Miss South Africa was crowned Miss Universe on Sunday in Atlanta, the U.S., after a lavish ceremony filled with glitter and heartfelt speeches about female empowerment.

Zozibini Tunzi, 26, finished first ahead of the Puerto Rican and Mexican finalists in a flashy televised event, in which a panel of seven women determined the winner.

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.

"I think that it is time that stops today," she said to thunderous applause.

Tunzi beat more than 90 contestants from around the globe in the 68th installment of Miss Universe, which was held in Atlanta's Tyler Perry Studios.

(With input from AFP)

(Cover image: Zozibini Tunzi from South Africa is crowned Miss Universe by her predecessor, Catriona Gray from the Philippines, at the 2019 Miss Universe pageant at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., December 8, 2019. /VCG Photo)