Born in the South African village of Sidwadweni in Tsolo. Zozibini Tunzi was brought up in a small rural town near her birthplace and is one of four daughters to her parents. After completing school, Zozi, as she is known by, graduated from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology with an ND: Public Relations management in 2018, and began working for a Global advertising agency in Cape Town, South Africa. 

As the third woman from South Africa to win the Miss Universe title, Zozi made history by being the first black South African winner to do so in her natural short hair when crowned in December 2019.  Zozi is a proponent of natural beauty and “embracing your authentic self”, and her decision to wear her hair naturally became an example to young women around the globe, “to take up space” and not be afraid to be themselves.  This message was delivered during the national competition and spurred global recognition from the likes of Oprah to Michelle Obama.

Zozi is a voice for gender equality and has engaged in the fight against gender-based violence for several years.  As Miss Universe, Zozi continued her advocacy on a global platform, in the struggle against gender-based violence, gender inequality and the continued grapple for women’s rights.  As an ardent supporter of UN Women’s “#HeForShe”, a social media campaign to changing the narrative around gender stereotypes, Zozi works with this campaign in hopes to bring men into the activist space and help bring about equality; and broaden the movement in bringing more voices together onto this platform to make a change across the world.

During the 2020 year, Zozi helped to create the social media talk platform, #UniverseUnited, and partnered with UN Women SA, the African Union, and various other global based organizations to amplify her message.