By Katlego Sekhu
Former Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi joined 959 Breakfast with Dineo Ranaka and Sol Phenduka this week.
During her interview, Zozibini touched on post-pagentry depression (yes, it’s a thing).
Bear in mind Zozi went from interning at a PR and Marketing firm to being crowned Miss South Africa and then Miss Universe in the space of months. “There’s nothing normal about that,” she adds.
“So Esther is the Miss Universe manager and there’s a hand thing, she’s such a mother and there’s a connection between you and her. As you are standing backstage and holding her hand, she will let you know that in the next two minutes I will be letting go of your hand and I will be grabbing another girl’s hand.”
She touches the stress that can come with transitioning from reining Miss Universe back to normal Zozibni.
“All soon as they announce the new Miss Universe they let go of your hand and all that attention it just moves and you just stand there alone. And you’ll find a security that’ll take you back to your room and you’ll pack up your bags the following morning and go to wherever you are going.”
On dealing with mental health, Zozibini encourages people to go and see a proffesional.
“It’s important to see a proffessional. We like speak to our people but sometimes there’s just nothing they can do about it because they are not proffessionals.
“The first thing is to recognsise mental illness as a disease. When you get sick you go to a doctor and they treat you, you don’t go to a friend to treat you.
“I’ve had to speak to psycologists but also just to surround yourself with good things and good people.”
Watch Zozibibni’s interview on 959 Breakfast with Dineo Ranaka and Sol Phenduka.
The Woman King came as a surprise
Zozibini will be starring alongside seasoned actress Viola Davis and Thuso Mbedu in the forthcoming historical epic The Woman King.
She says her role came as a surprise.
That was a surprise I mean. It came, it was an opportunity. My manager asked me if I’d consider getting into acting and I see myself as a performer and a storyteller and I didn’t see why not.”
Zozi, who’s about to make her acting debut, thanks Warren Masemola for the vital role he played in shaping her craft.
“I auditioned but it was very fun. I had help from such incredible people. Warren Masemola was amazing. He is the most talented person i’ve ever met. He helped me through that audition process.”
