Adele relives her Miss SA, Miss World pageant days
“I really wanted to do modelling in Paris. It was my dream and I am fluent in French.”
Arbor Village resident Adele Kruger (80) was crowned Miss South Africa in 1957 and now enjoys her senior years in Bedfordview area and surrounds.
Also read: Former Miss South Africa’s come together
Adele recently attended a celebratory dinner with former Miss SA winners at The Maslow Time Square where the Miss SA Diamond Jubilee of six decades of remarkable women was celebrated with the crowning of Miss SA 2018, Tamaryn Green.
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Adele lived in Linden, Johannesburg, most of her life until her parents decided to move to Sasolburg.
At the age of 19, she worked at a plant in Sasolburg when a family friend entered her into the Miss SA pageant without her knowledge.
“I got such a shock when I got the phone call saying that I was in the finals for Miss SA,” said Adele.
Adele said that in those days the pageant was different as your photo was entered which judges used to determine finalists.
A reporter then contacted Adele and asked if he could take photos of her.
The photo was published in one of the national newspapers and readers voted Adele as the winner of Miss SA 1957. “I never received a crown like the pageant winners do today,” said Adele.
She won R1 000 cash prize, make-up and clothing.
“I received a number of outfits for winning the pageant, but loved a custom silver bathing suit the most.”
Adele later took part in the Miss World Pageant in London where she placed third.
“Somebody pinched my bathing suit at Miss World. I really loved it.”
Adele also visited Paris, as well as Brussels for the World Fair, but said that she was not cut out for it, as she missed home a lot during the tour.
She was offered a number of modelling jobs while she was overseas and took a course in modelling as she had never modelled before.
“I really wanted to do modelling in Paris. It was my dream and I am fluent in French, which I learnt for five years,” she said.
Adele said that she was contacted by the Royal Family’s designer and modelled for the Queen.
She said that the designer was also the stylist for Princess Margaret.
Once Adele came back to South Africa she went into public relations, which she had studied for and worked for African Explosions, a group of Anglo American.
She later went into office work.
Adele said that she never thought about getting married or having children.
“My mum was really strict. It was very difficult to keep a boyfriend.”
She had relationships, but they were never serious.
Adele sees Penny Coelen as one of her closest friends in the Miss SA. Coelen was crowned Miss SA a year after Adele and was later crowned Miss World.
Adele has resided at Arbor Village in Bedfordview for the past eight years.
“It’s very nice here. There’s always something to do and they have lovely gardens,” said Adele.
She does physiotherapy lessons for free at the village and speaks to her family in Pietermaritzburg when she can.
Adele said that a friend contacted Miss SA Diamond Jubilee celebration and was later invited to attend the celebrations and crowning of Miss SA 2018.
She met a number of previous Miss SA winners including Anneline Kriel who was also crowned Miss World in 1974 and Margaret Gardiner, also crowned Miss Universe in 1978.
“I also had the chance to catch up with Penny [Coelen].”
She said that Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters is very brave for living in a flat alone in New York.
