Miss Rhodesia was the national beauty pageant ofRhodesia and its antecedents. It debuted inMiss World in 1959, but was not allowed to participate afterRhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965. When Rhodesia transitioned to a majority democracy and becameZimbabwe in 1980, Miss Rhodesia becameMiss Zimbabwe.
Miss Rhodesia was established as MissRhodesia and Nyasaland in 1959. The winner debuted atMiss World 1959, with Vivien Lentin placing as a semifinalist. In 1960,Jenny Lee Scott appeared atMiss World. In 1961, there were two "Miss Rhodesias," whenAngela Moorcroft competed atMiss World representing Rhodesia and Nyasaland, andJonee Sierra representingSouthern Rhodesia atMiss Universe. In 1965,Lesley Bunting representedRhodesia atMiss World 1965, just days after the countrydeclared independence from the United Kingdom. Despite this, Bunting was still able to participate, and she was a Top 7 Finalist that year.[1][2]
After 1965, Miss Rhodesia was no longer allowed to participate in Miss World, due to Rhodesia's political situation. Despite this, in 1972 the English-born Miss Rhodesia attempted to travel to Britain to compete inMiss World, but was barred entry, despite her British citizenship.[3] Four years later, when Miss RhodesiaJane Bird flew to London and attempted to participate inMiss World 1976, she was prevented by the organization.[4][5] In 1980, when Rhodesia reverted to a British colony and was renamedZimbabwe, Miss Rhodesia ended and was succeeded byMiss Zimbabwe
Helen Elliott[6] and Myra Fowler[7] held the Miss Rhodesia title, but the sources do not include the year.
| Year | Miss Rhodesia | Hometown | Notes and references |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Vivien Lentin | - | Semifinalist atMiss World 1959 (Miss Rhodesia and Nyasaland) |
| 1960 | Jenny Lee Scott | - | Competed atMiss World 1960 (Miss Southern Rhodesia)[8] |
| 1961 | Angela Moorcroft | - | Competed atMiss World 1961[9] (Miss Rhodesia and Nyasaland) |
| Jonee Sierra | - | Competed atMiss Universe 1961[citation needed] (Miss Southern Rhodesia) | |
| 1962 | - | - | |
| 1963 | - | - | |
| 1964 | - | - | |
| 1965 | Lesley Bunting | Salisbury[10] | Top 7 Finalist atMiss World 1965[1][2] |
| 1966 | - | - | |
| 1967 | - | - | |
| 1968 | - | - | |
| 1969 | - | - | |
| 1970 | - | - | |
| 1971 | Corinne Prinsloo | - | [11] |
| 1972 | Helga Vera Johns | - | Was not allowed to compete inMiss World 1972 despite having dual citizenship with the UK. Johns later moved to South Africa and won the 1975Miss South Africa contest and tried to compete again atMiss World 1975, but was barred entry due to not living in South Africa for 5 years as per the requirements of the Miss World Organization. Johns, to this day, remains the only person barred from entering the contest at least twice.[3][12][13] |
| 1973 | Beverley Donald | - | Mother ofChelsy Davy[14][15] |
| 1974 | - | - | - |
| 1975 | Trudy Cliffe | - | [16] |
| 1976 | Jane Bird | - | Bird attempted to participate inMiss World 1976, but was barred because of Rhodesia's political and diplomatic situation[4][5] |
| 1977 | Connie Makaya | - | First black Miss Rhodesia[17][18][19] |
| 1978 | Blessed Unami Sikhosana | Bulawayo[20] | [20] |
| 1979 | - | - | - |
| 1980 | Miss Rhodesia becameMiss Zimbabwe in 1980 | ||