Zozibini “Zozi” Tunzi is poised to make her mark in the film and TV industry as she joins Top Billing’s 2026 comeback season on SABC3.
She is among the new lineup of presenters on the show, including Miss South Africa 2023 runner-up Bryoni Govender, actor Arno Greeff, and voiceover artist Sine Mpulu.
Former Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi and her husband engineer Luthando Bolowana are marking a milestone in their union.
On March 22 2025, the couple had their white wedding at Belair Pavilion in Paarl in the Western Cape which was a star-studded affair whose guests included Anele Mdoda, AmaQamata, Connie Ferguson, Basetsana Kumalo, among others, and Nomzamo Mbatha, who was the MC.
One of the most romantic viral moments from their wedding day was Zozi singing a song she had written for her husband, alongside singer Muneyi.
Zozibini took to her timeline on Sunday to share glimpses from their special day in celebration of their first anniversary.
“One beautiful year! A million lifetimes to go,” she captioned the post.
When previously recounting her special day, Zozibini told Sunday Times how the rain on the day felt like a blessing.
“I woke up on my white wedding day and it was raining. I was concerned and crying, and he [Luthando] called me to reassure me that everything that happened on the day was meant to happen. As I was driving out of the hotel to the venue, my little sister said the rain was stopping,” she said.
“A magical thing happened when I walked down the aisle, and it stopped raining when we exchanged vows. That’s when the sun came out, and it was such a beautiful thing. That’s my best memory — knowing everything was there for us. The rain was a blessing, and the sun coming out was an even bigger blessing.”
Luthando and Zozi come from the same village, his home just a stone’s throw from hers.
“Our families have always known each other, but strangely we were never in the same spaces. We are both very reserved people, so we were never really outside a lot. Neither of us lived in the village, but we’d come home to it during the holidays. We officially met properly on my 21st birthday, and then we started talking and became friends.”
They began dating in 2016, but it was only a year later that Zozi knew he was the one.
“I like to get to know people slowly. I don’t just jump into things. But as time went by, it became very clear to me that he would definitely be that one person I would take this huge decision with.
“Luthando is my absolute best friend. He is the kindest person I know, and the most consistent. It just felt right. I love kind people and gravitate towards them — those who have the same moral compass as I do.
“He was there after Miss South Africa and Miss Universe, and was always so supportive and sure. He feels sure and safe.
“He lives outside the spotlight and honestly does not want to be centre stage — but he wants it for me. He drove me around to all the Miss South Africa auditions, always making sure I was there on time. He was more than happy just to stand behind me and support me the whole time. I left for New York and stayed there a long time, and he was very secure about that.”
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Hailing from the small village of Sidwadweni, near Tsolo, in the Eastern Cape, Zozi told TshisaLIVE that being on the small screen has been a lifelong dream for her, as she used to watch YoTV as a child and shows such as Top Billing in her adulthood.
“Even before I became the Zozi that everyone knows, it has definitely been something I wanted to do from a very young age. I’ve always been obsessed with TV, presenting, and acting. I loved reading books and watching TV, which is all I ever did besides playing outside,” she said.
“I would watch the shows, having no idea how I would ever get there.”
She has been on a quiet pursuit to venture into TV.
Zozi’s first time outside the village was when she went to study public relations at Cape Peninsula University of Technology. While studying, she juggled acting auditions as well.
“When I got to the city for the first time for my varsity, there used to be this link that I would look for on Google; it used to have casting news.
“I went through a lot of castings in my varsity career. Had the best time doing that. So many rejections along the way. It was always just so exciting to even pursue auditions.”
But it wasn’t until she was crowned as Miss South Africa in 2019 that her life changed. In the same year, she was crowned Miss Universe and made history as the longest-reigning Miss Universe, holding the title for over a year and five months.
The Eastern Cape has scooped up both the Miss SA and Miss Universe SA titles.
