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- Renowned actress and historic beauty queen Cynthia Shange has passed away at the age of 76.
- In 1972, she became the first Black South African to compete in Miss World, breaking racial barriers in international pageantry.
- A pioneer of the screen, Shange also starred in the country’s first Black feature film, cementing her role as a cultural trailblazer.
The family of Cynthia Shange has confirmed with profound sadness that the legendary beauty queen and actress has passed away at the age of 76.
Shange died on Monday morning following a period of illness, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy as a pioneer in South African arts and culture.
In 1972, Shange made history as the first Black woman to represent South Africa on the global stage.
After winning the Miss Black South Africa title during the era of segregated pageantry, she travelled to London for the Miss World competition, where she secured a remarkable fifth place.
This milestone occurred two decades before the Miss South Africa pageant became fully inclusive in 1992.
Beyond the pageant stage, Shange was a formidable talent in the film industry. In 1975, she starred as the lead in Udeliwe, South Africa’s first Black feature film, alongside Joe Mafela.
Her transition from a historic beauty queen to a revered actress solidified her status as a cultural icon who broke barriers during one of the country’s most challenging eras.
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