Winner Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa delivered a strong speech in the final question-and-answer segment of the Miss Universe pageant on Sunday night, December 8 (December 9, Philippine time), in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.
She and the two other finalists, Madison Anderson of Puerto Rico and Sofía Aragón of Mexico, were asked this question: "What is the most important thing we should teach young girls today?"
Miss South Africa 2019 answered: "I think the most important thing we should be teaching young girls today is leadership.
"It's something that has been lacking young girls and women 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.
"And that is what we should be teaching young girls, to take up space. Nothing is important as taking up space in society and submitting yourself."
Zozibini also nailed the Q&A segment for Top 5, where finalists were asked individual questions.
Pageant host Steve Harvey asked Zozibini: "Are leaders of today doing enough to protect future generations from climate change? If not, what more should they be doing?"
The 26-year-old model answered, "Steve, I think that the future leaders could do a little bit more, but I feel like we as individuals, ourselves, can also play a part in making the climate the way it should be in the future.
"I mean, we have children protesting for climate and I feel like as adults, we should join as well, we should have corporations join as well, and the government should take it seriously.
"I mean, from 6th grade, I've bee learning that the climate is deteriorating and the planet is dying, and it is up to us to keep our planet safe."
The pageant's final tally named Madison Anderson 1st runner-up, Sofía Aragón 2nd runner-up, and Zozibini Tunzi Miss Universe 2019.
Zozibini is the third woman from South Africa to win the title, and the first black woman since Miss Angola Leila Lopes was crowned Miss Universe 2011.
Catriona Gray passed on the Miss Universe crown to Zozibini at the pageant's grand coronation night at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.