Lalela Lali Mswane is a South African ballet dancer, model, singer and beauty queen who holds and law degree and speaks Zulu, French and English. Her mother Hleliselwe Mthiyane-Mswane worked as an account clerk.

Born in Eswatini, Lalela’s father Muntu Mswane was a diplomat and a minister. He served as Swaziland’s High Commissioner to South Africa.

Lalela is a Christian and she finds humor in the most simple things. Here are 13 more things about her:

Early life and education

Mswane was born in Richards Bay, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Her father, Muntu Mswane, was an Eswatini-born former diplomat and minister who died in 2010, while her mother Hleliselwe worked as an accounts clerk and homemaker. She is the youngest of three children, having an elder brother and sister. After completing her secondary education at Pro Arte Alphen Park in 2015, Mswane enrolled in the University of Pretoria, later graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree.

Pageantry

Mswane began her pageantry career after participating in the Matric Experience 2015 pageant, where she finished as the first runner-up.

Prior to becoming Miss South Africa, Mswane worked as a professional model signed to the South African modeling agency Alushi Models.

Miss Supranational 2022

On 15 February 2022, the Miss SA Organization announced that Mswane will also represent South Africa at Miss Supranational 2022 which she won on 15 July 2022. In doing so she became the first black woman ever to win and second African woman to win Miss Supranational after Chanique Rabe. This also marks a back to back win for Africa.

13 things about Miss Supranational 2022

1. She lives in Pretoria, South Africa.
2. She was born and raised in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
3. She attended Crawford Preparatory and Pro Arte Alphen Park High School, which are both in Pretoria.
4. She is 5’7.5″ tall.
5. In 2006, she started her training as a ballerina.
6. On January 27, 2010, her father passed away in Pretoria after a short illness.
7. She was Matric Experience 2015 first runner-up.
8. From 2016 to 2020, she attended the University of Pretoria in Pretoria where she earned her law degree.
9. In June 2020 she established her nonprofit organization called the Lalela Mswane Foundation, which strives to empower the youth to soar beyond the boundaries that life has placed before them.
10. She was signed with the South African modeling agency Alushi Models before she was announced as one of the 30 Miss South Africa 2021 quarterfinalists on July 6, 2021. On October 16, 2021, she competed against nine other finalists at the Grand Arena of GrandWest in Cape Town, South Africa and won the title.
11. On December 12, 2021, she represented South Africa at Miss Universe 2021 and competed against 79 other candidates in Eilat, Israel. She was second runner-up to Harnaaz Sandhu of India.
12. On July 15, 2022, she represented South Africa at Miss Supranational 2022, competed against 68 other candidates in Nowy Sącz, Małopolska, Poland and won the title.
13. She was 25 years old when she was crowned Miss Supranational 2022 on July 15, 2022.