It’s a love that has stood the test of time — and the pressures of fame. For almost 10 years, engineer Luthando Bolowana stood in the wings while his soul mate, former Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi, shone on the global stage.
But last month, the couple came out to the world in spectacular fashion — with two extravagant weddings.
The first was her white wedding at Belair Pavilion in Paarl in the Western Cape — a star-studded affair whose guests included Anele Mdoda, AmaQamata, Connie Ferguson, Basetsana Kumalo and Nomzamo Mbatha, who was MC.
This was followed by a traditional ceremony last weekend in her home village of Sidwadweni, near Tsolo, in the Eastern Cape.
Zozi, 31, is still catching her breath.
“I knew the traditional wedding was going to be very overwhelming, because it was taking place in a village and it’s all of our people,” she told the Sunday Times this week. “I couldn't really control what happened there. The white wedding was going to be easier, so that’s why I started with it.”
Luthando proposed in Greece in October 2023, during an intimate dinner the couple shared with family and friends.
Luthando is my absolute best friend. He is the kindest person I know, and the most consistent
— Zozibini Tunzi
“I woke up on my white wedding day and it was raining. I was concerned and crying, and he [Luthando] called me to reassure me that everything that happened on the day was meant to happen. As I was driving out of the hotel to the venue, my little sister said the rain was stopping.
“A magical thing happened when I walked down the aisle, and it stopped raining when we exchanged vows. That’s when the sun came out, and it was such a beautiful thing. That’s my best memory — knowing everything was there for us. The rain was a blessing, and the sun coming out was an even bigger blessing.”
Luthando and Zozi come from the same village, his home just a stone’s throw from hers.
“Our families have always known each other, but strangely we were never in the same spaces. We are both very reserved people, so we were never really outside a lot. Neither of us lived in the village, but we’d come home to it during the holidays. We officially met properly on my 21st birthday, and then we started talking and became friends.”
They began dating in 2016, but it was only a year later that Zozi knew he was the one.
“I like to get to know people slowly. I don’t just jump into things. But as time went by, it became very clear to me that he would definitely be that one person I would take this huge decision with.
“Luthando is my absolute best friend. He is the kindest person I know, and the most consistent. It just felt right. I love kind people and gravitate towards them — those who have the same moral compass as I do.
“He was there after Miss South Africa and Miss Universe, and was always so supportive and sure. He feels sure and safe.
“He lives outside the spotlight and honestly does not want to be centre stage — but he wants it for me. He drove me around to all the Miss South Africa auditions, always making sure I was there on time. He was more than happy just to stand behind me and support me the whole time. I left for New York and stayed there a long time, and he was very secure about that.”
Their relationship withstood the enforced separation caused by Covid-19, when she was Miss Universe and holed up in her New York apartment.
“We were not able to see each other, which was not easy, but he made things easy. Esther from Miss Universe used to joke about how Thando was the best Miss Universe boyfriend she had ever encountered.”
On their wedding day, Zozi sang a song she had written for her husband, alongside singer Muneyi.
“I learnt how to write music with him. He asked me how I was feeling, and I said I was in love, so we decided to write about that feeling. We never recorded the song or gave it a name. It was just a beautiful song I wrote for him back then, and it felt fitting for me to perform it at the wedding.”
Now Zozi, who has posted videos of herself singing on social media, has a budding career in music.
But acting is also in the works after her appearance in the movie Woman King.
“The most exciting thing by far is that I’ll be getting into acting. I can’t really speak about that because of an NDA [non-disclosure agreement]. Woman King was a sneak peek into that world, and now I feel I’m fully immersed in it in this new role.”
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