Did you know Cynthia Shange was the first black model to represent Mzansi in Miss World?
No doubt she is one of Mzansi’s oldies making all sorts of headlines with their unmatched talents. Cynthia Shange is a South African actress and former model best known for her on-screen character on Muvhango as MaNkosi Buthelezi.
Well, we can all agree that Shange is the most recognizable face owing to her modelling and acting careers. The seasoned actress and model was in1949, in the Lamontville region of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
When it comes to acting, no doubt her Muvhango on-screen character of MaNkosi Buthelezi’s will take her to the grave. Whilst on Muvhango cast, the bubbly actress starred as Thandaza mother.
Shange was thrust into the limelight when she ventured into modelling back then in 1970. Since her debut into modelling, she has been an overnight success, and her first contest saw her winning the Miss Natal beauty pageant.
Her Miss Natal crown offered her an opportunity to contest for Miss South Africa, and she did that and came out as a winner. She did not just win the contest but was somehow the first Miss Black South Africa.
Cynthia Shange represented Mzansi in Miss World in 1972
However, a few months later, she represented South Africa at the Miss World competition in 1972. Following her run in modelling and fame from being Miss SA, she transitioned into acting.
In the backdrop of her Miss World contest in 1972, she won big when she secured a gig on small screens. Well, it seems as if she didn’t just secure a gig but went down in the history books as the first-ever black to feature in a big project. The film she featured in was Udeliwe.
A few years later, she was part of the Shaka Zulu cast, where she starred as Mkabi in the five-part miniseries. No doubt, her illustrious career was capped with accolades. She is a seasoned actress who has bagged the special golden horn award, both her acting and Lifetime Achievement award. Sure through her colourful career, Shange has become Mzansi’s golden oldies we can’t get over.
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