Margaret Gardiner (Miss Universe)
Margaret Gardiner | |
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 Gardiner on the cover of TV Magazine in 1979 | |
| Born | 21 August 1959 |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title | Miss Republic of South Africa 1978 Miss Universe 1978 |
| Hair color | Brown |
| Eye color | Green |
| Major competition(s) | Miss Republic of South Africa 1978 (Winner) Miss Universe 1978 (Winner) |
Margaret Gardiner (born 21 August 1959) is a South African journalist and beauty queen who was the winner of the Miss Universe 1978, the first South African woman to win the Miss Universe title. She was 18 years old when she won the pageant.[1][2] 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, she received her crown from Janelle Commissiong, the first black titleholder of the pageant.[1] She was the only Miss Universe titleholder from South Africa until Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters was crowned Miss Universe 2017.
She holds a BA in psychology from the College of Charleston and the author of two books on health and beauty and attended St. George's Cathedral where Desmond Tutu preached. She is now working as a print and television journalist in Los Angeles. She is married to Andre Nel, a professor of Pediatrics and Public Health at UCLA.[3][4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b (25 July 1978). Judges Name Capetown Woman Country's First Miss Universe, Palm Beach Post (Associated Press)
- ^ (25 July 1978). Miss Universe Title Goes to Tall South African, St. Joseph Gazette (UPI)
- ^ "Andre Nel | California NanoSystems Institute".
- ^ "André Nel | Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health".
Miss South Africa winners in the Big Four international beauty pageants | ||
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- 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
- African journalist stubs
- South African writer stubs
- Beauty pageant contestant stubs