Forgotten Cape flats beauty queen
Beauty may be skin-deep, but for forgotten trailblazer beauty queen Pearl Janssen – the first black South African contestant in the Miss World pageant, skin colour seems far more decisive.Fifty-one years years ago the sultry Jansen, now 71, a factory worker from Bonteheuwel on the Cape Flats, made history when she was crowned first princess in the historic 1970 Miss World beauty pageant in the UK. The contest saw Jennifer Hosten, Miss Grenada, become the first ever black Miss World. Janssen, incidently was also the first black South African to enter the contest although she had to represent her country under the sash of Miss Africa South because of the colour of her skin. Her white South African counterpart Jillian Jessup, who came fifth in the contest, entered as Miss South Africa. A movie, Misbehaviour, was made of the historic 1970-pageant in 2020. Miss Janssen was invited to the world-premiere of the movie in London last year. But, instead of receiving accolades and recognition like other international beauty title holders such as Penny Coelen, Anneline Kriel and Margaret Gardiner, Miss Janssen was largely forgotten and ignored. In her own words:” Being runner-up in the 1970 Miss World Contest obviously made me very proud. But it actually was disappointing. And if I should relive my life, I don’t think I would have done it again. It had absolutely no advantages to me- no opportunities, whatsoever. It actually destroyed my life in the Apartheid years. It ruined me in a way that I actually became a pauper. I have nothing to show.” She added: “People thought when I returned from the Miss World that I was now a rich woman. Truth is I had to find work, first at the race track and then at Edgars in Bellville just to make ends meet. Nobody cared, but I survived through God’s help.” Ironically, the Miss World Contest which was held in the Royal Albert Hall on November 20, 1970, was marked by feminists and anti-Apartheid protests from the Women’s Liberation Movement who was against the demeaning of women. They invaded the hall and interrupted proceedings by hurling smoke grenades, flower bombs, leaflets, rotten tomatoes and even heckled the host, US comedian Bob Hope. Asked about the protest action, Miss Janssen recalled:.”I was with the girls in one of the dressing halls of the Royal Albert Hall downstairs watching on the monitors the protesters throwing rotten fruit and flour bombs in the auditorium. I was of course petrified and just wanted to go home. I did not know much of what was going on. My aim was to just focus on the reason I was there.” Miss Janssen says she was “grilled by the organisers” beforehand not to get involved with anything or talk to anyone while there. “They showed me pictures of people such as British politician Peter Hain whom I was told not to make contact with or talk to,” she said.Today, Miss Janssen is a SASSA pensioner living in a modest semi-detached house in Bonteheuwel with her dogs. She is a cancer survivor and says she is totally dependent on God as her provider and sustainer. Ian Landsberg
Cape Flats beauty queen Pearl Janssen was the first black South African woman who entered the Miss World Beauty Contest in 1970 in which she was the runner-up, writes Ian Landsberg.
1/17: 11 November 1970 – The fabulous Pearl Jansen was a factory worker in Cape Town. She lived in Bonteheuwel on the Cape Flats when she won the inaugural Miss Africa South, in 1970, a beauty pageant held for black women who were oppressed by apartheid and couldnt enter official Miss South Africa. The Bonteheuwel beauty Pearl Jansen became the first coloured Miss South Africa in 1970, before democracy. That year, there were two pageant winners a black winner, Ms Jansen, and a white one, Jillian Jessup. Blacks were allowed to compete only in the Miss Africa South and later Miss Black South Africa until 1992, when Miss SA became open to all. The racist Miss SA organisers allowed only white women to compete among themselves and the blacks slugged it out in what they called Miss Africa South. In 1970, during the height of apartheid, black winner Miss Africa South, Pearl Jansen, competed at the international Miss World and placed as first runner-up.
2/17: 11 November 1970 – The Fabulous Pearl Jansen, a factory worker in Cape Town. taking part in the 1970 Miss World beauty contest. She lived in Bonteheuwel on the Cape Flats when she won the inaugural Miss Africa South, in 1970, a ‘beauty pageant’ held for black women who were oppressed by apartheid and couldn’t enter official Miss South Africa. The Bonteheuwel beauty Pearl Jansen became the first coloured Miss South Africa in 1970, before democracy. That year, there were two pageant winners – a black winner, Ms Jansen, and a white one, Jillian Jessup. Blacks were allowed to compete only in the Miss Africa South and later Miss Black South Africa until 1992, when Miss SA became open to all. The racist Miss SA organisers allowed only white women to compete among themselves and the blacks slugged it out in what they called Miss Africa South. In 1970, during the height of apartheid, black winner Miss Africa South, Pearl Jansen, competed at the international Miss World and placed as first runner-up.
