Miss South Africa is a national beauty pageant in South Africa. The Miss South Africa organisation resorted to a contemporary format in selecting representatives which was inaugurated in 2018.
History Established in 1956, the first official Miss South Africa pageant was organized to send a representative to London for the Miss World pageant. That year Norma Vorster was crowned Miss South Africa. Two years later, an 18-year-old secretary from Durban, Penny Coelen, was crowned and would later go on to make history and win Miss World.
It was not until 1977 that all persons of all races were allowed to compete in the Miss SA competition. Prior to that, people of colour competed in the Miss Africa South pageant, which was renamed Miss Black South Africa in 1977.
This was just the beginning for the Miss South Africa organisation; of the 60 women who have worn the crown, only the last 27 winners have been chosen from the entire population of South Africa and not just white individuals. Since then, hundreds of young women have entered the pageant vying for the title.
Miss South Africa (or a runner-up in some instances) has always competed at Miss World, but the first Miss South Africa to compete at Miss Universe was Kerishnie Naiker in 1998.
Prior to 1998, South Africa's representatives at Miss Universe qualified via other national pageants.
Three Miss South Africas, namely Rolene Strauss, Anneline Kriel and Penelope Coelen, have won the Miss World titles in 2014, 1974 and 1958 respectively. Three women from South Africa have won the title of Miss Universe - Margaret Gardiner in 1978, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters in 2017 and Zozibini Tunzi in 2019.
Prior to the establishment of the official Miss South Africa, South African Pictorial ("The Union's National Weekly") held annual Beauty Competitions starting in 1923. This evolved later into Miss South Africa. The first winner of this prize was Mrs. Doris Ferramosca (née Doris Gwendoline Helliwell).
In 2020, Miss South Africa franchised the Miss Supranational license. In 2022, Miss South Africa 2021, Lalela Mswane became the first South African woman have won the title of Miss Supranational.
In 2025 Miss South Africa decided to relinquish all international licenses which was a first for Miss South Africa. It was also the first time that the reigning Miss South Africa did not represent South Africa internationally since 1985 when the country was barred because of the Apartheid Policy. They resorted to a contemporary strategy to let Miss South Africa serve the country rather than just being an international ambassador.
International crowns 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
Titleholders Year Runners Up Miss South Africa – Single Pageant 1923 Doris Ferramosca W. J. van Blommestein Marjorie Elizabeth Cowley 1943 Susie Smuts 1956 Norma Vorster Gloria Keeley Virginia Burman 1957 Adele Kruger Jessie Waring Denise Nichols 1958 Penelope Coelen Rosemary Whitlock Debbie du Toit 1959 Moya Meaker Sophie Pieters Kitty Green 1960 Denise Muir Dorothy Farquhar Stella Pithey 1961 Yvonne Hulley Marlene Boyes Rita Rheeder 1962 Yvonne Ficker Ellen Liebenberg Madeleine Usher 1963 Louise Crous Jennifer Slater Maureen van Niekerk 1964 Vedra Karamitas Lorraine Mason Virginia Scott-King 1965 Carol Davis Diane Webster Ann Barber 1966 Johanna Carter Dawn Duff-Gray Margo Galbraith 1967 Disa Duivestein Mary McDonald Tiny de Lange 1968 Mitzianna Stander Linda Collett Patsy Goswell 1969 Linda Collett Diana Newman Jackie Sayer 1970 Jillian Jessup Wendith Brink Dorothea Scott 1971 Monica Fairall Merle Worsley Maria Claassen 1972 Stephanie Reinecke Robin-Gail Hargreaves Carolien van Niekerk 1973 Shelley Latham Janet Sanderson Theresa Rood 1974 Anneline Kriel Ruanne Louw Anita Michas 1975 Helga Vera Johns Crystal Cooper Rhoda Rademeyer 1976 Lynn Massyn Louise Withfield Jan Kiggan 1977 Vanessa Wannenburg