Former Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi is stepping into a brand-new role as she prepares to host the Miss Universe Zimbabwe Grande Finale 2026 on 6 June—her first trip to Zimbabwe.
Key takeaways
- Zozibini Tunzi will serve as host for the Miss Universe Zimbabwe Grande Finale 2026 on 6 June.
- The South African media personality, actor, and former beauty queen is visiting Zimbabwe for the first time.
- She’s looking forward to meeting the contestants and witnessing the drive behind their pageant journey.
- Tunzi plans to explore Zimbabwean culture, including traditions, music, food, and a possible visit to Victoria Falls.
- She says hosting a national pageant is a different experience from competing, but she’s approaching it with confidence.
- She encouraged contestants to stay authentic and unapologetically themselves.
A first look at Zimbabwe—and the women in the running
Tunzi shared how thrilled she is to finally experience the country, its culture, and the women competing for the prestigious crown. She specifically expressed excitement about meeting the contestants and observing the passion and ambition shaping their path toward the competition.
She also revealed that she wants to fully immerse herself in Zimbabwean traditions, music, cuisine, and broader cultural life. In addition, she hopes to see Victoria Falls—known as Mosi-oa-Tunya—after hearing that it’s both breathtaking and meaningful in representing the beauty of the region.
Tunzi described the experience of standing on a Zimbabwean stage celebrating African beauty and representation as history-making in a personal way. She said the moment carries symbolism about how African women continue to uplift one another across borders.
From that perspective, she framed her involvement as a chance to help build momentum for what comes next. “It’s an honour to be in a position where I can contribute to the growth of the next generation of queens,” she said, adding that she hopes to support more opportunities for women across the SADC region to shine internationally.
From titleholder to host: preparation, style, and advice
Having moved from competing as a beauty queen to working as a presenter and actor, Tunzi acknowledged that hosting a national pageant is a different challenge than walking on stage as a contestant. Even so, she said she’s embracing the role with confidence and authenticity.
She explained that a significant amount of preparation and training has gone into developing her skills as a presenter, and she’s excited to bring that progress to the event.
For viewers and fans attending the grand finale, Tunzi teased that it will deliver major fashion highlights, with looks designed by creators from across Africa. She promised a show filled with elegance, energy, vibrance, and authenticity.
When asked what advice she would give contestants aiming for the crown, Tunzi encouraged young women to embrace their individuality and compete with real confidence. She told them to be “unapologetically” themselves, saying that their uniqueness is their greatest strength—and that confidence grounded in authenticity will always make the strongest impact.
Her growth lesson: reinvent without losing yourself
Looking back on her own path from beauty queen to global public figure, Tunzi shared one of the most important lessons she says she’s learned about growth and reinvention. She emphasized that reinventing yourself doesn’t require abandoning who you are, but rather making space to evolve while staying anchored to your values and identity.
