When it was announced that Zozibini Tunzi was our new Miss South Africa, social media was abuzz, not about her beauty and intelligence – but about the fact that she had kinky hair.
And judging from the comments on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, it seemed that black women were free from the bondage of wanting to change their natural hair.
By taking the crown, Mamtolo, uMchenge (clan name) has proven to many women that you do not need long hair and bleached skin to be a beauty queen. And one hopes that her win will erase the perception that you ought to be something you are not to win such titles. As I was listening to and reading comments about her hair, I was reminded of a Setswana idiom, “Mosadi o tshwara thipa ka bohaleng” which roughly translates to “A woman holds the knife on the sharp side of the blade.”
Many local women celebrities were ecstatic about her win and something Zozi said will forever remain with me: “Here sits the crown, beautifully so on my kinky coarse hair. I hope I make South Africa proud.”
I guess we agree that she made many of us proud. Zozi should be an example to the rural girls, an example to us all that you can come from Tsolo, a relatively unknown place, and put it on the map. I’m sure many have started googling Tsolo and suspect those who have been distancing themselves from Tsolo are now proudly declaring that they are from Tsolo.
Many of us are too scared to admit we’re from an unknown area and will rather say we are from Queenstown than Ntabethemba, Tentergate, Bacclesfarm or Dongwe.
Among the celebrities who highly congratulated her for remaining natural was radio presenter Azania Mosaka who wrote: “This day finally came! Natural African hair under that Miss SA crown and heading to the world stage. You are breathtaking!” Azania is one of those who made chiskop popular among women, having shaved her head for years.
Another lady who made history this month when a Barbie doll, made in her likeness was launched – songbird Lira – tweeted: “Ooooh what a beauty! Goosebumps. Our newest #MissSA is rocking her natural hair”.
When Lira was bestowed this honour (if that is indeed what it is to her and other reasonable people) she also made specific mention of her short hair.
This begs the question: is short hair really such a problem that people are making such a big deal about it?
I started questioning why kinky hair was more of a talking point than beauty and intelligence.
I started questioning whether there was some kind of quota and wondered whether I was incorrect in my thinking that she was crowned because she was beautiful and intelligent.
Are black women oppressed because of their hair? And when entering a pageant, does having short hair put you at a disadvantage? If this is one of the criteria, then bekukubi. I have been ignorant.
But enkosi Zozi, sibamba ngazo zozibini kuwe for showing a black child that there is nothing wrong with being black. Thank you for releasing women from the mental bondage that you ought to fit into a western stereotype of beauty to be recognised.
Siyabulela kuwe for telling young black girls that the texture of your hair is not a sin. Bayabulela abantu baseSidwadweni.
Go show the world that a black kid can think and be intelligent without having relaxed long, bleached hair, a wig or a weave.