Elizabeth Bunting Marilyn Albutt 1978 Yolanda Kloppers Monique Hare Dawn Chapman 1979 Karen Sickel Gail Rocher Wendy Ross 1980 Sandra McCrystal Kim Aston Fiona White 1981 Linda Phillips Elmarie van Aswegen Susan Schuttler Miss South Africa – Rapport 1982 Odette Scrooby Andrea Stelzer Gail Sylvester Miss South Africa – Sunday Times 1982 Sandra de Meyer Jennifer Smith Kathy Goodwin Miss South Africa – Rapport 1983 Leanne Hosking Karen Maingard Cathy Steed 1984 Laetitia Snyman Andrea Stelzer Miss South Africa – Sunday Times 1984 Lorna Potgieter Colleen Redman Patience Craig Miss South Africa – Single Pageant 1985 Andrea Stelzer Sandy McCormack Lorna-Anne Findlay 1986 Sandy McCormack Nancy Riach Marie-Louise le Roux 1987 Wilma van der Bijl Robyn Poole Janine Botbyl 1988 Janine Botbyl Roberta Alessandri Mache Booysen 1989 Michelle Bruce Helen Lewis Deborah Good 1990 Suzette van der Merwe Olivia Scrooby Cheryl Coombe-Davis 1991 Diana Tilden-Davis Amy Kleinhans Sasha-Lee Walton 1992 Amy Kleinhans Augustine Masilela Lisa King 1993 Jacqui Mofokeng Corinne Durrheim Marelize Steyn 1994 Basetsana Makgalemele Sonia Kempff Helen Macleod 1995 Bernelee Daniell Vanashree Moodley Natalie Benard 1996 Peggy-Sue Khumalo Babalwa Mneno Adele van Niekerk 1997 Kerishnie Naiker Jessica Motaung Petro van Zyl 1998 Sonia Raciti Heidi van Zyl Keziah Jooste 1999 Heather Joy Hamilton Nadia Wyngaard Pulane Moraladi 2000 Jo-Ann Strauss Layla Jeevananthum Claire Drew 2001 Vanessa Do Céu Carreira Claire Sabbagha Bonneventia Pule 2002 Cindy Nell Tammy-Anne Fortuin Bridget Masinga 2003 Joan Ramagoshi Marissa Eggli Siza Majola 2004 Claudia Henkel Dhiveja Sundrum Sharon Arigye-Mushabe 2005 Nokuthula Sithole Avumile Qongqo Matapa Maila 2006 Megan Coleman Brigid Osborne Tracey-Lee Flanders 2007 Tansey Coetzee Avumile Qongqo Manisha Pillay 2008 Tatum Keshwar Anja van Zyl Buyi Shongwe 2009 Nicole Flint Matapa Maila Lisa van Zyl 2010 Bokang Montjane Dhesha Jeram Bianca Coutinho 2011 Melinda Bam Remona Moodley Thuli Sangweni 2012 Marilyn Ramos Stacey Webb Pearl Nxele 2014 Rolene Strauss Ziphozakhe Zokufa Matlala Mokoko Ziphozakhe Zokufa Matlala Mokoko 2015 Liesl Laurie Refilwe Mthimunye Ntsiki Mkhize 2016 Ntandoyenkosi Kunene Elizabeth Molapo Tayla Skye Robinson 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters Adè van Heerden Boipelo Mabe Adè van Heerden Boipelo Mabe Year 2018 Tamaryn Green Tamaryn Green Thulisa Keyi 2019 Zozibini Tunzi Zozibini Tunzi Sasha-Lee Olivier Year Runners Up 2020 Shudufhadzo Musida Thato Mosehle Natasha Joubert 2021 Lalela Mswane Zimi Mabunzi Moratwe Masima 2022 Ndavi Nokeri Ayanda Gugulethu Thabethe Lebogang Mahlangu 2023 Natasha Joubert Bryoni Govender Nande Mabala 2024 Mia le Roux Nompumelelo Maduna Onalenna Constantin 2025 Qhawekazi Mazaleni Luyanda Zuma Karabo Mareka2026
International Competitions List of Titleholders under Miss South Africa Organization
The following women have represented South Africa in two of the Big Four major international beauty pageants for women. These are Miss World and Miss Universe; Miss International and Miss Earth are held by separate national beauty pageants in South Africa.
Miss Universe South Africa
On some occasions, the winner of Miss South Africa represents her country at the Miss Universe pageant. Prior to 1982, the winner of the Miss RSA pageant represented South Africa at Miss Universe, under Rapport. Rapport would continue to hold the Miss Universe license through 1984, but would change the name of the pageant to Miss South Africa, which resulted in a dispute with the main Miss South Africa contest which was organized under the Sunday Times which lasted until 1985, where the two organizers merged their pageants together. Prior to 1998, the winner of the individual Miss Universe South Africa compete at Miss Universe. From 1981-1983 and in 1979, delegates from two of South Africa's Bantustans competed at Miss Universe.
