Cynthia Shange, the first black woman to represent South Africa at the Miss World pageant during the apartheid era, has passed away at 76. Her daughter confirmed the news, remembering her mother as a "compassionate soul."
Shange was a pioneer, competing in Miss World in 1972 after winning Miss Africa South, as black women were barred from the Miss South Africa competition. She secured fifth place.
Beyond her beauty pageant success, Shange had a distinguished acting career, starring in films like "Udeliwe," considered one of South Africa's earliest black feature films, and "Shaka Zulu." She was honored with a Lifetime Achiever award in 2024 for her contributions to acting.