South Africa to continue Miss Universe run amid calls to boycott pageant
Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane has announced that she will continue her Miss Universe 2021 run amid calls for the country to boycott the pageant to show support for Palestine.
The rumors that she had pulled out of the pageant came after pro-Palestine group Africa4Palestine released a statement congratulating Maswane for departing the competition, which will be held in Israel this December.
A statement by the Miss South Africa organization refuted the claims, calling them “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,” they said.
They added that the beauty queen will not be “bullied” against vying for the Miss Universe crown
"As the reigning Miss South Africa Lalela will join participants from close to 70 countries in this contest, and will represent South Africa to the best of her ability."
“We are not a political organization and The Miss Universe pageant is not a politically inspired event," they concluded.
Meanwhile, there has been a longstanding call for South Africa to leave the competition. Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, urged her to do so to fight the “occupation and the cruel treatment of Palestinians at the hands of the apartheid Israel regime.”
“There is nothing beautiful about occupation, brutality, and institutionalized discrimination against the Palestinian people,” Mandela said.
Other groups such as the Palestine Solidarity Alliance have also been calling for Mswane to step out of the pageant.
"We, as a pro-Palestinian, South African organization are just putting pressure on our Miss SA as well as her organizers to join the boycott,” they shared on Instagram.
“Lalela is the face of Miss SA at Miss Universe. If Miss SA boycotts Miss Universe it will send a message to the world that apartheid recognizes apartheid. Therefore Miss SA is the best person to begin the Miss Universe boycott."
As of writing, Miss Malaysia and Miss Laos have pulled out of the competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
South Africa's Zozibini Tunzi won the crown in the delayed Miss Universe 2019 pageant, while Mexico's Andrea Meza is the reigning Miss Universe 2020.