Established in 1956, the first official Miss South Africa pageant was only open to white females and was organised to send a representative to London for the Miss World pageant.
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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.
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 Naicker 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 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.
The 2024 Miss SA winner will succeed reigning Miss SA Natasha Joubert.
Meanwhile, as reported by The South African website, the Miss South African Organisation has announced its Top 30 candidates who will be competing for the title later this year.
Viewers will get to meet the finalists on Crown Chasers – The Miss SA reality TV show.
The six-part series starts on SABC3 on Saturday, 29 June at 20:30.
EVERY MISS SA WINNER TO DATE
1956 – Norma Vorster
1957 – Adele Kruger
1958 – Penelope Coelen
1959 – Moya Meaker
1960 – Denise Muir
1961 – Yvonne Hulley
1962 – Yvonne Ficker
1963 – Louise Crous
1964 – Vedra Karamitas
1965 – Carol Davis
1966 – Johanna Carter
1967 – Disa Duivestein
1968 – Mitzianna Stander
1969 – Linda Collett
1970 – Jillian Jessup
1971 – Monica Fairall
1972 – Stephanie Reinecke
1973 – Shelley Latham
1974 – Anneline Kriel
1975 – Helga Vera Johns
1976 – Lynn Massyn
1977 – Vanessa Wannenburg
1978 – Yolanda Kloppers
1979 – Karen Sickel
1980 – Sandra McCrystal
1981 – Linda Phillips
1982 – Odette Scrooby
1983 – Leanne Hosking
1984 – Lorna Potgieter
1985 – Andrea Stelzer
1986 – Sandy McCormack
1987 – Wilma van der Bijl
1988 – Janine Botbyl
1989 – Michelle Bruce
1990 – Suzette van der Merwe
1991 – Diana Tilden-Davis
1992 – Amy Kleinhans
1993 – Jacqui Mofokeng
1994 -Basetsana Makgalemele
1995 – Bernalee Daniell
1996 – Peggy-Sue Khumalo
1997 – Kerishnie Naicker
1998 – Sonia Raciti
1999 – Heather Joy Hamilton
2000 – Jo-Ann Strauss
2001 – Vanessa Do Céu Carreira
2002 – Cindy Nell
2003 – Joan Ramagoshi
2004 – Claudia Henkel
2005 – Nokuthula “Thuli” Sithole
2006 – Megan Coleman
2007 – Tansey Coetzee
2008 – Tatum Keshwar
2009 – Nicole Flint
2010 – Bokang Montjane
2011 – Melinda Bam
2012 – Marilyn Ramos
2014 – Rolene Strauss
2015 – Liesl Laurie
2016 – Ntandoyenkosi Kunene
2017 – Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters
2018 – Tamaryn Green
2019 – Zozibini Tunzi
2020 – Shudufhadzo Musida
2021 – Lalela Mswane
2022 – Ndavi Nokeri
2023 – Natasha Joubert
2024 – ?