The Miss South Africa organization has responded to social media backlash regarding the Miss Universe pageant which is scheduled to take place in Israel this year.
Read More: Miss SA Lalela Mswane Gets Dragged
Read More: Miss SA Lalela Mswane Gets Dragged
This follows after the grandson of former SA president Nelson Mandela, Mandla Mandela recently called on African countries to boycott the beauty pageant over the 'cruel treatment of Palestinians at the hands of the Apartheid Israel regime.'
" Israel is an Apartheid State and persists in its heinous occupation and expansion of its illegal settlements in violation of international law. We must persist in isolating Apartheid Israel in the same way that we isolated Apartheid South Africa"
We call on Miss South Africa and the nation as a whole to boycott and withdraw all support for the Miss Universe pageant in Apartheid Israel. There is nothing beautiful about occupation, brutality and institutionalised discrimination against the Palestinian people."
The organization says Miss South Africa 2021 Lalela Mswane will be representing this country at Miss Universe at the end of the year. The CEO of the organisation Stephanie Weil said that she was aware there were statements indicating that Mswane had pulled out but that these were completely unfounded and untrue. With all the misinformation and fake news around, Weil added that the Miss South Africa Organisation was also thrilled to be able to make Lalela’s childhood dream – to wear the crown while representing her country globally – come true.
Mswane has spoken out openly about being bullied as a child and will not be bullied as an adult against fulfilling her ambition. Weil said a “very, very small, but extremely vocal, group” had attempted, and failed, to derail Mswane’s chances at the prestigious international pageant. As the reigning Miss South Africa she will join participants from close on 70 countries in this contest and will represent South Africa to the best of her ability.
“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 down to pressure to look a certain way was ground-breaking and opened the door to diversity and the rise of the individual as opposed to lookalikes,” said Weil.
“Like her, Lalela will be a role model to young women – not just across the country, but across the African continent. Anyone who wants to rob Lalela of her moment in the spotlight is unkind and short-sighted. She is the shining beacon for young women everywhere, showing them that being beautiful while being clever and educated is very possible.
“We are not a political organisation and the Miss Universe pageant is not a politically inspired event,” she concluded.
Image Cred: Twitter