A few days ago I shared my "now how did she do that" moments with you. In my opinion there were at least 10 instances where our representatives at Miss Universe and Miss World were rated too highly, and achieved placements that they really didn't deserve.The flip side of the coin is that there are at least 10 instances where our representatives at the two leading international pageants were under-scored, and deserved better placements. I refer to these as my "she deserved better" moments.
The trouble with competing at an international pageant in the year after your national predecessor had won the title is that it could count against you. That is exactly what happened to Moya Meaker at Miss World in 1959. She was a favourite with the Press to succeed Penny Coelen. Unfortunately she only made the Top 11, but she definitely deserved a place in the Top 5.
My next "she deserved better" moment was at the 1965 Miss World pageant. Carol Davis was robbed of a Top 16 place. She was better looking than at least half of the semi-finalists, and should, at least, have replaced the "hip-o-pot-amus" from Costa Rica in the Top 16.
For two years in succession, South Africa was unfairly left out of the Top 15 at Miss Universe. Whilst her pageant pictures might not always reveal the fact, Wendy Ballenden was a very sexy woman. She was included in the Top 15 in swimsuit, yet did not make the Top 15 semi-finalists at the 1967 pageant.
Monica Fairall also made the Top 15 in swimsuit at the 1968 pageant, yet she too was excluded from the Top 15 semi-final round. I suspect the controversy surrounding her revealing, low-cut evening gown could have been the reason for her exclusion, but I disagree. She looked good in swimsuit, was very pretty, and she was intelligent and confident. Definitely a "she deserved better" moment.
Before I move on, I just need to go back to the 1967 Miss World pageant. Disa Duivenstein was one of the favourites to win the crown, but was a surprising omission from the Top 7. Granted, she was a bit "hippy", but she had a gorgeous face and was popular with the other contestants.
Lynn Massyn was not a popular choice as Miss SA in 1976, and there was even a public outcry after her win to have Louise Withfield, who placed second, replace her. It never happened and Lynn represented South Africa at Miss World. Unfortunately for Lynn, she was judged for her "sash" and not her physical attributes after the walk-out of a dozen or so nations because of South Africa's participation.
It is now common knowledge that a "scoring error" kept Odette Scrooby out of the Top 5 at Miss Universe in 1982. Although many pageant fans claim that she would have won had she advanced to the final round, I personally do not think that she would have beaten Miss Canada, but second place would have been a fairer reflection of the truth than sixth place.
My next two "she deserved better" moments were at Miss Universe in 1996 and 2001. Granted, both Carol-Anne Becker and Jo-Ann Strauss placed in the Top 15 in preliminary competition, but since only the Top 10 advanced to the televised phase of the pageant, they cannot lay claim to semi-finalist status.
My final "she deserved better" moment was at the 2007 Miss Universe pageant. Megan Coleman was named as a contender on just about every "favourites list" published on the internet, yet failed to make the Top 15. She sizzled in the swimsuit and evening gown competitions, and she was level-headed and confident in interview. I know that she lacked the "desire to win", but that was not a good enough reason to exclude her from the semi-finals.
Oh well! It's water under the bridge now.