Watch Miss Universe LIVE tonight! Maybe South Africa will grab a second beauty title!

Miss World Rolene Strauss has sent a message of support to her Miss South Africa replacement – Ziphozakhe Zokufa – tweeting “May today be an amazing day! Your personality and beauty are like stars in the dark. Go on that Miss Universe stage and shine your South African light!”

Ziphozakhe will represent South Africa tonight at the 63rd Miss Universe Pageant held at the FIU Arena at Florida International University in Doral, Miami.

As Rolene Strauss’ first princess, the 23-year-old was officially crowned Miss South Africa in December after Rolene won the Miss World title in London on the 14th December.

Ziphozakhe, a model and TV production student from Port Elizabeth, who now lives in Cape Town, left South Africa two weeks ago to begin her Miss Universe experience. Yesterday, she reported that she has “enjoyed every single minute of this incredible experience. Beyond blessed.”

During her time in the USA, she’s had some fun and time to reflect. On Friday she tweeted a school photo of herself along with an Eleanor Roosevelt quote: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” It was beautifully responded to by her teacher Barbie Bennett who wrote “I was lucky enough to have taught this sweet little girl at Lorraine Primary School, Port Elizabeth!”

Ziphozakhe also uploaded the following video compilation highlighting her experiences:

Over one-billion people are expected to tune in tonight as Ziphozakhe competes against 90 other countries.

The reigning Miss South Africa will wear two gowns this evening – the national costume (designed by Gregg Maragelis) and the finale gown (designed by Gert Johan Coetzee).

As she left SA for the competition, Ziphozakhe revealed that “I have been looking forward to this event from the moment of my crowning and will carry the Miss South Africa title with pride. I not only represent myself but also the entire country. I trust I will make every South African proud.”

Ziphozakhe – who is passionate about music (and has a piano, clarinet and guitar) – has represented both her province and country before, in her previous career as a professional singer!

She’s a go-getter who credits  her parents (mother a teacher and father a principal) as being her role models – “Together they worked and studied hard, proving that your circumstances do not define who you are. Their success has always inspired me to achieve and never to limit myself.”

And she hopes to convey this message to other young woman; to teach them that you should “do what you can with what you have instead of waiting for ‘the right time’.”

In a Facebook message three days ago, she again said “blessed to be representing my beautiful nation. Thank you for your incredible amount of support. Love and light xxx”

Tonight South Africa’s former Miss Universe Lorna Potgieter, who was crowned 30 years ago, tweeted her support, saying “wishing our gorgeous @Official_MissSA @Zina_Zokufa every success for #missuniverse. Wouldn’t it be great if she won and SA gets both titles?”

WATCH Official Miss Universe Interview with Miss South Africa, Ziphozakhe Zokufa

WATCH THE MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT LIVE:

The show will be screened tonight on DStv (starting at 3 am local time) or you can watch it live at https://www.youtube.com/missuniverse.

UPDATE: Miss Universe has been won by Miss Colombia and her runner-ups are Miss USA and Miss Ukraine.