Money.co.uk has looked at the birthplaces of more than 500 international beauty pageant winners around the world to find out which country produces the most titleholders.

And, as it turns out, South Africa is home to the ninth highest number of "beautiful people" globally, with 18 pageant titles.

Keeping in mind that contestants are judged on more than just physical beauty, the reigning Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane says it best: "With representation being broader in beauty pageants today more than ever, pageants make one loud statement: There is beauty in diversity.

"Pageantry is empowering, and gone are the days where the focal point [of] pageants was beauty. Pageants are now a magnificent platform on which charitable causes are promoted, societal issues are addressed, and significant solutions are sought."