The first South African representative to win the Miss World pageant was Penelope “Penny” Anne Lay, formerly of Koren, in 1958. Here are five things you need to know about the former beauty queen.
10 things you should know about Penny Ray
- Penny Rae was the third woman to be crowned Miss SA in 1958. She was followed by Norma Forster (1956) and Adele Kruger (1957).
- In October 1958, Penny represented South Africa at the Miss World competition in London, England, where she was crowned Miss World.
- She made history by becoming the first South African to be crowned Miss World.
- She also made history as the first African to hold a major international title.
- Penny is a former actress who managed her own clothing line and endorsed beauty products.
- She later trained as a beauty therapist and opened her own salon, according to the North Coast Courtier.
- She was married for 59 years to sugarcane farmer Mickey “Mickey” Ray of France's Dolphin Coast. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2019 after a battle with cancer and dementia.
- Penny is the mother of five sons. However, she lost her son Nicholas Ray in 2016, 12 years after he fell from a horse in a freak accident. He suffered a severe brain injury, leaving him paralyzed and unable to speak.
- She is now a grandmother of 15 years.
- Penny lived at Zimbali Estate in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal.
