Miss SA’s gamble pays off
New Miss Universe makes SA proud
The gamble paid off for Miss SA Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters.
She gave Miss World a miss, instead sending her first runner-up Ade van Heerden while she geared herself up for Miss Universe.
In the early hours of yesterday morning, the 22-year-old from Sedgefield in Western Cape became only the second South African to be crowned Miss Universe, and the third African to do so.
The last local winner was Margaret Gardiner in 1978, while Mpule Kwelagobe from Botswana was the last African winner in 1999. Namibian Michelle McLean won in 1992.
To prepare for the competition, she was assisted by pageant coach Werner Wessels and Miss South Africa stylist Noreen Kajee-Vareta.
The glittering pageant was held in Las Vegas, US, and was compered by comedian Steve Harvey. Nel-Peters clobbered 91 other beauties from all over the world - the biggest number of entrants in the history of the competition. Nel-Peters’s first runner-up was Miss Colombia while Miss Jamaica settled for third place. In her acceptance speech, Nel-Peters said: “I hope I have made South Africans proud and I will continue to do so during my reign.”
Her parents and step-parents were in the audience to see their daughter crowned.
She is a BCom in business management graduate.
The pageant will be screened on Vuzu (DStv Channel 116) tonight at 8pm and on Saturday at 3pm.