Following the release of a fake presser yesterday afternoon, Miss SA confirmed that Miss South Africa 2021, Lalela Mswane will represent the country at Miss Universe.
The Miss Universe competition will be held in Israel in the city of Eilat, as it celebrates the 70th edition of the pageant.
Due to the ongoing conflict in the host country, many South Africans have shared their outrage at Mswane’s attendance.
Mswane and the Sun International team have received a lot of backlash online for choosing to partake in what has been slammed as the ‘Apartheid’ state of Israel.
In response, Miss South Africa CEO, Stephanie Weil said: “We are not a political organisation and the Miss Universe pageant is not a politically inspired event.”
In their latest Instagram post, Miss South Africa said: “South Africa was placed very firmly in the 21st century when Zozibini Tunzi, proudly wearing her natural hair without trying to conceal it under a weave or a wig, was crowned Miss Universe.
Her refusal to bow to pressure to look a certain way was groundbreaking, and opened the door to diversity and the rise of the individual as opposed to look-alikes.
Award-winning satirist Lesego Thlabi, also known as @CoconutKelz called Miss South Africa hypocritical for denouncing politics while bringing up black women hair, which she called ‘extremely political’.
In the same breath that @Official_MissSA wants to denounce politics, they bring up black women hair which is EXTREMELY political. The hypocrisy my lord.
— Lesego Tlhabi (@LesegoTlhabi) November 10, 2021
Also remember when black women had to have their own pageant because… politics? Lol pic.twitter.com/qELSk3qMDM
Thlabi further referenced a quote by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”
Another Twitter user @Mabotse_Mo questioned why Miss South Africa asks finalists about their political views as part of the pageant.
“So if Miss SA is not a political organisation and does not hold any political stance…Why do they ask the finalists about their views on various POLITICAL issues during the pageant/competition as part of the final selection process?”
So if Miss SA is not a political organisation and does not hold any political stance…
— ig: mabotse_mo (@Mabotse_Mo) November 9, 2021
why do they ask the finalists about their views on various POLITICAL issues during the pageant/competition as part of the final selection process? pic.twitter.com/IILPx1kYJ0
Twitter user @RobynPorteous said Miss South Africa served as a representative to the nation. Porteous asked what was representation, if it is not inherently political.
On the question of Miss SA, and in many ways our sportsmen too, the fundamental truth is that they serve as representatives of our nation - a nation with a complex and painful history. And in that regard, what is representation if not inherently political?
— Robyn Porteous (@RobynPorteous) November 10, 2021
Lastly Twitter user @amalnotclooney said that Mswane’s participation annoys her even more, knowing that the reigning title holder has a LLB.
What gets me is that Miss SA Lalela is literally an LLB graduate, she literally studied International law, knows about the atrocities, the flagrant int law violations. Yet picking a piece of metal crown over human rights. Disgusting!
She does not represent me.
🇿🇦 Stands with 🇵🇸