Anneline Kriel, an iconic South African beauty queen, is celebrating her 69th birthday today, 28 July 2024.
Anneline Kriel’s days on the catwalk
Kriel was born in Pretoria and won Miss South Africa 1974. She was crowned Miss World in the same year. She was the second South African woman to hold the Miss World title after Penelope Coelen in 1958. Kriel dazzled the world when she won the title of Miss World.
Helen Morgan won the Miss World title in 1974, but had to relinquish her title a few days after the pageant. This was due to articles in tabloid newspaper claiming she was an unmarried mother. There were also allegations – which she denied – of an affair with a married man. As a result, Anneline Kriel received the crown as the first runner-up.
Beyond the Miss World title, the iconic South African had a successful career in acting and modelling and the media christened her ‘South Africa’s Princess Di’, according to Cape Town Today.
Anneline Kriel through the years. Image by Facebook.com/annelinekrielbacon
At the time of the Miss World pageant, Anneline Kriel faced controversy due to her being from a country that was bound by apartheid and isolated by international sanctions. Countries like the US and Australia refused to welcome her as part of the customary world tour.
Commenting on her reign as Miss World in an interview with Vrye Weekblad, Kriel said that ‘it was a year full of unexpected events with many unexpected experiences that taught me to swim at the deep end and survive’. She added that she learned that life is not necessarily fair and also not to easily trust people.
The men in her life and her new home
Anneline Kriel now resides in Mauritius with her husband and runs a swimwear brand with her daughter.
She married Sol Kerzner, renowned hotelier and casino tycoon, in 1980. They divorced in 1985. Following her separation from Sol Kerzner and Philip Tucker, Kriel married Peter Bacon, CEO of Sun International and former protégé of Kerzner. The couple chose to make Mauritius their new home.
Kriel continues to voice her concerns on issues close to her heart, e.g. farm murders in South Africa.
“I fear for South Africa’s future. After almost 30 years of ANC government, there are still so many South Africans living in poverty and insecurity.”
Anneline Kriel
“The farm murders in South Africa bother me and keep me awake at night when I lie thinking about so many farmers on remote farms who live in fear when it gets dark and quiet in the evening.”
Anneline Kriel
She plans to produce a documentary about her Miss World experience.