3/17: Beauty queen Pearl Janssen- former Miss World runner-up. Family Handout.
4/17: 11 November 1970 – The Fabulous Pearl Jansen, a factory worker in Cape Town. She lived in Bonteheuwel on the Cape Flats when she won the inaugural Miss Africa South, in 1970, a beauty pageant held for black women who were oppressed by apartheid and couldnt enter official Miss South Africa. The Bonteheuwel beauty Pearl Jansen became the first coloured Miss South Africa in 1970, before democracy. That year, there were two pageant winners a black winner, Ms Jansen, and a white one, Jillian Jessup. Blacks were allowed to compete only in the Miss Africa South and later Miss Black South Africa until 1992, when Miss SA became open to all. The racist Miss SA organisers allowed only white women to compete among themselves and the blacks slugged it out in what they called Miss Africa South. In 1970, during the height of apartheid, black winner Miss Africa South, Pearl Jansen, competed at the international Miss World and placed as first runner-up.
5/17: 11 November 1970 – The Fabulous Pearl Jansen, a factory worker in Cape Town. She lived in Bonteheuwel on the Cape Flats when she won the inaugural Miss Africa South, in 1970, a beauty pageant held for black women who were oppressed by apartheid and couldnt enter official Miss South Africa. The Bonteheuwel beauty Pearl Jansen became the first coloured Miss South Africa in 1970, before democracy. That year, there were two pageant winners a black winner, Ms Jansen, and a white one, Jillian Jessup. Blacks were allowed to compete only in the Miss Africa South and later Miss Black South Africa until 1992, when Miss SA became open to all. The racist Miss SA organisers allowed only white women to compete among themselves and the blacks slugged it out in what they called Miss Africa South. In 1970, during the height of apartheid, black winner Miss Africa South, Pearl Jansen, competed at the international Miss World and placed as first runner-up.
6/17: 09 November 1970 – Pearl Jansen, Miss Africa South and Jillian Jessup Miss South Africa hug each other outside the Britannia Hotel in London where they both competed for the Miss World contest in the UK . Pearl is a factory worker who lived in Bonteheuwel on the Cape Flats when she won the inaugural Miss Africa South, in 1970, a beauty pageant held for black women who were oppressed by apartheid and couldnt enter official Miss South Africa. The Bonteheuwel beauty Pearl Jansen became the first coloured Miss South Africa in 1970, before democracy. That year, there were two pageant winners a black winner, Ms Jansen, and a white one, Jillian Jessup. Blacks were allowed to compete only in the Miss Africa South and later Miss Black South Africa until 1992, when Miss SA became open to all. The racist Miss SA organisers allowed only white women to compete among themselves and the blacks slugged it out in what they called Miss Africa South. In 1970, during the height of apartheid, black winner Miss Africa South, Pearl Jansen, competed at the international Miss World and placed as first runner-up.
7/17: 3 December 1970 – Cape Flats beauty Pearl Jansen being welcomed by her parents after being crowned first runner-up in the Miss World contest. She lived in Bonteheuwel on the Cape Flats when she won the inaugural Miss Africa South, in 1970, a ‘beauty pageant’ held for black women who were oppressed by apartheid and couldn’t enter official Miss South Africa. The Bonteheuwel beauty Pearl Jansen became the first coloured Miss South Africa in 1970, before democracy. That year, there were two pageant winners – a black winner, Ms Jansen, and a white one, Jillian Jessup. Blacks were allowed to compete only in the Miss Africa South and later Miss Black South Africa until 1992, when Miss SA became open to all. The racist Miss SA organisers allowed only white women to compete among themselves and the blacks slugged it out in what they called Miss Africa South. In 1970, during the height of apartheid, black winner Miss Africa South, Pearl Jansen, competed at the international Miss World and placed as first runner-up.
