Margaret Gardiner was the first South African to be crowned Miss Universe, forty six years ago in Mexico on July 24, 1978.
Her victory marked a significant milestone for South Africa, paving the way for future South African beauty queens, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters in 2017 and Zozibini Tunzi in 2019, to follow in her footsteps.
In a recent Instagram post, Gardiner shared a photo where she walked the stage in our national costume that represented the indigenous ostrich and South Africas national flower, the protea.
She said This July I celebrate a huge honour in representing my country in Mexico 46 years ago and becoming the first Miss Universe from South Africa. An honour that stood for almost 40 years before I was joined by two incredible women, Demi-Leigh Tebow in 2017 and Zozibini Tunzi in 2019.
Based in Los Angeles, Margaret is a renowned writer, celebrity, and journalist. She is a familiar face on the red carpets of prestigious events such as the Golden Globes, Oscars, and numerous movie premieres, where she interviews A-list Hollywood stars.
