Flashback to 1978 – who remembers 18-year-old Margaret Gardiner taking home the crown in the Miss Universe competition? During the event in Acapulco, she received her crown from Janelle Commissiong, the first black title-holder of the pageant. It was a first for South Africa and for 39 years she was the only South African to have taken the title until Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters did it again in 2017.
But now all eyes are on our stunning Zozibini Tunzi who has made it three in a row for Mzanzi!
As our first Miss Universe ever, Margaret Gardiner was clearly delighted to post her congratulations on Instagram for her fellow South African.
It is indeed a good day in Mzanzi – not even load shedding can get us down!
Margaret Gardiner calls Los Angeles her home where she works as a TV and print journalist. She is also a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association that votes on and hosts the prestigious Golden Globes
