Margaret Gardiner (born 21 August 1959) is a South African journalist and beauty queen who was the winner of the
Miss Universe 1978
Miss Universe 1978, the 27th Miss Universe pageant, was held on 24 July 1978 at the Centro de Convenciones de Acapulco in Acapulco, Mexico. It was the first time in the pageant's history that the event was held in Mexico. Margaret Gardiner of So ...
, the first South African woman to win the Miss Universe title. She was 18 years old when she won the pageant.
[(25 July 1978).]
Judges Name Capetown Woman Country's First Miss Universe
''Palm Beach Post'' (Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...
)[(25 July 1978)]
Miss Universe Title Goes to Tall South African
''St. Joseph Gazette'' (UPI) After the three semi-final competitions, she entered the five finalists in fourth place, but ended up winning the pageant after answering the final question.
During the event held in
Acapulco
Acapulco de Juárez (), commonly called Acapulco ( , also , nah, Acapolco), is a city and major seaport in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, south of Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semicircular bay and has bee ...
, she received her crown from
Janelle Commissiong
Janelle "Penny" Commissiong, TC (born June 15, 1953) is a Trinidadian politician, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 1977.
Biography
She studied at Bishop Anstey High School. migrated to the United States at the age of 13 ...
, the first black titleholder of the pageant.
She was the only Miss Universe titleholder from South Africa until
Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters
Demi-Leigh Tebow (née Nel-Peters; born 28 June 1995) is a South African model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 2017. She was crowned Miss South Africa 2017, and is the second Miss Universe winner from South Africa, following Ma ...
was crowned
Miss Universe 2017
Miss Universe 2017 was the 66th Miss Universe pageant, held at The AXIS at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States on November 26, 2017.
At the end of the event, Iris Mittenaere of France crowned Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Af ...
.
![Margaret Gardiner on her YouTube channel](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Margaret_Gardiner_on_her_YouTube_channel.jpg)
She holds a BA in
psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...
from the College of Charleston and the author of two books on health and beauty and attended St. George's Cathedral where
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Mpilo Tutu (7 October 193126 December 2021) was a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. He was Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then Archbishop ...
preached. She is now working as a print and television journalist in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
. She is married to Andre Nel, a professor of Pediatrics and Public Health at
UCLA
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California St ...
.
References
*https://web.archive.org/web/20160614231252/http://www.globalbeauties.com/mbmu/2011/08/5th-place-margaret-gardiner-miss-universe-1978/
1959 births
Living people
Miss Universe 1978 contestants
Miss Universe winners
Miss South Africa winners
South African beauty pageant winners
South African emigrants to the United States
White South African people
Writers from Cape Town
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