CELEBRITIES from South Africa

Top 6

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary South African Celebrities of all time. This list of famous South African Celebrities is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.

1. Penelope Coelen (1940 - )

With an HPI of 37.93, Penelope Coelen is the most famous South African Celebrity.  Her biography has been translated into 15 different languages on wikipedia.

Penelope Anne Coelen (born 15 April 1940) is a South African former actress, model and beauty queen who won Miss World 1958. She was the first major international titleholder to come from Africa.

2. Margaret Gardiner (1959 - )

With an HPI of 33.16, Margaret Gardiner is the 2nd most famous South African Celebrity.  Her biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Margaret Gardiner (born 21 August 1959) is a South African journalist and beauty queen who was the winner of the Miss Universe 1978, the first South African woman to win the Miss Universe title. She was 18 years old when she won the pageant. After the three semi-final competitions, she entered the five finalists in fourth place, but ended up winning the pageant after answering the final question. During the event held in Acapulco, she received her crown from Janelle Commissiong, the first black titleholder of the pageant. She was the only Miss Universe titleholder from South Africa until Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters was crowned Miss Universe 2017. She holds a BA in psychology from the College of Charleston and the author of two books on health and beauty and attended St. George's Cathedral where Desmond Tutu preached. She is now working as a print and television journalist in Los Angeles. She is married to Andre Nel, a professor of Pediatrics and Public Health at UCLA.

3. Zozibini Tunzi (1993 - )

With an HPI of 32.12, Zozibini Tunzi is the 3rd most famous South African Celebrity.  Her biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Zozibini Tunzi (born 18 September 1993), also known as Zozi Tunzi, is a South African model, actress and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe 2019. Tunzi had previously been crowned Miss South Africa 2019. She is the third woman from South Africa and the first black South African woman to win the title.

4. Anneline Kriel (1955 - )

With an HPI of 30.21, Anneline Kriel is the 4th most famous South African Celebrity.  Her biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Anneline Kriel (born 28 July 1955) is a South African actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss South Africa 1974 and was later crowned Miss World 1974. She is the second of three South African women to hold the Miss World title after Penelope Coelen in 1958 and before Rolene Strauss in 2014. In South Africa she achieved "icon" status where she became known as a "Princess Diana" figure and also appeared in several local film and television projects such as Kill and Kill Again in 1981. She was also in a high-profile marriage (1980-1985) with the late South African hotelier, Sol Kerzner.

5. Rolene Strauss (1992 - )

With an HPI of 27.17, Rolene Strauss is the 5th most famous South African Celebrity.  Her biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Rolene Strauss (born 22 April 1992) is a South African beauty queen who won Miss South Africa 2014 and was later crowned Miss World 2014. She is the third South African woman to be crowned Miss World, after Penelope Anne Coelen in 1958 and Anneline Kriel in 1974. Strauss is currently the chairperson of the non-profit organisation The Strauss Foundation.

6. Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters (1995 - )

With an HPI of 26.78, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters is the 6th most famous South African Celebrity.  Her biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Demi-Leigh Tebow ( DE-mee-LEE TEE-boh; née Nel-Peters; born 28 June 1995) is a South African model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 2017. She was crowned Miss South Africa 2017, and the second Miss Universe winner from South Africa, following Margaret Gardiner, who was crowned Miss Universe 1978.