8/17: 11 November 1970 – The Fabulous Pearl Jansen, a factory worker in Cape arriving at Heathrow airport to take part in the MissWorld contest. She lived in Bonteheuwel on the Cape Flats when she won the inaugural Miss Africa South, in 1970, a beauty pageant held for black women who were oppressed by apartheid and couldnt enter official Miss South Africa. The Bonteheuwel beauty Pearl Jansen became the first coloured Miss South Africa in 1970, before democracy. That year, there were two pageant winners a black winner, Ms Jansen, and a white one, Jillian Jessup. Blacks were allowed to compete only in the Miss Africa South and later Miss Black South Africa until 1992, when Miss SA became open to all. The racist Miss SA organisers allowed only white women to compete among themselves and the blacks slugged it out in what they called Miss Africa South. In 1970, during the height of apartheid, black winner Miss Africa South, Pearl Jansen, competed at the international Miss World and placed as first runner-up.
9/17: 11 November 1970 – The Fabulous Pearl Jansen, 20, a factory worker from Bonteheuwel in Cape Town photographed in London where she and the white Miss South Africa, Jillian Jessup, will be competing for the Miss World contest on November 20, 1970. She won the inaugural Miss Africa South in 1970 which is a beauty pageant held for black women who were oppressed by apartheid and couldnt enter official Miss South Africa. The Bonteheuwel beauty Pearl Jansen became the first coloured Miss South Africa in 1970, before democracy. That year, there were two pageant winners a black winner, Ms Jansen, and a white one, Jillian Jessup. Blacks were allowed to compete only in the Miss Africa South and later Miss Black South Africa until 1992, when Miss SA became open to all. The racist Miss SA organisers allowed only white women to compete among themselves and the blacks slugged it out in what they called Miss Africa South. In 1970, during the height of apartheid, black winner Miss Africa South, Pearl Jansen, competed at the international Miss World and placed as first runner-up.
10/17: 7 November 1970 – The Fabulous Pearl Jansen, a factory worker in Cape Town. She lived in Bonteheuwel on the Cape Flats when she won the inaugural Miss Africa South, in 1970, a beauty pageant held for black women who were oppressed by apartheid and couldnt enter official Miss South Africa. The Bonteheuwel beauty Pearl Jansen became the first coloured Miss South Africa in 1970, before democracy. That year, there were two pageant winners a black winner, Ms Jansen, and a white one, Jillian Jessup. Blacks were allowed to compete only in the Miss Africa South and later Miss Black South Africa until 1992, when Miss SA became open to all. The racist Miss SA organisers allowed only white women to compete among themselves and the blacks slugged it out in what they called Miss Africa South. In 1970, during the height of apartheid, black winner Miss Africa South, Pearl Jansen, competed at the international Miss World and placed as first runner-up.
11/17: 11 November 1970 – The Fabulous Pearl Jansen, 20, a factory worker from Bonteheuwel in Cape Town photographed in London where she and the white Miss South Africa, Jillian Jessup, will be competing for the Miss World contest on November 20, 1970. She won the inaugural Miss Africa South in 1970 which is a beauty pageant held for black women who were oppressed by apartheid and couldnt enter official Miss South Africa. The Bonteheuwel beauty Pearl Jansen became the first coloured Miss South Africa in 1970, before democracy. That year, there were two pageant winners a black winner, Ms Jansen, and a white one, Jillian Jessup. Blacks were allowed to compete only in the Miss Africa South and later Miss Black South Africa until 1992, when Miss SA became open to all. The racist Miss SA organisers allowed only white women to compete among themselves and the blacks slugged it out in what they called Miss Africa South. In 1970, during the height of apartheid, black winner Miss Africa South, Pearl Jansen, competed at the international Miss World and placed as first runner-up.
12/17: 3 December 1970 – The Fabulous Pearl Jansen, a factory worker from Cape Town on her return to Cape Town after winning runner-up in the Miss World beauty contest in London. She lived in Bonteheuwel on the Cape Flats when she won the inaugural Miss Africa South, in 1970, a beauty pageant held for black women who were oppressed by apartheid and couldnt enter official Miss South Africa. The Bonteheuwel beauty Pearl Jansen became the first coloured Miss South Africa in 1970, before democracy. That year, there were two pageant winners a black winner, Ms Jansen, and a white one, Jillian Jessup. Blacks were allowed to compete only in the Miss Africa South and later Miss Black South Africa until 1992, when Miss SA became open to all. The racist Miss SA organisers allowed only white women to compete among themselves and the blacks slugged it out in what they called Miss Africa South. In 1970, during the height of apartheid, black winner Miss Africa South, Pearl Jansen, competed at the international Miss World and placed as first runner-up.