Eastern Cape beauty queen Qhawekazi Mazaleni was crowned the 67th Miss SA on Saturday night.
Born in Falakahla village in Dutywa and raised in East London, Qhawekazi, 24, matriculated from Beaconhurst School in Beacon Bay in 2019 and went on to earn a speech, language and hearing therapy degree at Stellenbosch University.
She now lives in Johannesburg.
While Miss SA no longer participates in the Miss Universe competition, fellow Eastern Cape-born Melissa Nayimuli, 29, from Butterworth, was last week named Miss Universe SA and is set to represent the nation in Thailand in November.
Melissa, who was a Miss SA 2023 finalist, is a film and television producer. She holds a BA in motion picture production from AFDA.
“These beauty queens have made the Eastern Cape proud. Their triumph is a celebration of the power of dreams, hard work and perseverance,”
Melissa and Qhawekazi follow in the footsteps of Zozibini Tunzi, from Tsolo, who was Miss SA 2019 and went on to win the Miss Universe pageant.
Qhawekazi is completing her master’s degree in speech-language pathology at the University of Pretoria with a focus on autism.
She recently told the Dispatch that her sister, Homba Mazaleni, who entered Miss SA in 2023, was her inspiration.
“My journey with Miss SA started back in grade 7,” she said.
“I remember my family all gathered around the TV for the Miss SA finale. It was such a big moment.
“When my sister entered in 2023, I truly saw how Miss SA could be a tool for personal growth and community change.”
Qhawekazi is also the author of a children’s book which teaches children to read and count.
“It’s been so beautiful watching children interacting and learning from the book.”
She is committed to bridging gaps in education and says winning the crown will allow her to lay the foundation for work that will continue.
“Young women don’t always have role models within their own communities to look up to and see themselves reflected; representation gives them permission to dream.”
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Qhawekazi said beauty pageants were extremely helpful for self-development, personal growth and the ability to create change.
They encourage in women a growth mindset that incorporates resilience and tenacity.
On Sunday, the Eastern Cape government offered its praise and congratulations.
“The Eastern Cape provincial government proudly congratulates two of the province’s shining stars, Qhawekazi Mazaleni and Melissa Nayimuli, on their remarkable achievements,” spokesperson Khuselwa Rantjie said in a statement.
“Their remarkable achievements are a source of immense pride and inspiration for the people of the Eastern Cape and the nation at large.
“Beyond their beauty and intellect, they have demonstrated a deep commitment to uplifting and driving positive change in society.”
Premier Oscar Mabuyane described the two as beacons of hope and true ambassadors of the province.
“These beauty queens have made the Eastern Cape proud. Their triumph is a celebration of the power of dreams, hard work and perseverance,” he said.
“They represent the spirit of our young people who continue to rise above challenges and shine on national and global platforms.
“We are confident they will use this opportunity to inspire others and promote the values of humility, compassion and leadership.”
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In 2022, Zozi made her acting debut in the American film The Woman King. She later returned to the screen, playing the character of Naomi in the South African Netflix series Bad Influencer in 2025.
“I was like a duck paddling all these years, and it’s so beautiful to see how everything has panned out. My six years as a public figure have taught me so much. It has prepared me for this. I’m an artist, a performer; so many rejections along the way.”
Now that she’s finally made it, she hopes to pursue more opportunities in the film and TV industry.
The industry has taken a hard knock in recent years, and Zozi said that as she builds a career in the space, she is not oblivious to the struggles of others trying to break into the film and TV industry and wants their voices to be amplified.
“It’s such a sad reality when you think of the marches that are happening. I feel it’s not taken as seriously as it should. People watch TV all the time to be entertained by actors and other personalities. It brings so much revenue in the country, but it does not reflect on how they are getting paid. I do hope cries of South African artists will be heard eventually.
“There are so many things in the pipeline. I’m not going to lie, I am very busy at the moment, but I do try my best to juggle my personal life and my work.”
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