Wilma van der Bijl

Wilma van der Bijl is one of the most memorable Miss South Africas in the history of the pageant.  After being crowned in the prestigious national competition in 1987, Wilma was a judge at three Miss World Pageants. 

Wilma, who qualified as a pharmacist in 1985, started modelling at the age of 21, spending five years in Europe doing photographic modelling, mostly for fashion catalogues.  In 1991 she returned to South Africa, and started her own wholesale business, importing earrings from Germany and supplying retail stores in South Africa.

Wilma's life changed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This mother of two's story of survival and hope has inspired thousands of South Africans. She teamed up with Huisgenoot/You in 2006 to encourage South African women to go for mammograms by arranging large discount at radiologists across the country, with hundreds of South African women making use of the opportunity.