13/17: 11 November 1970 – The Fabulous Pearl Jansen, 20, a factory worker from Bonteheuwel in Cape Town photographed in London where she and the white Miss South Africa, Jillian Jessup, will be competing for the Miss World contest on November 20, 1970. She won the inaugural Miss Africa South in 1970 which is a beauty pageant held for black women who were oppressed by apartheid and couldnt enter official Miss South Africa. The Bonteheuwel beauty Pearl Jansen became the first coloured Miss South Africa in 1970, before democracy. That year, there were two pageant winners a black winner, Ms Jansen, and a white one, Jillian Jessup. Blacks were allowed to compete only in the Miss Africa South and later Miss Black South Africa until 1992, when Miss SA became open to all. The racist Miss SA organisers allowed only white women to compete among themselves and the blacks slugged it out in what they called Miss Africa South. In 1970, during the height of apartheid, black winner Miss Africa South, Pearl Jansen, competed at the international Miss World and placed as first runner-up.
14/17: 10 October 1970 – Pearl Jansen, 19, a factory worker and model from Cape Town won the inaugural Miss Africa South title in the Orient Hall, Durban. She was chosen from 25 beauties who entered the contest arranged by the SA Wightlifting and Body Building Federation. The Bonteheuwel beauty Pearl Jansen became the first coloured Miss South Africa in 1970, before democracy and the first non-White to represent South Africa in the Miss Word contest in London on November 17. That year, there were two pageant winners a black winner, Ms Jansen, and a white one, Jillian Jessup. Black winner Miss Africa South, Pearl Jansen, was placed first runner-up in the international Miss World and placed as first runner-upcontest. Picture Africn News Agency (ANA).
15/17: 11 November 1970 – Beauty queen Pearl Jansen greeted by her mother on returning from London after being crowned runner-up princess in the Miss World contest. Pearl, a factory worker, lived in Bonteheuwel on the Cape Flats won the inaugural Miss Africa South, in 1970, a beauty pageant held for black women who were oppressed by apartheid and couldnt enter official Miss South Africa. The Bonteheuwel beauty Pearl Jansen became the first coloured Miss South Africa in 1970, before democracy. That year, there were two pageant winners a black winner, Ms Jansen, and a white one, Jillian Jessup. Blacks were allowed to compete only in the Miss Africa South and later Miss Black South Africa until 1992, when Miss SA became open to all. The racist Miss SA organisers allowed only white women to compete among themselves and the blacks slugged it out in what they called Miss Africa South. In 1970, during the height of apartheid, black winner Miss Africa South, Pearl Jansen, competed at the international Miss World and placed as first runner-up.
16/17: 11 November 1970 – Pearl Jansen, a factory worker from Cape Town who lived in Bonteheuwel on the Cape Flats when she won the inaugural Miss Africa South in 1970 is welcomed by her parents after being crowned runner-up in the 1970 Miss World contest. The Bonteheuwel beauty became the first coloured Miss South Africa in 1970, before democracy. That year there were two pageant winners a black winner, Ms Jansen, and a white one, Jillian Jessup.
17/17: 11 November 1970 – The Fabulous Pearl Jansen, a factory worker in Cape Town. She lived in Bonteheuwel on the Cape Flats when she won the inaugural Miss Africa South, in 1970, a beauty pageant held for black women who were oppressed by apartheid and couldnt enter official Miss South Africa. The Bonteheuwel beauty Pearl Jansen became the first coloured Miss South Africa in 1970, before democracy. That year, there were two pageant winners a black winner, Ms Jansen, and a white one, Jillian Jessup. Blacks were allowed to compete only in the Miss Africa South and later Miss Black South Africa until 1992, when Miss SA became open to all. The racist Miss SA organisers allowed only white women to compete among themselves and the blacks slugged it out in what they called Miss Africa South. In 1970, during the height of apartheid, black winner Miss Africa South, Pearl Jansen, competed at the international Miss World and placed as first runner-up.
