Lalela Lali Mswane (born 27 March 1997) is a South African beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Supranational 2022. She previously won Miss South Africa 2021 and was second runner up at Miss Universe 2021.

Lalela Mswane
Mswane in 2023
Born
Lalela Lali Mswane

(1997-03-27) 27 March 1997 (age 27)
Richards Bay, South Africa
EducationUniversity of Pretoria (LLB)
Height1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title
Hair colorBlack[citation needed]
Eye colorBrown[citation needed]
Major
competition(s)

Early life and education

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Mswane was born 27 March 1997 in Richards Bay, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.[2] Her father, Muntu Mswane, was an Eswatini-born former diplomat and minister who died in 2010, while her mother Hleliselwe worked as an accounts clerk and homemaker.[3][2] She is the youngest of three children, having an elder brother and sister. After completing her secondary education at Pro Arte Alphen Park in 2015, Mswane enrolled in the University of Pretoria, later graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree.[2][4]

Prior to becoming Miss South Africa, Mswane worked as a professional model signed to the South African modeling agency Alushi Models.[1]

Pageantry

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Mswane began her pageantry career at the Matric Experience 2015 pageant, where she was the first runner-up.[2]

Miss South Africa 2021

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Mswane won Miss South Africa 2021 on 16 October, at Grand West Arena in Cape Town.[5][6][7]

On 6 July 2021, Mswane was announced as one of the 30 competitors for Miss South Africa 2021.[8][9] Following a series of interviews and public voting, she was announced on 3 August as one of the ten semifinalists who would appear at the televised finale.[10][11]

As Miss South Africa, Mswane received an array of prizes and rewards, including R1 million, a one-year residence in a fully furnished apartment in Sandton, a one-year lease on a Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and the opportunity to represent South Africa at Miss Universe 2021.[12]

Miss Universe 2021

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Mswane received widespread criticism within South Africa for agreeing to compete in Miss Universe 2021, which was set to be held in Israel, due to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Despite the criticism, the official Instagram account for Miss South Africa confirmed in a post with comments disabled, that Mswane would still be competing.[13] On 14 November 2021, the government of South Africa withdrew its support to Mswane to compete at Miss Universe 2021.[14] On 27 November, Mswane posted on her Instagram account that she had decided to participate in Miss Universe after weeks of absence.[15] On 13 December 2021, Mswane competed at Miss Universe and ended up as second runner-up.[16]

Miss Supranational 2022

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On 15 February 2022, the Miss SA Organization announced that Mswane would represent South Africa at the 13th edition of Miss Supranational.[17]

During the pageant's preliminary activities, Mswane reached the top 10 at Supra Fan Vote, top 22 at Supra Influencer, and top 11 at Supra Model of the Year. At the pageant, she won the competition, becoming the first black woman and South African to win the title. Her victory also marked a back-to-back win for Africa.[18][19]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Lalela". Alushi Models. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "LALELA MSWANE - KWASOKHULU, RICHARDS BAY, KWAZULU-NATAL" (PDF). Miss South Africa. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Lalela Mswane makes it to Miss SA Top 10". Times of Swaziland. 4 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Getting to know Lalela Mswane: Time is the most precious gift". The Sowetan. 8 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Meet Lalela Mswane: Our brand new Miss South Africa 2021". Jacaranda FM. 16 October 2021.
  6. ^ "All hail queen Lalela Mswane, winner of the 2021 Miss SA pageant". TimesLIVE. 16 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Lalela Mswane crowned Miss South Africa 2021". Channel 24. 16 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Road to Miss South Africa". Archived from the original on 24 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Meet the Miss South Africa 2021 top 30 contestants". News24. 6 July 2021.
  10. ^ Morkel, Graye. "Where to watch the Miss South Africa top 10 reveal". Channel. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  11. ^ "PHOTOS Miss South Africa 2021 top 10 finalists announced". Channel 24. 3 August 2021.
  12. ^ "ust in! Lalela Mswane is crowned Miss South Africa 2021". The South African. 16 October 2021.
  13. ^ "@official_misssa statement". 9 November 2021. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021.
  14. ^ "South Africa withdraws support to her Miss at Miss Universe 2021 in Israel". 15 November 2021.
  15. ^ "@lalela_mswane statement". Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  16. ^ "India Harnaaz Sandhu win Miss Universe 2021". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  17. ^ Mazibuko, Thobile. "WATCH: Lalela Mswane makes history as the first Black woman to win Miss Supranational". iol.co.za. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  18. ^ "Miss SA Lalela Mswane to represent the country at Miss Supranational 2022". Kaya959. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  19. ^ Engelbrecht, Leandra. "'It is South Africa's victory,' says Lalela Mswane after winning Miss Supranational". News24. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by
  Namibia Chanique Rabe
Miss Supranational
2022
Succeeded by
  Ecuador Andrea Aguilera
Preceded by
  Peru Janick Maceta
Miss Universe 2nd Runner-Up
2021
Succeeded by
  Dominican Republic Andreína Martínez
Preceded by
Thato Mosehle
Miss Supranational South Africa
2022
Succeeded by
Ayanda thabethe
Preceded by Miss Universe South Africa
2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by Miss South Africa
2021
Succeeded by

Leakena In