Miss South Africa Organization Releases Official Statement Addressing Miss Universe Backlash. The Miss South Africa organization and its 2021 pageant winner Lalela Mswane are faced with a lot of backlash on social media after they were both boycotted by the Palestine Solidarity Alliance (PSA) .
This follows the Miss Universe pageant commencing with the pageant in Israel which has now been regarded as an apartheid country. Palestinian’s inside Israel have been protesting Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip and the evictions of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah which has resulted in the loss of many lives as Palestinians have tried to escape the terror.
The PSA released a statement via their Instagram account claiming that the platform and Mswane are only interested in “self gain” and have abandoned their fight for world peace. The topic has been faced with a lot of controversy as social media user’s claim that Lalela is not at fault because the organization should have shown support to the cause by not participating in the pageant this coming December.
Following the backlash, reports of Lalela’s withdrawal from the competition began to circulate however, the Miss SA platform has come out to distance themselves from the claims and have labelled the reports as “completely unfounded and untrue”.
“Miss South Africa, Lalela Mswane, will represent South Africa at the Miss Universe competition, held this year in the picturesque Israeli resort town, Eilat, on December 13. This is contrary to any indication otherwise. Miss South Africa Organisation CEO, Stephanie Weil, said that she was aware there were statements indicating that Lalela 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. She 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 Lalela 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 groundbreaking, and opened the door to diversity and the rise of the individual as opposed to look-alikes”
“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.” the statement reads
