WHEN A MISS IS A MRS IS A MISS

In the early days of international pageantry it was not uncommon for married women to compete in, and win, national pageants. In fact, the Miss World pageant only banned married women from competing in the mid-60's.

Whilst there was never a married winner of the Miss SA pageant, there was a winner who could not wait for her term to end before "tying the knot". Three months after placing in the Top 15 at the 1966 Miss World pageant, Miss SA, Joan Carter, became Mrs Joan Uken.

The situation wasn't too bizarre, however, since the Miss SA title back then simply entailed a nationwide tour after the national pageant and participation at Miss World. Miss SA would get a "pat on the back" for a job well done and would move on with her life after the Miss World pageant.

To be accurate, there wasn't even a national pageant as we know it today. It was still a selection based on photographs. Miss SA was merely announced in the Press until 1972 when the first "live" pageant and coronation took place.

Joan Carter remains the only married woman to ever pass on her Miss SA crown to a successor.