Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters is the first Miss South Africa to take the Miss Universe title after Margaret Gardiner in 1978.

CAPE TOWN – South Africans are beaming with pride after Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters was crowned Miss Universe 2017 during a glitzy ceremony in Las Vegas.

Nel-Peters, from Sedgefield in the Western Cape, is the first Miss South Africa to take the Miss Universe title after Margaret Gardiner in 1978.

President Jacob Zuma, the ANCYL, Wayde van Niekerk and several others have wished her well.

Zuma says the nation is "immensely" proud, while the ANCYL says her victory is a win for all of South Africa.

Congratulations @DemiLeighNP! Our own Miss SA is #MissUniverse2017. Proudly South African 🇿🇦 🌈 https://t.co/YqUFBs2ryU — Wayde van Niekerk (@WaydeDreamer) November 27, 2017

Congratulations to Miss South Africa Demi-Leigh Nel Peters @DemiLeighNP on being crowned #MissUniverse 2017. Thank you representing us with distinction and flying our flag high 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/nXZIYsal8W — Min. Nathi Mthethwa (@NathiMthethwaSA) November 27, 2017

Dear South Africa 🇿🇦



While we were sleeping #MissSouthAfrica WON and was crowned Miss Universe 2017 👑



Congratulations to Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters 👸🏻 You’ve made us proud. @DemiLeighNP #MisssUniverse pic.twitter.com/OCDVeADqq2 — Karabo Mokgoko 🦄 (@Karabo_Mokgoko) November 27, 2017

May you make your country and your continent proud just as Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters from South Africa has done by winning #MissUniverse 2017👑pic.twitter.com/BsEfD2p6vq#MondayMotivation — GREAT GRACIOUS (@GreatGracious) November 27, 2017

But some have been left unhappy with the results and believe that Miss Jamaica, Davina Bennett, should have won.

Miss Jamaica was the second runner-up while miss Columbia, Laura Gonzalez, was the first runner-up.

One Twitter user congratulated Nel-Peters and also praised Gonzalez, saying she did an amazing job.

Davina represented not only #Jamaica in the #MissUniverse but the black race. I wish she's the one who should have won. She displayed her Afro with pride redefining the competition. Young black girls out there can feel confidence in their natural hair without whitening it. pic.twitter.com/8SCqF3o6Je — Not Adv Ngcukaitobi (@AdvNgcukaitobi) November 27, 2017

Congratulations to our Miss South Africa for winning #MissUniverse. However, I think that the runner up (Miss Jamaica) did an amazing job. She represented her country very well and I am sure there is a little black girl out there with an Afro who knows that she can do it. pic.twitter.com/UxVkhBXWfr — Ctrl+P (@PumezaZibi) November 27, 2017

Retweet if you think Jamaica deserved to win miss universe and not 2 runner up #missjamaica #jamaica — Tomboy Ultimate ♍ (@NadrikaM) November 27, 2017

I'm so annoyed that i spend two hours watching miss universe only for them to pick the same person every single year... I'm fed up!!!#MissUniverse #jamaica pic.twitter.com/oTCw68AA6D — MarshMellow™ ஐ (@tamibellaDDS) November 27, 2017

I am happy for Miss #SouthAfrica but let's be honest, the answers given by Miss #Jamaica were beyond perfect.



It's time for the #MissUniverse pageant organisers to introspect and reevaluate their judging criteria. pic.twitter.com/vBjNBz9qi7 — Pritish Bhattacharya (@PritishB1) November 27, 2017

Overall, Nel-Peters’ win has been well received.

Nel-Peters is passionate about a self-defence programme which has empowered several women.

Miss Universe organisers say that she plans to share these workshops and help as many women as she can.

She says her biggest motivation comes from her half-sister who has a disability. She lives in Potchefstroom with her stepmother and father.