Hits and misses

1971

Miss South Africa Monica Fairall made the top 15 in the Miss Universe contest before she was disqualified for her bare-backed dress, which organisers said was too revealing.

1975

Miss South Africa Vera Johns was disqualified shortly before the Miss World pageant after it was revealed she was actually Rhodesian.

1991

Diana Tilden-Davis was second runner-up at Miss World in the first year South Africa was readmitted to the pageant after being banned between 1978 and 1990 due to international sanctions against apartheid.

2017

Last year, 10 finalists and semi-finalists claimed the pageant was rigged in favour of winner Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters. Organisers dismissed the allegations.