Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, a South African model and beauty pageant winner, made history when she was crowned Miss Universe in November 2017. She became the second Miss Universe titleholder from South Africa, following Margaret Gardiner’s win in 1978. Throughout her reign, she traveled to numerous countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, and France. After a year as Miss Universe, she passed on the crown to her successor in December 2018. In addition to her pageant success, Demi-Leigh is engaged to Tim Tebow, a former professional American football player.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Demi-Leigh Tebow
- Age: 28 Years, 28 Year Old Females
- Family: father: Bennie Peters, mother: Anne-Mari Steenkamp
- Models
- South African Women
- Height: 1.71 m
- Notable Alumni: North-West University
- Education: North-West University
Rise to Stardom
Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters began her journey to stardom while studying in college. She started working part-time as a model signed to Boss Models and Vision Management Cape Town. In addition to her modeling career, she also participated in beauty pageants during her late teen years. After four years of competing, she gained global fame when she won the Miss South Africa 2017 competition. This victory gave her the opportunity to represent South Africa in both Miss World 2017 and Miss Universe 2017. However, due to scheduling conflicts, she could only attend one, and she chose to compete in the Miss Universe competition held in Las Vegas, Nevada. She successfully passed all the rounds of the competition and was crowned Miss Universe 2017, becoming the second titleholder from South Africa.
Philanthropy and ‘Unbreakable’
Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters used her platform as Miss Universe to make a difference. She established a self-defense workshop called ‘Unbreakable’ to empower women. This workshop provides women with the knowledge and skills to defend themselves. The inspiration for this initiative came from a harrowing experience she had one month after winning the Miss South Africa title. She was carjacked and held at gunpoint by criminals in Hyde Park, Johannesburg. Thanks to her self-defense training, she was able to escape and seek help by punching one of the attackers in the throat.
Family & Personal Life
Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters was born on June 28, 1995, in Sedgefield, Western Cape. Her parents, Bennie Peters and Anne-Marie Steenkamp, are divorced and have remarried. She currently lives with her mother and step-father in Sedgefield, while her father and step-mother reside in Potchefstroom. Her father recently entered the hospitality industry by opening Sunset Manor Guest House in Potchefstroom. Her mother, on the other hand, is an interior designer and landscaper who is married to Johan Steenkamp, a professional in the building industry. Demi-Leigh also has a step-sister named Franje, who was born without a cerebellum and is completely disabled. She has mentioned in interviews that her step-sister is her biggest motivation. Demi-Leigh has a close relationship with her step-parents and has achieved notable accomplishments in her academic and leadership roles. She was the first girl in her school to serve as the head girl in both school and hostel. In the 11th grade, she was elected as the Deputy Junior Mayor of the George City Council. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Entrepreneurship from North-West University. Demi-Leigh is fluent in both English and Afrikaans and enjoys reading, traveling, and outdoor activities such as trail runs, hiking, and road races. She also has two pet Yorkies named Benji and Baxter.
Relationship with Tim Tebow
Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters met her fiancé, Tim Tebow, at a charitable event called ‘Night to Shine’ organized by his foundation in South Africa in 2018. They connected over their shared religious views and have been together ever since. They made their relationship public on Instagram on August 14, 2018, when Demi-Leigh posted a picture of them together to wish Tim a happy birthday. In the following months, they shared more pictures of their time spent together, including a Thanksgiving get-together with both of their families. On January 11, 2019, they announced their engagement on Instagram, sharing pictures from their engagement ceremony that took place on January 9th at Tim’s family farm in Jacksonville, Florida. Tim had secretly flown Demi-Leigh’s family from South Africa to witness the special moment. He proposed to her with a 7.25-carat solitaire ring at an arbor by a lake on his family property, where he had engraved the date of their first meeting. They celebrated their engagement with a dinner at a Jacksonville club and later visited Disney World.