Zozibini Tunzi Biography: Films, Husband, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Awards

Zozibini “Zozi” Tunzi is a South African model and former beauty queen who rose to international prominence after winning Miss South Africa 2019 and subsequently being crowned Miss Universe 2019.

Her victory in Atlanta on December 8, 2019, made her the first black South African woman to win the global title, and she quickly became known for her advocacy of natural beauty and women’s empowerment.

Profile

• Full name: Zozibini Tunzi
• Nickname: Zozi
• Date of birth: 18 September 1993
• Age: 32 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Tsolo, Eastern Cape, South Africa
• State of origin: Eastern Cape
• Nationality: South African
• Profession: Model, actress, television host
• Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
• Parents: Philiswa Nadopu Tunzi; Lungisa Tunzi
• Siblings: Yanga Tunzi, Sibabalwe Tunzi, Ayakha Tunzi
• Spouse: Luthando Bolowana (married 22 March 2025)
• Children: N/A
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: N/A
• Ethnicity: Xhosa
• Net worth: $6 million

Early Life and Education

Zozibini Tunzi is now 32 years old and was born on September 18, 1993, in the village of Tsolo in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. She is the second of four sisters, born to Philiswa Nadopu Tunzi, a school principal, and Lungisa Tunzi, who worked for the Department of Higher Education and Training.

Her family belongs to the Xhosa ethnic group, and she spent her early years in the nearby village of Sidwadweni. Tunzi moved to Cape Town to pursue higher education at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, where she completed a National Diploma in Public Relations Management in 2018.

Before that, she had been balancing her studies with modelling work in East London and the Eastern Cape, and by 2017, she was interning in public relations at Ogilvy Cape Town.

Personal Life

Tunzi married fellow South African public relations professional Luthando Bolowana in March 2025. The couple’s traditional wedding ceremony took place on March 29, 2025, in Sidwadweni, Eastern Cape.

They met through mutual industry contacts in Cape Town, where both were working in communications roles, and their relationship progressed quietly until their engagement was announced early in 2025.

Career

Tunzi entered pageantry in 2017 as one of 26 semifinalists in the Miss South Africa 2017 competition. After returning to compete in Miss South Africa 2019, she was crowned on 9 August 2019 and won prizes including a cash award, a new car, and a furnished apartment in Johannesburg. This victory earned her the right to represent South Africa at the Miss Universe 2019 pageant.

In December 2019, she captured the global title at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, advancing through each round to become Miss Universe 2019. During her reign, she lived in New York City and travelled extensively for charitable and media engagements. Following the reign, she transitioned into acting, making her film debut as Efe in The Woman King (2022).

Awards

• Miss South Africa 2019
• Miss Universe 2019
• Celebrity Personality of the Year (nominee, National Film and Television Awards 2024)

Net worth

Tunzi’s estimated net worth stands at $6 million, accrued through prize earnings from her pageant victories, modelling engagements, acting roles, brand partnerships, and public speaking appearances.

Social Media

• Instagram: @zozitunzi
• X: @zozitunzi
• TikTok: @zozitunzi

Filmography

• The Woman King (2022)