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.
Penelope Anne Coelen | |
|---|---|
 Coelen in 1958 | |
| Born | 15 April 1940 |
| Occupation(s) | Model, Actress |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title | Miss World 1958 Miss South Africa 1958 |
| Major competition(s) | Miss South Africa 1958 (Winner) Miss World 1958 (Winner) |
Early life
editPenelope Anne Coelen was from Durban, and attended Durban Girls' High School.[1][2]
Career
editIn the 1958 Miss World pageant, a total of 22 contestants from Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa competed in the finals. Europeans dominated the semi-finals, but Penelope Anne Coelen, an 18-year-old secretary who played piano in the talent competition, was selected for the crown.[3]
She gained widespread international attention during her reign and received several lucrative modelling offers. The South African designer of her gowns, Bertha Pfister, also gained increased attention.[4]
After her reign as Miss World 1958, she tried her luck out in Hollywood with the help of James Garner, but failed her screen test. She later managed her own line of clothing and endorsed beauty products, particularly perfumes. She appeared as a contestant on the television game show To Tell the Truth on 25 November 1958.[5] She celebrated the 2014 Miss World win of South Africa's Rolene Strauss, and gave public appearances with the younger woman.[6][7][8]
Personal life
editCoelen returned to South Africa, and married wealthy sugarcane farmer Michel "Micky" Rey from the Natal Province. They raised five sons. She ran a guesthouse,[9] worked as a beauty consultant, and gave lectures. Her son Nicholas Rey died in 2016, twelve years after he was severely injured in a polo accident.[10][11] The Nicholas Rey Foundation Trust, founded in 2007, is named in his memory.[12] Her husband Micky Rey died in 2019.[13]
References
edit- ^ "Honey Blonde South African Wins '58 'Miss World' Title". The News Journal. 14 October 1958. p. 25. Retrieved 7 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Durban Timeline 1497-1990". South African History Online. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ "Tops Among World Cuties". Daily News. 14 October 1958. p. 331. Retrieved 7 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Vanrensburg, Deur Kerry (29 April 2015). "PROFILE: Bertha Pfister – Designer for SA's first Miss World". Netwerk24. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ To Tell the Truth, retrieved 7 May 2020
- ^ "Rugby vs Miss World". Oudtshoorn Courant. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ Mposo, Nantando (16 December 2014). "Miss World '58 has some advice for Rolene". IOL. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ "Hero's welcome for South Africa's first Miss World in 40 years". Hindustan Times. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ "Who's Who South Africa". Archived from the original on 5 April 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2010.
- ^ "Ballito's own Miss World". North Coast Courier. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ "Wheeling in the sun and waves". North Coast Courier. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ Smit, Ricky (15 August 2007). "Horse whisperers in wheelchairs". The Sowetan. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ "Margate Moves: Time to clean and burn". South Coast Herald. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
External links
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