Margaret Gardiner biography: 13 things about Miss Universe 1978

Who is Margaret Gardiner?

Margaret Gardiner is a South African entertainment journalist, fashion editor, author and beauty queen born in Cape Town, South Africa. Here are 13 more things about her:

1. She is a resident of Los Angeles, California, United States.
2. She is Beverly Gardiner and Sandy Gardiner‘s younger sister.
3. She is a Golden Globes fashion editor and a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
4. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
5. She is the first ever Miss Universe from South Africa.
6. She is 6’0″ tall.
7. In 1975, she was invited to model in Paris, France.
8. She is Miss Republic of South Africa 1978.
9. She won Miss Universe 1978.
10. In 1987, she married Dr. Andre Nel in South Africa.
11. In 1989, she and Nel moved to the U.S. where he was recruited to do research.
12. On April 18, 2006, she attended the “Universal Beauty: The Miss Universe Guide to Beauty” book launch party at the Trump Tower in New York City, New York, USA along with Miss Universe 1967 Sylvia Hitchcock Carson, Miss Universe 1984 Yvonne Ryding, Miss Universe 1985 Deborah Carthy-Deu, Miss Universe 1986 Barbara Palacios Teyde, Miss Universe 1988 Porntip “Bui” Nakara Simon, Miss Universe 1990 Mona Grudt, Miss Universe 2002 Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova and Donald Trump.
13. On August 21, 2024, she turned 65.

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TIMELINE

1978

• On July 24, 1978, she represented South Africa at Miss Universe 1978 and competed against 74 other candidates at the Centro de Convenciones de Acapulco in Acapulco, Mexico. She won the title.
• On September 23, 1978, she visited the Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Rosehill, New South Wales, Australia.

1979

• On July 13, 1979, she went to Sydney, New South Wales with her traveling companion Shana Orley.
• On July 20, 1979, she crowned her successor Miss Universe 1979 Maritza Sayalero at the Perth Entertainment Centre in Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

2019

• On January 6, 2019, she attended the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

2020

• On September 9, 2020, she met Joel Kinnaman in Los Angeles.

2021

• On October 16, 2021, she attended the Miss South Africa 2021 coronation ceremony at the Grand West Casino in Cape Town.

2022

• On December 12, 2022, she attended the announcement of 80th Golden Globes Awards nominees at the The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.

2023

• On March 7, 2023, she attended Women in Showbiz Everywhere Initiative Reception Honoring Academy Award-Nominated Documentaries of 2023 at Spice Affair in Beverly Hills.
• On August 5, 2023, she served as a judge at Miss Filipina International 2023 at the International Ballroom of The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.

2024

• On March 10, 2024, she attended the 96th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.
• On August 10, 2024, she attended the Miss South Africa 2024 coronation ceremony at the SunBet Arena of Time Square in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
• On November 16, 2024, she served as a judge at Miss Universe 2024 at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico.

2025

• On January 5, 2025, she attended the Golden Globes VIP viewing party at Wilshire Garden in Beverly Hills.
• On February 10, 2025, she published her book “Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar”.