SA's Miss Universe 5th most beautiful

Johannesburg – South African beauty Margaret Gardiner is among the five most beautiful women in the universe.

On the eve of the crowning of the 60th Miss Universe, Gardiner who won the title of Miss Universe in 1978 was chosen as the fifth most beautiful woman to ever take part in the competition.

This follows after Global Beauties (GB) launched a competition to celebrate the 60 year anniversary of the Miss Universe pageant.

The 59 beauties who have won the title of Miss Universe were judged by a panel of 15 experts.

Racism

In 1978 Gardiner, who was also crowned Miss South Africa, was almost not allowed on stage because the hosting country of Mexico did not acknowledge South Africa's apartheid government.

After lengthy negotiations she was allowed to enter the country on a special permit to take part in the competition, reports globalbeauties.com.

Gardiner's success was not celebrated by all, specifically not in most parts of Africa where it was seen as a triumph of racism.

Gardiner has since made a career as a TV journalist and still works in Los Angeles.

Other winners:

1. Oxana Fedorova of Russia (2002);
2. Jennifer Hawkins of Australia (2004);
3. Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela (2008); and
4. Angela Visser of The Netherlands (1989).