Miss South Africa facts for kids

Miss South Africa is a big national beauty contest in South Africa. It chooses young women to represent the country in major international beauty pageants like Miss Universe. Since 2018, the Miss South Africa organization has used a new way to pick its representatives. The current Miss South Africa for 2024 is Mia le Roux.

History of the Pageant

The first official Miss South Africa contest started in 1956. Its goal was to send a representative to the Miss World pageant in London. That year, Norma Vorster was crowned Miss South Africa. Two years later, Penny Coelen, an 18-year-old from Durban, won Miss South Africa. She then made history by winning the Miss World title.

For many years, only white people could compete in Miss South Africa. In 1977, the rules changed. After this, people of all races were allowed to enter the Miss SA competition. Before 1977, people of color competed in a separate contest called Miss Africa South. This was later renamed Miss Black South Africa.

Since then, many young women from all backgrounds have entered the pageant. Out of the 60 women who have worn the Miss South Africa crown, the last 27 winners have come from all parts of South Africa's population.

Miss South Africa winners, or sometimes the runner-up, have always competed at Miss World. However, the first Miss South Africa to compete at Miss Universe was Kerishnie Naicker in 1998. Before 1998, South Africa's representatives for Miss Universe were chosen through other national contests.

Three Miss South Africa winners have also won the Miss World title: Penelope Coelen in 1958, Anneline Kriel in 1974, and Rolene Strauss in 2014. South Africa has also had three winners of the Miss Universe title: Margaret Gardiner in 1978, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters in 2017, and Zozibini Tunzi in 2019.

Before the official Miss South Africa contest began, a magazine called South African Pictorial held annual beauty competitions starting in 1923. This eventually led to the Miss South Africa pageant we know today. The first winner of this early prize was Mrs. Doris Ferramosca.

In 2020, the Miss South Africa organization also gained the right to send a representative to the Miss Supranational contest. In 2022, Lalela Mswane, who was Miss South Africa 2021, became the first South African woman to win the Miss Supranational title.

International Crowns Won by Year

• Penelope Coelen, Miss World 1958
• Anneline Kriel, Miss World 1974
• Margaret Gardiner, Miss Universe 1978
• Rolene Strauss, Miss World 2014
• Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, Miss Universe 2017
• Zozibini Tunzi, Miss Universe 2019
• Lalela Mswane, Miss Supranational 2022

Miss South Africa Titleholders

This table lists all the young women who have held the title of Miss South Africa over the years, along with their first and second runners-up.

South Africa in International Competitions

The Miss South Africa Organization sends representatives to two of the four biggest international beauty pageants for women: Miss World and Miss Universe. Other pageants like Miss International and Miss Earth have their own separate contests in South Africa.

Miss Universe South Africa Representatives

Sometimes, the winner of Miss South Africa goes on to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. This table shows how South African representatives have performed at Miss Universe.

Miss World South Africa Representatives

The winner of Miss South Africa often represents her country at the Miss World pageant. For a period between 1970 and 1976, South Africa sent two representatives to Miss World: one white contestant labeled "South Africa" and one black contestant labeled "Africa South."

Miss Supranational South Africa Representatives

The Miss South Africa Organization also holds the license for the Miss Supranational pageant. This means they choose who represents South Africa in this international competition.

Related Pageants

• Miss Earth South Africa
• Miss Grand South Africa
• Mister South Africa