Being a global ambassador is as much a responsibility as it is an honour.

I came out of a building and this woman stopped me, like, ‘You’re Miss Universe!’ And she was a New Yorker! I’m not used to New Yorkers being fans, because they’re so blase about it, you know.

When you are yourself, there is no wrong and there is no right, because being authentic and true to who you are and owning it is all anyone could ever ask of you.

My hair is an important part of who I am and if my hair is healthy and looks great, I feel confident.

It takes one brave woman to implement change and for other women to be able to follow that.

To ask for help does not make you weak. And that was something I felt after I was carjacked. I felt shame. I felt embarrassed. I felt weak about it. That’s not the case at all. Once I did get help, I managed to overcome it and make something special with it, instead of not doing anything about it.

I think we should have equal work for equal pay for women all over the world.

I resonate with everything that the Miss Universe organisation stands for, especially empowering women across the globe.

The crystal-clear water in Thailand offers the best swimming and snorkelling experience.

I was always interested in politics and I had great leadership skills from a young age.

In some places, women get paid 75 percent of what men earn for doing the same job, working the same hours, and I do not believe that is right.

You don’t need a title or a crown or a sash to be able to stand together with other women.

And when I won Miss Universe, I got a global platform, which gave me a louder voice to be able to reach more women from every corner of the world. No matter where we live, our circumstances or how we grew up, we want to feel love, we want to feel cared for, and we want to feel powerful.

I admire woman like Marissa Mayer, the first female engineer and then CEO of Yahoo. Women who don’t only strive to be the equals of men, but who strive to live up to their full potential.

My half-sister was born without a cerebellum and is completely disabled. She is my biggest motivator and inspiration, because her situation makes me realize how special life is, and I always want to work twice as hard, enjoy life twice as much so that I can enjoy it for her as well.

I want to be remembered as a Miss Universe who overcame her fears and helped other women overcome theirs.

Our nation is comprised of many different backgrounds and cultures, one of the many things that makes me immensely proud to be a South African.

I had to go to the other side of the world to reach my dreams; it is possible.

Becoming Miss Universe made me realize that women worldwide face the same challenges daily, such as various forms of violence and crime, physical and emotional abuse, and toxic relationships, among others.

I’m a very hard worker, and if I put my mind to something I see it through, no matter what.

There are so many girls in school who don’t know about the opportunities out there. As a graduate, I only realised things about the business world after I completed my studies.

I started a campaign in South Africa called Unbreakable where I empower women all over my country with skills and knowledge how to handle difficult situations, and I really hope to use the Miss Universe platform to elevate that cause.

Winning the Miss Universe title was not only a personal victory but a victory for the whole rainbow nation. I couldn’t be more proud to represent South Africa. I hope this will inspire every single girl with a dream, that with hard work and dedication any dream is reachable.

As a young girl, I would watch the Miss South Africa competition wishing with all my heart that one day I, too, would be able to walk on that stage, just like those glamorous women I saw on television.

Every person has a choice in every situation and I decided not to be a victim of crime and to not allow myself to be crippled with fear. This is why I started Unbreakable. I wanted to teach women the self-defence skills I learnt during a course I participated in.