Miss South Africa comes in third place at Miss Universe
Miss South Africa, Lalela Mswane, came in second place in the Miss Universe competition held in Israel.
Miss India, Harnaaz Sandhu, won the yearly pageant, with Paraguay’s Nadia Ferreira emerging as first runner-up.
South Africa’s government withdrew its support for Ms Mswane in the pageant in order to protest Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, despite organizers’ claims that the pageant should not be politicized.
According to the ministry of culture, “Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians are well documented,” and it cannot “in good conscience associate itself with such.”
In the past, Israel has denied committing atrocities against Palestinians.
Ms Mswane should have resigned, according to Minister Nathi Mthethwa, for the sake of South Africa’s international standing.
The pageant has tweeted a video of Miss South Africa being named second runner-up:
The second runner up is…South Africa! #MISSUNIVERSE
— Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) December 13, 2021
The 70th MISS UNIVERSE Competition is airing LIVE around the world from Eilat, Israel on @foxtv pic.twitter.com/xOtBjXiN8i