Lalela Mswane breaks her silence on backlash ahead of Miss Universe pageant
The pageant, and Lalela's participation, has been marred by controversy, since it was announced it would be hosted by Israel.its support for the Miss South Africa Organisation and urged Lalela to drop out of the pageant. They said atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians were well documented, and the government, as the legitimate representative of the people of South Africa,"could not in good conscience associate itself with such".
Now, the 24-year-old lawyer, hailing from KwaZulu-Natal, says:"If I had not come to Israel to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, I think I would have regretted it for the rest of my life.The Miss Universe contestants recently visited the Old City of Jerusalem. It was at a church where she says she felt"calmness and a sense of renewal", despite the headlines and ongoing pressure.
She says in the interview:"Certain people have put me through hell and back. It has not been the easiest thing to deal with. But I choose to be optimistic. The way everything unfolded reminded me of His greatness and why I'm here."with the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, says she's met the"friendliest people" in Israel.
She tells the publication she hopes"to shed a light on the issue of women's rights", but right now, she's focussed on taking the crown.We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred, you have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today.
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