{{Short description|Swazi model (1988–2009)}} {{use mdy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox pageant titleholder | name=Tiffany Simelane | birth_name= | image= Miss Swaziland 08 Tiffany Simelane.jpg | title= Miss Swaziland 2008 | birth_date = <!-- ? -->1988 | birth_place = Mhlambanyatsi, Swaziland | death_date = August 17, 2009 (aged 21)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=6802 |title=Tribute to Ex-Miss SD Tiffany Simelane |work=Swazi Observer |date=August 2009 |url-status=}}{{deadlink|date=September 2023}}</ref> | death_place = Mbabane, Eswatini }}
'''Tiffany Simelane''' (1988 – August 17, 2009) was a Swazi model and beauty pageant titleholder who represented Swaziland at Miss World 2008 in South Africa. Her reign began on July 26, 2008, and ended August 17, 2009 when she died by suicide.
==Miss Swaziland== After being crowned Miss Swaziland, she complained to her friend that as soon as she won she was told she would have to pay all her expenses herself, including the cost of her dress, to travel to the Miss World pageant. This was a great sticking point between her and the contest sponsors and organizers.<ref>{{cite news |first=Hlengiwe |last=Ndlovu |url=http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=6670 |title=She died from broken heart, says Hendriques |work=Swazi Observer |date=19 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716055154/http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=6670 |archive-date=2011-07-16}}</ref> The organizers reported their own disappointments with Simelane, disclosing that she would "disappear without a trace", causing more controversy. In an interview with the ''Times of Swaziland'' she thanked God that her reign was over, stating she thought she was "going crazy" and that the title had been nothing more than a liability to her.<ref name="Welcome Dlamini">{{Cite news |last=Dlamini |first=Welcome |date=2019-08-19 |url=http://www.times.co.sz/news/8688-ex-miss-sd-tiffany-is-dead.html |title=Ex-Miss SD tiffany is dead |work=Times of Swaziland}}</ref> When she relinquished her crown at a ceremony in the Royal Swazi Convention Centre,<ref>{{cite news |last=Ndzimandze |first=Mbongiseni |url=http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=6665 |title=Miss SD shocked at Tiffany's death |work=Swazi Observer |date=19 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716055234/http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=6665 |archive-date=2011-07-16 }}</ref> she gave a cryptic speech, revealing that becoming Miss Swaziland had opened her eyes and that she had hoped to remove the cloud of controversy around the competition during her reign. She then claimed that the competition was not being run in the correct fashion, but that her conscience was clear.<ref>{{cite news |first=Hlengiwe |last=Ndlovu |url=http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=6667 |title=Former Miss SD Commits Suicide |work=Swazi Observer |date=19 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716055140/http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=6667 |archive-date=2011-07-16 }}</ref>
==Death== On August 17, 2009, Simelane died by suicide by ingesting weevil tablet, a pesticide that contains aluminium phosphide and emits phosphine gas. She was rushed for treatment at the Mbabane Government Hospital. Friends reported that she killed herself over a "broken heart", facing depression and a lack of closeness with her family on top of the stress of being Miss Swaziland.<ref name="Welcome Dlamini"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Motau |first=Phepile |date=August 19, 2009 |url=http://www.times.co.sz/index.php?news=8671 |title=Beauty pageant sector shocker |work=Times of Swaziland}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Miss World 2008 delegates}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simelane, Tiffany}} Category:1988 births Category:2009 suicides Category:2009 deaths Category:Suicides by poison Category:Suicides in Eswatini Category:Miss World 2008 delegates Category:Swazi beauty pageant winners Category:Female suicides