Were you with me the other night watching the Miss Universe pageant?As a sucker for pageants, I watch as soon as I learn that one will be broadcasted. Pageants are my football. This is how I describe it to my guys. Please say ‘yes’. When I tell you I was filled with so many emotions during the competition…honey!
I tuned in just as they were identifying the top ten finalists. It was then that I noticed four three beautifully melanated faces – Miss Iceland, Miss USA and Miss South Africa.
We already know that black women have won the crowns for Miss Teen USA, Miss USA and Miss America. You know I had to tune in to see if we could take over the whole universe, Craig!
Evening Gown Competition
Let’s fast forward to the evening gown competition. The contestants were stunning, but there was something special about Miss South Africa. I noticed that she was the “only” in so many categories. She was the only one (in this finalist group) that was this richly and beautifully melanated. She was the only one with a short cut and natural texture. She was the only one whose quasi-modest gown literally made me gasp.
When I saw her, I saw pure beauty.
As she described the meaning behind the colors she selected, I was convinced that she was going to win.
The Final Word
I really like what they did with this portion of the pageant by asking the same question to three very different individuals. This is when the finalists had been narrowed down to three – Miss South Africa, Miss Mexico and Miss Puerto Rico.
Did you watch? Steve Harvey asked, “What is the most important thing we should be teaching girls today? Here’s what our queen had to say:
“I think the most important thing we should be teaching young girls today is leadership. It’s something that has been lacking in young girls and women for a very long time, not because we don’t want to but because of what society has labelled women to be. I think we are the most powerful beings in the world and that we should be given every opportunity and that is what we should be teaching these young girls, to take up space, nothing is as important as taking up space in society and cementing yourself, thank you.”
Acceptance Speech
As I sat in front of the television screen with my hands outstretched towards Miss South Africa, I felt in my gut that her name would be called. When they declared that Miss South Africa – Zozibini Tunzi – was in fact crowned Miss Universe, not only did I hear Jeezy in my head (Miss Universe is black my lambo…you get the picture), but I knew that my intuition had not failed me.
“I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me — with my kind of skin and my kind of hair — was never considered to be beautiful,” she said. “I think it is time that that stops today. I want children to look at me and see my face and I want them to see their faces reflected in mine.”
Thank you, Miss Universe – Zozibini Tunzi – for representing us well and for helping us melanated women continue this streak of walking in our queendom. I am a reflection of Miss Universe. She is a reflection of me.
Peace and Love.
