Zozibini Tunzi, 26, is the new Miss Universe after being crowned on Sunday night in Atlanta. 

Zozibini finished fahead of the Puerto Rican and Mexican finalists.

The prestigious event was hosted by American TV personality Steve Harvey.

Tunzi earned cheers during her closing speech, a new segment of the competition, in which she talked about wanting to empower young women to feel confident.

“I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me, with my kind of skin and my kind of hair, was never considered to be beautiful,” she said.