‘I was called the most beautiful girl in the world at 18, then a spot appeared on my face... it was cancer’ - former Miss Universe Margaret Gardiner

I was bullied recently on social media. Some of the comments included: “Go away. You are an embarrassment”, “Plastic”, “She is so focused on being forever young that she lost all her natural beauty.

” I had just judged the 2024 Miss Universe Pageant, held in Mexico City, 46 years after I had become the first woman from Africa to take the title. It was an amazing honour. I was the only former winner to be on the selection committee.



Miss South Africa, the first deaf contestant, suffered extreme vertigo and had to drop out of the contest. After a 12-hour day and way past midnight, admittedly not looking my best, I went on social media to help frame the reaction to the news..