25-year-old Miss Lalela Mswane from South Africa was crowned the first black Miss Supranational 2022on July 15, 2022 at Strzelecki Park Amphitheater in Nowy S?cz, Poland during the 13th edition of the Miss Supranational pageant.
She competed against 69 others from across the world for the title. She is the first Miss South Africa to reach the top 3 on both Miss Universe and Miss Supranational. She wore an amazing costume and was very eloquent in the question and answer part of the contest.
The creation paid tribute to her Zulu heritage and was designed by Cape Town-based Lloyd Kandlin, the director of the Costume Department.
Afterward, she said of her costume, “My national costume was colorful because I descend from the Zulu tribe, and the color is synonymous with the Zulu people, but South Africa is also known as the rainbow nation, so how better to depict that in the national dress.
“The silhouette was also form fitting for that feminine touch and the headpiece made horse African hair which was beaded so I think that it brought everything together to celebrate African people,” she said.
Mwane hopes to continue to inspire young girls and encourage them to keep dreaming.
“My advice to young girls is to allow their feet to lead them to where their heart desires and insert themselves firmly in those places,” she said.
“If myself, a small village girl can be crowned Miss SA, come third at Miss Universe and be the first black woman to win Miss Supranational, then they can achieve anything and they should be relentless in pursuit of what they desire.”
Lalela is a ballet dancer and part-time model. She has a law degree and inspires others to grow themselves through entrepreneurship. She lost her father at just 12 years old.
“With this crown, I carry the hopes and dreams of women who have come before me and those to come. It serves as affirmation that no dream is too small, no journey insurmountable to conquer. May it be a constant reminder to allow your feet to lead you to wherever it is your heart desires,” the 25-year-old shared with a video of her emotional crowning moment.
Lalela hails from Richards Bay, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, and is a proud Zulu woman. She completed her secondary education at Pro Arte Alphen Park in Tshwane and studied ballet with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) before graduating with a law degree from the University of Pretoria. She has been dancing ballet since she was 9 years old.
Prior to winning her international title, she was crowned Miss South Africa 2021 and went on to represent her country at 70th Miss Universe where she finished as second runner-up.
