It was with great sorrow that I learnt of the death of Monica Fairall, Miss SA 1971. After a long battle with cancer, Monica passed away late yesterday. Monica was an award-winning author and well-known radio personality.Monica was the first SA beauty to represent South Africa at both the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants. She holds the rare distinction that she had to win two preliminary national pageants to qualify for the right to compete at the aforementioned international pageants.
In 1968 she was crowned Miss Protea, and represented South Africa at the Miss Universe pageant in Miami. Although she was one of the Top 15 in the swimsuit category, she was not included in the Top 15 semi-finalists.
She will be remembered for wearing a rather revealing evening gown, with a low-cut back, at the pageant. The gown was considered very risque for the time and prompted the organisers to request her not to wear the gown during the final telecast. I have always been of the opinion that the dress cost her a place in the semi-finals.
In 1971 she was crowned Miss Natal before going on to win the Miss SA crown. She competed at the Miss World pageant in London and was named as a Top 15 semi-finalist, thereby becoming the third consecutive Miss SA in a run of 7 from 1969 to 1975 to achieve a Top 15 placement at Miss World.
Monica financed her university studies (she was also the University of Natal Rag Queen) through modelling which, by accident rather than design, took her to the Miss World pageant. She remained level-headed over the award: “There was no way I was the most beautiful woman in South Africa, but I was prepared to play the game if everyone else was" she once told the Witness in an interview.
May she rest in peace.