YearProvincePlacement at Miss UniverseSpecial AwardsNotes 2024 Western Cape Mia le Roux colspan=3 2023 Gauteng Bryoni Govender Top 20 Voice For Change (Top 10) 2022 Limpopo Ndavi Nokeri Top 16 2021 KwaZulu-Natal Lalela Mswane 2nd Runner-up 2020 Gauteng Natasha Joubert Unplaced 2019 Eastern Cape Zozibini Tunzi Miss Universe 2019 2018 Western Cape Tamaryn Green 1st Runner-up 2017 Western Cape Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters Miss Universe 2017 2016 Mpumalanga Ntandoyenkosi Kunene Unplaced 2015 Gauteng Refilwe Mthimunye Top 15 2014 Eastern Cape Ziphozakhe Zokufa Unplaced 2013 North West Marilyn Ramos Unplaced 2012 Gauteng Melinda Bam Top 10 2011 Gauteng Bokang Montjane Unplaced 2010 Gauteng Nicole Flint Top 10 8th place overall 2009 KwaZulu-Natal Tatum Keshwar Top 10 8th place overall 2008 Gauteng Tansey Coetzee Top 15 Best National Costume (Top 10) 13th place overall 2007 KwaZulu-Natal Megan Coleman Unplaced 2006 Gauteng Nokuthula "Thuli" Sithole Unplaced 2005 Gauteng Claudia Henkel Top 15 2004 Gauteng Joan Ramagoshi Unplaced 2003 Gauteng Cindy Nell 2nd Runner-up 2002 Gauteng Vanessa Do Ceu Carreira 3rd Runner-up 2001 Western Cape Jo-Ann Strauss Unplaced 2000 Gauteng Heather Joy Hamilton Top 10 10th place 1999 Gauteng Sonia Raciti Top 54th runner up 1998 KwaZulu-Natal Kerishnie Naiker Top 10 7th placeMiss Universe South Africa 1997 KwaZulu-Natal Mbali Gasa Unplaced 1996 Gauteng Carol Becker Unplaced 1995 Gauteng Augustine Masilela Top 107th place colspan=6 Miss South Africa and Miss Transkei 1984 Transvaal (Gauteng) Letitia "Tisha" Snyman 1st Runner-up1983 Natal (KwaZulu-Natal) Leanne Beverly Hosking Unplaced Transkei (Eastern Cape) Nomxousi Xokelelo Unplaced Competed as Transkei1982 Transvaal (Gauteng) Odette Octavia Scrooby Top 126th place Transkei (Eastern Cape) Noxolisi Mji Unplaced Competed as TranskeiMiss Republic of South Africa / Miss RSA, Miss Transkei and Miss Bophuthatswana1981 Natal (KwaZulu-Natal) Daniela di Paolo Unplaced Transkei (Eastern Cape) Kedibone Tembisa Letlaka Unplaced Competed as Transkei 1980 Transvaal (Gauteng) Jenny Kay Did not compete 1979 Transvaal (Gauteng) Veronica Wilson Top 126th place Bophuthatswana(Mmabatho, North West) Alina Moeketse Unplaced Competed as Bophuthatswana Transkei (Eastern Cape) Lindiwe Bam Unplaced Competed as Transkei 1978 Cape Province (Western Cape) Margaret Gardiner Miss Universe 1978 1977 Cape Province (Western Cape) Glynis Fester Unplaced 1976 Cape Province (Western Cape) Cynthia Claasen Unplaced 1975 Cape Province (Western Cape) Gail Anthony Unplaced colspan=6 Miss Hibiscus Queen 1968 Natal (KwaZulu-Natal) Monica Fairall Unplaced 1967 Transvaal (Gauteng) Wendy Ballenden Unplaced 1966 Natal (KwaZulu-Natal) Lynn Carol de Jager Unplaced 1965 Transvaal (Gauteng) Veronika Edelgarda Hilda Prigge Top 15 1964 Transvaal (Gauteng) Gail Robinson Unplaced 1963 Transvaal (Gauteng) Ellen Liebenberg Top 15 1962 Transvaal (Gauteng) Lynette Gamble Unplaced 1961 Transvaal (Gauteng) Marina Christelis Unplaced 1960 Transvaal (Gauteng) Nicky Caras 3rd Runner-up colspan=6 Miss Golden Jubilee 1953 Cape Province (Western Cape) Ingrid Rita Mills Top 16 1952 Transvaal (Gauteng) Catherine Higgins Top 10
Miss World South Africa
On some occasions, the winner of Miss South Africa represents her country at the Miss World pageant. From 1970 to 1976, South Africa had one white and one black representative at Miss World. The white representative wore a sash that said "South Africa" and the black representative wore a sash that said "Africa South".
YearProvinceMiss World South AfricaPlacement at Miss WorldSpecial Awards 2022 colspan=4 2021 Limpopo Shudufhadzo Musida Top 40 Miss World Talent (Top 27) Beauty with a Purpose 2020 colspan=4 2019 Gauteng Sasha-Lee Olivier Top 40 2018 Eastern Cape Thulisa Keyi Top 30 World Dress Designer Award