Miss South Africa Titleholders

Here's some fascinating lists from the Rainbow Nation, South Africa. The first official Miss SA Pageant was held in 1956. Even though South Africa was banned from Miss World in 1977 in a very vocal political move by pageant organizers Eric and Julia Morley, that nation continued to participate in the Miss Universe contest for several years, and national pageants continued to be held.

In 1975, an Afrikaans newspaper acquired the rights to send a representative to the Miss Universe pageant and the winner of the Miss RSA Pageant went to Miss Universe.

In 1982, the organizers of the Miss RSA pageant decided to change the name of their pageant to Miss South Africa. As the only pageant to hold a franchise to an international pageant, the organisers felt it fitting that their winner was known as Miss South Africa. That is the reason why there are two Miss South Africa's in 1982 and 1984. In terms of lineage, however, the winner of the "other" Miss South Africa pageant IS Miss South Africa. The two pageants joined forces in 1985, and one Miss South Africa Contest was held.

Miss South Africa did not compete in Miss Universe after 1984. The country's 1985 titleholder, Andrea Steltzer, was informed on the eve of her departure that she was not permitted to compete in the Miami pageant. Ms. Stelzer later competed and finished third in Miss Hawaiian Tropic International 1986. She later won the title of Miss Germany 1988 and was a semi-finalist in the following year's Miss Universe Pageant, however, she was refused entry in the 1988 Miss World Pageant because of her South African heritage.

In 1995, the franchise to the Miss Universe pageant was re-awarded to South Africa and the Miss Universe South Africa pageant was born. The contest, however, was discontinued after the 1997 pageant, as the Miss South Africa organisation acquired the Miss Universe franchise after the Miss South Africa 1997 pageant is held. That is the reason why Jessica Motaung represented South Africa at Miss World 1997. The winner of the pageant now represents South Africa in both international pageants in the following year.

For more lists, see Miss Africa South and South African Miss Universe Prelims here on JPP. All information courtesy of Matthew Hamilton.

Miss South Africa

Miss South Africa is henceforth banned from Miss World between 1978 and 1990.