African countries that have won Miss Universe

Here are the African countries that have brought home the Miss Universe crown.

In the recently concluded Miss Universe pageant, Miss Denmark Victoria Theilvig won while Miss Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina was the first runner up.

However, Africans are not known for winning the Miss Universe pageant.

Only four African countries have brought home the Miss Universe crown.

Here’s a historic run of African countries that have produced a Miss Universe

1. Botswana

Botswana had the first Miss Universe

Mpule Kwelagobe in 1999 was the first black African woman to be the Miss Universe and the first woman from Botswana to win.

Her triumph was noteworthy because it brought attention to the representation of Africans in pageants like this.

2. South Africa

South Africa is the African country with the most Miss Universe winners.

The first African woman to win Miss Universe was Margaret Gardiner in 1978.

Margaret Gardiner won Miss Universe for South Africa in 1978 [Pinterest]

ALSO READ: Nigeria has never won Miss Universe but these 10 countries have won many times

The first of the twenty-first century and the second South African is Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters (2017).

South Africa’s Demi Leigh Nel Peters [rvcj]

As the first black South African Miss Universe to don the Mouawad crown, Zozibini Tunzi won the crown in 2019 and made history.

Zozibini Tunzi Miss Universe 2019 [businessinsider]

ALSO READ: 5 groundbreaking records Chidimma Adetshina shattered at Miss Universe 2024

3. Namibia

Namibia won Miss Universe in 1992 [Pinterest]

ALSO READ: Miss Universe South Africa withdraws from Miss Universe pageant as it begins

At the age of 19, McLean became the first Namibian woman to win the title of Miss Universe.

Michelle McLean is a Namibian actress, writer, model, and beauty queen who was named Miss Universe 1992 in Thailand.

4. Angola

Leila Lopes was Miss Universe 2011 [baystatebanner]

Miss Universe 2011 was won by Angolan beauty pageant queen Leila Lopes. She was the first woman from Angola to win.

Her previous victories were Miss Angola 2010 and Miss Angola UK 2010.

The competition has been around since 1952 and only four African countries have won.

The writer of this article believes there ought to be more racial and ethnic diversity among the winners.