Can you spot the future Miss SA in this picture?

Can you spot the future Miss SA in this picture?

The 11-year-old girl in this picture went on to win Miss South Africa and gain admirers all over the world. 

Miss South Africa Zozibini Tunzi
Future Miss South Africa/Instagram

The 2020 Miss South Africa pageant is just around the corner, and one title holder decided to take a trip down memory lane with a fun throwback picture.

The image shows the future international beauty queen onstage during her early pageant days. She's the pre-teen wearing the number 80 and rocking white stockings! 

"I was competing in a small community pageant and I had made top 5. This was my favorite part of the competition because I got to speak," she captioned the image. 

ALSO READ: Chatsworth's Karishma Ramdev makes Miss South Africa Top 10

preteen Zozibini Tunzi
A future Miss SA in the making/ instagram

More than a decade later she would go on to be crowned the fairest in the land. 

"While stunning on the outside, her true beauty shines from within as a passionate advocate for women and girls around the world," actress Gabrielle Union said about the SA beauty.

Model Tyra Banks wrote: "I studied your IG feed and these are my fave shots of you. So proud of you and what you stand for. So many little girls in South Africa and beyond will now feel their dreams are indeed in reach."

Hint: she is also the queen of the universe. 

If you guessed Zozibini, then you are right! Not only did she win Miss SA in 2019 but she went on to become Miss Universe. 

Nomzamo Mbatha, who will be hosting this year's virtual Miss SA pageant, made Zozi dig up the picture for International Day of The Girl Child.

"To every young girl... This is from 11 year old me. You are an incredible force, don't let that spark die. To every woman..you are doing an incredible job keeping those promises you made to yourself as a young girl. Keep on keeping," Zozibini captioned her throwback picture.

View this post on Instagram

Lol🤣 @nomzamo_m I can't believe you made me dig this gem up but it is International Day of The Girl Child and I'm here for it! So, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!! This here in the shiny fabulous dress (number 80, with this smile😬) is 11 year old me. I was competing in a small community pageant and I had made top 5. This was my favorite part of the competition because I got to speak. I couldn't wait to show people what I had learnt from all the books I got from my grandmother and from our tiny community library. I was unafraid because I had the greatest weapons; Education and a dream! Imagine how the world would be if every girl child was equipped with incredible knowledge. To every young girl..This is from 11 year old me. You are an incredible force, don't let that spark die. To every woman..you are doing an incredible job keeping those promises you made to yourself as a young girl. Keep on keeping. Happy International Day of The Girl Child! #GirlUpChallenge

A post shared by Zozibini Tunzi (@zozitunzi) on

Zozi is currently living her best life in New York - despite the COVID-19 pandemic affecting her Miss Universe duties. 

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