WATCH: Richards Bay’s Lalela Mswane takes coveted crown

SOUTH AFRICANS and Zululanders in particular awoke to celebrations and ululations on Saturday morning as news spread that reigning Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane had been crowned Miss Supranational 2022.

The pageant took place last night (on Friday) at the Strzelecki Park Amphitheatre in Nowy S?cz, Poland, where Chanique Rabe of Namibia crowned her successor at the end of the event.

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Mswane – who hails from KwaSokhulu in Richards Bay – represented South Africa against contestants from 69 other countries.

Throughout the build-up to the finale, the 24-year-old model and dancer had captured the hearts of many across the world and was a fan favourite.

Mswane wowed the judges in the national costume competition which paid tribute to her Zulu heritage and was designed by Cape Town-based designer Lloyd Kandlin.

Being the first Miss SA and black woman to wear the Miss Supranational crown, the law graduate has bagged a string of titles throughout her reign from being crowned Miss South Africa in 2021, Miss Universe 2021 2nd runner-up and now Miss Supranational 2022.

As Miss Supranational, Mswane will hand over her duties as Miss SA to her successor.

#MissSuprational trending tweets:

Lalela Mswane, the epitome of resilience in my eyes. She is one Miss Southy (🇿🇦) that had it the most difficult right from the beginning of her reign. She fought her way through with such grace and class and I see no one more deserving of this title #MissSupranational2022 pic.twitter.com/0cCYdBTiaB

— Noma ☀️ (@nomagumbi_) July 16, 2022

Lalela Mswane is her name
I would like to see it trending today 🤩🤩🤩
The reigning Miss South Africa
Miss SA Lalela Mswane
She is now the newly crowned #MissSupranational2022 pic.twitter.com/gWulv44z2M

— Dreamboat Pere PFP (@Starlet_B) July 16, 2022

I guess South African people were right, Lalela wasn't meant to be Miss SA she was meant to be more than that🤗 When you are God's favorite child Grace will always locate you. Congratulations again baby super proud of you❤️ 😘 #MissSupranational2022 pic.twitter.com/Zsg2YF4058

— Shaz💜👑 (@BOKAMOS15865880) July 15, 2022

The Miss SA organisation knew exactly what they were doing when they decided to send her back to an international stage, it could have only been her 👑👸🏾#MissSupranational2022 pic.twitter.com/sRVyaDPBTd

— Mpumi Nkosi (@Mpumelelonkosii) July 15, 2022