Hardly a week since the crowning of Miss SA Natasha Joubert, there’s already drama brewing behind the scenes. Many people are wondering why former Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi was nowhere to be seen at Miss South Africa finale, held on Sunday, considering that she was part and parcel of the reality show, Crown Chasers. ZiMoja can confirm that Zozi was invited but snubbed the invitation due to drama behind the scenes of the reality show she was presenting. 

ZOZI WAS EXPECTED AT MISS SA

Miss South Africa owners confirmed with Zimoja that she was invited but did not show up intentionally. Speaking to ZiMoja, Miss SA owner and organiser, Steph Weil, said Zozi was never meant to be a judge but she was invited as the VIP guest but did not show up. But a source says Zozi thought she was going to be made a judge, especially next to the international star Thuso Mbedu, but when she found out she wasn’t, she apparently lost interest. But Weil said she had no clue what happened to the Eastern Cape born beauty. "I don’t know what happened to her. Maybe she confirmed other important things, but she was definitely invited and never showed up," she said.

BITTER TASTE IN HER MOUTH  

It has emerged that Zozi apparently even unfollowed Miss SA on social media platforms and it is alleged that she did not like how things were run and even the way she was treated during the reality show. According to a highly placed source, it left a bitter taste in Zozi’s mouth as she has never felt undervalued and disrespectedA.  The source adds that Zozi turned down the Miss SA invite because she did not like how she was treated during the filming of the build-up reality show, Crown Chasers. "There was a lot of unprofessionalism and sometimes production would delay and it would take up most of her time." Weil said it was because it was their first time doing the reality show and things were bound to go wrong. "I respect Zozi as a woman and brand and obviously there will be glitches and mistakes because it was our first season."

Zozi could not be reached for comment in time for publication but her manager Tumi Moema said, "Nothing is happening. We had prior arrangements." When asked why her client decided to unfollow the Miss SA page, she flatly refused to comment. But Weil indicated that she had no clue why Zozi decided to unfollow Miss SA. "I wouldn’t know why she decided to unfollow us," she said.

DRAMA BEHIND THE SCENES

Last week, ZiMoja revealed that Miss SA pageant owners had failed to pay for Zozi’s wardrobe and styling, citing that Zozi should be the one paying the stylist from her own pocket. Zimoja can add that the same stylist has not been paid up to this day. "I still have not been paid but I am glad I am not the only one who is affected," said the stylist, who spoke on condition of anonymity.