Cape Town – Miss South Africa 2021 Lalela Mswane has been hailed by the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum for her “bravery” in competing in the Miss Universe beauty pageant amid public criticism.
Nahoum took to her Twitter page to applaud Mswane.
“I thanked #MissUniverse South African contestant Lalela Mswane for speaking truth to power and not just being a beautiful but a very brave lady,” wrote Nahoum in a tweet.
I thanked #MissUniverse South African contestant Lalela Mswane for speaking truth to power and not just being a beautiful but a very brave lady pic.twitter.com/QkvpSq2Dap
— פלר חסן נחום Fleur Hassan-Nahoum (@FleurHassanN) December 1, 2021
This comes after Mswane’s participation in the 70th Miss Universe pageant, which will be held in Israel on December 12, drew considerable criticism and sparked a schism among South Africans.
ALSO READ: Miss SA Lalela Mswane thanks South Africans for ‘overwhelming love’ as she readies for Miss Universe
Some South Africans believed that Lalela should have boycotted the competition due to Israel’s claimed atrocities against Palestinians, while others believed that beauty pageants should not be politicised.
The Jerusalem deputy mayor’s praise post for Lalela did not go unnoticed by Twitter users.
Take a look at some of the Twitter reactions:
#LalelaMswane is a embarrassment for every South African who fought against apartheid. Imagine a whole South African embracing apartheid Israel
— Sbu ?? (@sbu_sbuu) December 3, 2021
??♂️ pic.twitter.com/c2YJeoPHDH
— Eazy Ed? (@TheEazyEd) December 2, 2021
Who’s “we”?
— Collins?? (@Collins_ZA1) December 3, 2021
You enjoyed apartheid didnt you!
— Sivuyile Selana (@Diablo101Sivu) December 5, 2021
I thought y’all said this wasn’t political and we shouldn’t politisize it. pic.twitter.com/68osQqtwfI
— Queen Becky ♕ (@bhubaza) December 2, 2021
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Picture: Twitter/@MissSA_Official
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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
