How Miss Universe’s Historic Win Helped Shift The Status Quo For Beauty Standards

ZOZIBINI Tunzi, a Black woman with afro hair, grew up reading fashion and beauty magazines that did not contain images of women who looked like her. So when she was crowned Miss South Africa one year ago, Tunzi felt on top of the world.

Four months after her national victory, she was actually on top of the world, at least by title — as 2019 Miss Universe, advancing over women from 89 countries in one of the most prestigious annual beauty pageants.

The 26-year-old became the third South African to accomplish the feat; but most notably, she became the first in the history of the pageant to win with afro-textured hair — an acknowledgment of Black beauty on the international stage.

With beauty contests historically dominated by lighter-skinned contestants, Tunzi said she didn’t know it was possible for someone like her to become Miss Universe.

“But now, I confidently know