2022 (from South Africa)
View this post on Instagram
Miss Supranational’s Proudly Zulu heritage:
View this post on Instagram
An attitude of Gratitude:
When @Lalela_lali speaks we listen 📣#LalelaMswane #LalelaForMissSupra #MissSupranational2022 pic.twitter.com/JOlXs30qOE
— Miss South Africa (@Official_MissSA) July 15, 2022