I didn't enter Miss S.A. because I thought I was the most beautiful woman in S.A., I entered because it's one of the few platforms that give women the ability to lead and I knew I had a powerful voice and message to send out.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of using platforms for empowering women rather than seeking validation through beauty.
Zozibini Tunzi highlights her motivation for entering the Miss South Africa competition not as a pursuit of personal beauty, but as an opportunity to leverage a visible platform to amplify women's voices and leadership. Her words remind us that true empowerment comes from being purposeful and using one's position to inspire change and convey powerful messages that resonate with others.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech at a women's empowerment event to inspire young women.
I think the most important thing... is leadership. It's something that has been lacking in young women and girls for a very long time, not because we don't want to but because of what society has labeled women to be. I think we are the most powerful beings in the world and that we should be given every opportunity.
I think we are afraid to take up space. We are afraid to be amazing. As soon as that fear leaves us and we start building that confidence of being unapologetic about being great, then i think we can get into that space of having a lot of women leaders who are just fearless.
People speak about diversity and representation like the world is ready. But when it actually happens, people can't take change. They can't deal with it. Which is why we have things like cyberbullying, which is why people will send you nasty DMs, say nasty things in your comments. Because they're just not dealing with it, they're not ready.
We should be teaching young girls to take up space. Nothing is as important as taking up space in society and cementing yourself.
I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me, with my kind of skin and my kind of hair, was never considered to be beautiful.
Women are constantly being taught how to defend themselves against attack from men. I would like to shift the perception. I want to say that that responsibility should no longer rest on the shoulders of women alone.
There is a future, and I can't wait to get to it
When things are at their worst, I find something always happens.
I think the people who experienced the Apollo missions came away from that experience wondering to themselves, 'When can we get a chance to experience spaceflight?' I've heard that many, many times: that people got into a new career field hoping that they would be able to experience spaceflight.
Whatever it is that pulls the pin, that hurls you past the boundaries of your own life into a brief and total beauty, even for a moment, it is enough.
Oh the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
Keep on knocking 'til the joy inside opens a window look to see who's there
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