Former Miss South Africa and Miss Universe – now published author, advocate, and mom – Demi-Liegh Tebow reflects back on the year when everything changed.
Florida, United States (30 January 2026) – ‘2016 is the new 2026’
The trend of looking back a decade has everyone scrolling their archives and reflecting on past versions of themselves.
Some of us were living our best lives – Good Things Guy included, we just turned 1. Some of us were facing loss, grief, uncertainty and struggle. Some of us were working toward a reality that now actually exists. Some of us never dreamed that life would look this way.
Reflecting on what life looked like for her back then, Demi-Leigh Tebow says it was transformative. It’s the year she earned her degree in business management and entrepreneurship, and it’s the year she put her all into becoming Miss South Africa.
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“It was the year I entered the Miss South Africa pageant that would change my life forever…I was in my final year of university and worked in modeling to pay for my pageant coach and wardrobe to compete in Miss SA,” shares Demi-Leigh.
In the lead up to her ultimately winning Miss SA, she juggled the stress of final year studies, competing in the pageant and work.
“Competing in Miss SA honestly felt like a full time job. I remember driving 2 hours to make it to my graduation after a Miss SA activation and then drove 3 hours to make it in time to the next activation,” writes Demi-Leigh. “We were part of so many events for sponsors of the pageant and each one felt like a judging session. I remember just always being ‘on’…I never took off my high heels…Sometimes for 12+ hours a day. I just always wanted to be ready.”
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She became a professional juggler. But she also went on to snatch her degree, scoop a crown, and then win Miss Universe – marking a first for South Africa since Margaret Gardiner earned the title in 1978.
Now, Demi-Leigh lives in the US with her husband, Tim. She recently became a mom, and her career has blossomed – published author, speaker, entrepreneur, and an advocate for women’s empowerment and the fight against human trafficking. A lot can happen in ten years!
“I’m so grateful for the opportunities that came my way during this season,” she added.
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