Zozibini Tunzi Miss Universe 2019

Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi. Image via Instagram @ZoziTunzi

Birthday queen: Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi celebrates on home soil

Zozibini Tunzi may have captured the universe, but there’s no place like home to celebrate one’s birthday.

Zozibini Tunzi Miss Universe 2019

Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi. Image via Instagram @ZoziTunzi

Tunzi, who has been vocal about gender-based violence (GBV), natural beauty and the empowerment of women during her reign (of which a great deal has been a virtual one), celebrated her 27th birthday on Friday 18 September.

Lockdown restrictions had most of the world on pause for a while and the Miss Universe 2019 title holder has been forced to spend a few months social distancing in New York.

Miss Universe returns home to ‘restore’ her soul

However, during a pandemic and a time like this, one really just want to be at home with your family and while our borders are still closed for international travel, it seems from an Instagram post that Tunzi have been granted special permission to return home for a short private holiday.

She posted a picture of being back home in Sidwadweni, Eastern Cape and emphasised how this short family break serves as “restoration of the soul”.

Flood of Twitter wishes for Zozibini Tunzi

South Africa and the rest of the world have been showing Miss Universe their love, affection and appreciation on Twitter.

The public relations graduate from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) received more than 10 000 posts on Twitter for her birthday.

The official Miss Universe page tweeted a tribute to Tunzi with a throw-back at some of her “best moments” at the Miss Universe pageant last year.

A-list birthday wishes

South African celebrities have also flooded Tunzi with their wishes.

Here are some of the A-list birthday wishes she received from some big names in South Africa’s entertainment industry:

Rapper Cassper Nyovest

Television presenter and radio personality Bonang Matheba

Actress Dineo Langa

And the beauty was also congratulated on the South African government’s Twitter page.

‘Take up space’

The glory and praise went beyond just her beauty. Tunzi’s perspective of teaching young girl’s leadership and to “take up space” was something many remembered her by. Fans used her teachings in birthday posts.

Her women empowerment messages still stand strong as she recently posted a video supporting the idea of women doing whatever they want with their hair, clothes and bodies.