CV Stardom

South Africa sent two candidates to Miss World from 1970 to 1976. One was a white woman called Miss South Africa and the other was a black woman called Miss Africa South.

At Miss World 1977, Miss South Africa 1977 Vanessa Wannenburg, then 20, of Natal Province, South Africa was the African country’s sole candidate. Miss Africa South withdrew its participation and was renamed Miss Black South Africa.

On August 7, 1963, the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid scripted and passed Resolution 181, which called upon all states to cease the sale and shipment of all ammunition and military vehicles to South Africa. It was declared mandatory on November 4, 1977.

Inspired by the Black Power movement in the United States, South African tertiary students created the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM), which tried to alter the feelings of inadequacy the apartheid system instilled among black people. The movement’s leader Steve Bilko was arrested on August 18, 1977.

While in detention, Bilko was allegedly tortured. He suffered three brain lesions that resulted in a massive brain hemorrhage on September 6, 1977 and he died on September 12, 1977.

On November 17, 1977, Miss World 1976 Cynthia Jean Cameron Breakspeare, then 23, of Jamaica crowned her successor at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, United Kingdom. A total of 62 women competed for the title.

Before the coronation night, a total of 10 candidates withdrew from the competition in protest against the presence of a white woman representing South Africa. Here is the list:

1. Miss World India 1977 Veena Prakash
2. Miss World Indonesia 1977 Siti Mirza Nuria Arifin
3. Miss World Jamaica 1977 Sandra Kong
4. Miss World Liberia 1977 Welma Albertine Wani Campbell
5. Miss World Malaysia 1977 Christine Mary Lim
6. Miss World Mauritius 1977 Maria Ingrid Desmarais
7. Miss World Philippines 1977 Ana Melissa Ofilada Veneracion
8. Miss World Singapore 1977 Veronica Lourdes
9. Miss World Swaziland 1977 Zanella Tutu Tshabalala
10. Miss World Yugoslavia 1977 Svetlana Višnjić