Miss Supranational 2022, Lalela Mswane was crowned on Friday night at the Strzelecki Park Amphitheatre in Nowy Sącz, Poland. She made history, becoming the first woman of colour from South Africa to clinch the title.
She was crowned by Chanique Rabe who is Miss Supranational 2021. Breaking the record, previously held by Thato Mosehle, who last year became the first woman of colour to represent SA at the pageant. The first to do so under the official Miss SA banner, and the first to make it into the Top 3.
Congratulations are in order! Mzansi is super proud and ecstatic over this win.
READ MORE: Lalela Mswane Crowned Miss Supranational 2022
In an Instagram post, Lalela expressed how proud she is of herself for following her dreams despite the challenges she had to face. She also thanked Mzansi for rallying behind her.
“I’m simply at a loss for words. With this crown I carry the hopes, 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. Thank you @misssupranational for trusting me with this crown. I look forward to making this year a truly incredible one. My beloved @official_misssa,South Africa and team Lali, your love kept me going and I’m filled with so much gratitude. We did it Mzansi,” she wrote.
She also went on to thank her fellow Supranational sisters, “Thank you for the beautiful journey, the lessons and the most special of moments. I wish you all love, peace and success as you continue being agents of change (or chaos),” she wrote.
The KwaZulu-Natal beauty went into the pageant as a firm favourite, having already been voted into the contest’s coveted Top 10 model of the year slot.
Also making it through to round two of the influencer segment ahead of the finale. Lalela represented SA against contestants from 69 other countries, including beauties from Thailand, Venezuela and Indonesia.
All three, along with Miss Vietnam, placed in the top five. Mswane swept down the stage in a stunning national costume designed by Cape Town-based Lloyd Kandlin, director of The Costume Department.
The designer was also behind Miss SA 2019 Zozibini Tunzi’s national costume. For the Miss Universe pageant, which she went on to win. One could say wearing one of his designs will certainly get you a win.
South Africans took to social media following her victory, hailing her for bringing the crown home.