Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane on Saturday visited the Zulu royal family and met King Misizulu ka Zwelithini on the second day of her “homecoming ceremony”.
“A historic and extremely proud moment for our Miss South Africa @Lalela_lali, who is the first Miss SA to visit the Zulu Kingdom,” tweeted the Miss SA organisation.
“What a great honor to meet His Majesty, King Misuzulu Zulu KaZwelithini, a memory that will be cherished for a long time to come”.
Mswane has gotten over the Israel Miss Universe debacle in which she ruffled feathers in high places when she insisted on participating in the pageant.
With the brouhaha over her trip having died down the 24-year-old ballerina and Bachelor of Law graduate is spending thee days on her “homecoming ceremony”, which began on Friday.
The recently crowned Miss SA and Miss Universe second runner-up will celebrate her wins with her community in a series of homecoming activities from Friday to Sunday.
Lalela is from KwaSokhulu in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal.
“I’m truly excited to be returning home after the immense support I’ve received during my reign and build-up to Miss SA and Miss Universe competition,” said Lalela before she embarked on the visit.
She said this was particularly because “we haven’t had the crown in KwaZulu-Natal since 2008, so it just makes it that much more special. And for little girls in KwaZulu-Natal to know that if I can do it, so can they.”
Lalela was crowned Miss South Africa in October 2021 in Cape Town.
As the reigning Miss South Africa 2021, Lalela participated in the 70th Miss Universe pageant held this past December, where she emerged as a second runner-up.
Rounding off the visit, Lalela’s final destination will be her birthplace, KwaSokhulu, where she will attend an event at KwaSokhulu Sports Ground.
Lalela will end her homecoming visit at the KwaMswane residence.
