Celeb scandals that rocked 2012
Marilyn Ramos crowned Miss SA 2012
First look: Miss SA's Miss Universe gowns
The Miss Universe 2012 pageant took place last night at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, and our very own Miss South Africa Melinda Bam was one of the Top 16 finalists. Take a look at which if the other countries also made the Top 16.
Johannesburg - A white girl representing South Africa was the most jarring thing for some beauty pageant watchers to witness this week.
When the blue-eyed former Miss SA Melinda Bam took to the Miss Universe stage at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on Wednesday night, she triggered a social media buzzHer appearance sparked an avalanche of tweets, mostly from American viewers during the pageant, which was streamed live online at 03:00 local time.
@AlondraTeresa remarked: "When I saw Miss South Africa, I thought: 'If she's from Africa why is she white?' #meangirlsreference."
@omgitzvanessa wrote: "(When) Miss South Africa came on my mom was like: 'Why is she white?'"
@Maaaaryx3 also wondered: "I cant believe Miss South Africa is a white girl."
'Donald Trump hates Obama'
@xocinthia tweeted: "My dad asked why Miss South Africa is white if she's from Africa
@Rachel_Keaunani commented: "Miss Universe! South Africa’s interview question should’ve been: 'So if u’re from Africa why are u white?'"
Screamed @ThatMexipino: "Why isn't Miss South Africa black!?"
The disbelief sparked a conspiracy theory of its own when @theROBbulanSHOW tweeted in protest: "Donald Trump hates Obama so much that he chose a white chick to represent South Africa in the recently held Miss Universe Pageant. #NoToRacism."
@obaa_boni offered: "Miss South Africa being white isn’t surprising. Racism is rampant. Just pick an SA mag and it’s white women galore, even though SA is mostly black."
Those who had a clue about South Africa were stunned by this uproar as @trashypope tweeted: "I can't believe people are actually wondering why Miss South Africa is white."
@MissY0uWish joined the debate and offered her knowledge (or lack thereof) of the country on the southernmost tip of the African continent: "Yes, Miss South Africa is white?.?.?.?blonde hair, blue eyes. Random fact: 90% of South Africans are white. Y'all are dumb."
Sordid past in beauty pageants
To make sense of the confusion, @linnyitssn stepped into the fray: "For those who think our (American) education system works, people are tweeting how miss South Africa can be white. Read a book for the love of God."
South Africa has a sordid past in beauty pageants. During apartheid, it used to send two representatives, one black and the other white to Miss World.
It sent only non-blacks to Miss Universe until South Africa was expelled.
In the recent past, white girls who represented the country at Miss Universe included Vanessa Carreira, who was placed third runner-up; Cindy Nell, who was the second runner-up; and Nicole Flint, who finished in the top 10.
The last South African to win Miss Universe was Margaret Gardiner in 1978.
* Miss Universe 2012 was won by Miss USA, Olivia Culpo. The first runner-up was Miss Philippines, Janine Tugonon; second runner-up was Miss Venezuela, Irene Quintero.
Bam only managed to get a spot on the top 10.
She was a crowd favourite and went into the finale at the top of the leaderboard of the influential globalbeauties.com website.
