Although Miss SA has competed at the Miss Universe pageant since 1998, a number of smaller pageants have served to select our representative in preceeding years. The title Miss Universe SA is, therefore, a reference to all the preliminary pageants that have served to elect a South African representative for Miss Universe.
MISS UNIVERSE SOUTH AFRICA
Catherine Higgins was South Africa's representative at the first Miss Universe pageant in Long Beach. Although most pageant sites list her as Miss South Africa, this is technically incorrect as the preliminary pageant she won was referred to as "Miss Universe, South Africa", "Miss Universe in South Africa" or "South Africa's Miss Universe" in the press (take your pick). To add to the confusion, she wore a Miss South Africa sash after her coronation.
MISS GOLDEN JUBILEE
South Africa's entrant at the 1953 Miss Universe pageant was selected at the Miss Golden Jubilee pageant. Ingrid Mills is also incorrectly referred to as Miss South Africa.
HIBISCUS QUEEN
From 1960 until 1967, South Africa's entrant at Miss Universe was selected at the Hibiscus Queen contest in Margate, Kwazulu Natal. Although this pageant had existed since the early 1950's, and continues today as the Miss Hibiscus pageant, only the winners of the 1960 to 1967 editions of the pageant competed at Miss Universe.Penny Coelen won this pageant in 1958, a few months before winning the Miss South Africa title.Shortly after the 1960 Hibiscus Queen pageant, Die Landstem, co-organiser of both the Hibiscus Queen and Miss South Africa pageants, acquired the rights to send a contestant to the Miss Universe pageant. The winner, Nicolette Caras, was awarded the Miss Landstem title and sent to compete at the Miss Universe pageant in Miami.Co-sponsors, Die Landstem and The Sunday Express, each entered 3 finalists who were selected by popular reader vote. The remaining finalists were selected by the organisers.
MISS PROTEA
Die Landstem closed down during the first half of 1968 and the Hibiscus Queen pageant lost it's Miss Universe preliminary status.Monica Fairall, who three years later was crowned Miss South Africa, won a Miss Protea contest and represented South Africa at the 1968 Miss Universe pageant in Miami.For reasons unknown, South Africa did not compete at Miss Universe from 1969 to 1974.
MISS RSA
Until 1968, only "White" women participated in South African Miss Universe preliminaries. In 1975, Rapport, a national Afrikaans-language newspaper and co-sponsor of the Miss South Africa pageant, acquired the rights to send a delegate to the Miss Universe pageant. Ekstra, a supplement to Rapport, served the "Coloured" community and only reported on events and news which were unique to that community. The Miss RSA pageant was organised by the editorial staff responsible for Ekstra. The Miss RSA pageant was open to women from the "Coloured" community. The contestants were selected by the editorial staff of Rapport from the hundreds of photographs submitted. When South Africa was banned from competing at Miss World after the 1977 pageant, the Miss RSA pageant was opened to women from all race groups.
MISS SA (UNIVERSE)
Rapport, the sponsor of the Miss RSA pageant and co-sponsor of the Miss South Africa pageant, caused a stir in beauty pageant circles at the end of 1981. They announced that they were withdrawing their support from the Miss South Africa pageant and were naming their pageant Miss South Africa as well. Their explanation was that, since Miss RSA was South Africa's only international representative, she should be known as Miss South Africa. That is the reason why there were two Miss South Africas in 1982 and 1984. In terms of lineage, however, the winner of the Sunday Times Miss South Africa pageant was Miss South Africa. In South Africa the pageants were referred to as the Rapport Miss South Africa and the Sunday Times Miss South Africa pageants.
MISS UNIVERSE SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa returned to the Miss Universe pageant in 1995. A low-profile pageant was held to select our Miss Universe representative. There was very little media coverage, and the pageant was aired on national television a week or so after the event as a "highlights" package.In 1997, the Miss Universe SA pageant was organised by the Miss South Africa organisation. It was discontinued after the 1997 edition when the decision was made to send Miss South Africa to both the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants in the year following her coronation.
