One of the reasons that the Miss SA pageant fails to attract world class beauties is that it is not a lucrative prospect, and most of the nations' true beauties could not be bothered with tying themselves down to a single organisation (as their mascot) for an entire year. Many of our top photographic models, for example, would consider participating if the Miss SA pageant and subsequent appearances at Miss Universe or Miss World were viewed as a short-term assignment. If Miss SA was a preliminary pageant for Miss Universe, and merely entailed a 1-month preparation period and participation in the international event, the organisers would not have to scrape by with the "odd diamond and a pile of coal".
Although there are exceptions like (I'm not going to mention names....you know who you are) who can't let go of the crown, often the girl that is crowned Miss SA would just like to enjoy the coronation experience, and move on to bigger and better things straight after the celebratory breakfast the following day. One such beauty was Diana Tilden-Davis.
After winning the title at her second attempt in 1991, she placed third at the Miss World pageant in the same year. If rumours are to be believed, she hated the entire Miss SA experience. She is said to have suffered depression and experienced ongoing health problems during her reign as a result.
Her lacklustre performance at Miss World (which cost her second place in my opinion) is indicative of her resentment towards the duties and responsbilities that go with the title. She would gladly have told Julia Morley where to shove the "plastic trophy" that was her runner-up prize if protocol and etiquette allowed, and is reported to have "wanted to kiss the ground" upon her return from Atlanta.
Although Diana was one of the most beautiful woman ever to wear the Miss SA crown, she will always be known as the reluctant beauty queen.
