Mom of Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Tebow, Anne-mari Steenkamp is well recognised. In Sedgefield, a Garden Route village in South Africa, Anne-mari has settled down from international fanfare. Family, creativity, hospitality, and home strongly influence her.
Few times has she sought attention. She emerges in the background of critical family events, providing Demi-Leigh’s much-needed stability. Anne-mari’s narrative isn’t celebrity ambition. Motherhood, resilience, design, and blended family ties are the themes.
Anne-mari Steenkamp’s Early Life and Home in Sedgefield
Anne-mari Steenkamp was born around 1960 or 1961 in South Africa. She has deep connections to the Western Cape, particularly the Sedgefield area. The town, known for its lakes, beaches, indigenous landscapes, and relaxed atmosphere, has remained central to her family life.
Sedgefield provides a natural backdrop for Anne-mari’s interests in interiors and landscaping. The surrounding environment offers inspiration in abundance, from coastal light and textured stone to gardens shaped by the Garden Route climate. Her work appears to reflect this sense of place, favoring comfortable, practical, and welcoming spaces rather than overly formal interiors.
After divorcing Bennie Peters, Anne-mari raised Demi-Leigh in Sedgefield. Once married, Johan Steenkamp became Demi-Leigh’s stepfather at age 4. Anne-mari and Johan provided a secure environment where Demi-Leigh was encouraged to pursue her education, interests, and goals.
Anne-mari’s Work in Interior Design and Landscaping
Annie-mari designs interiors and landscapes. No significant design publication, portfolio, or commercial studio appears to showcase her work. Her efforts appear to have been local, private, and linked to homes and hospitality.
Indoor comfort and outdoor beauty blend in her style. Home rhythm comes from colour, furniture, fabric, and light. Garden landscaping continues that rhythm. For Sedgefield workers, the two fields go together.
She likes quilting, home design, organization, and DIY projects. These touches reflect a warm, practical design aesthetic. Anne-mari seems to view a house as a living environment that should welcome guests, promote family life, and evolve with time.
Johan and Anne-mari have also run Sedgefield guesthouses. They worked on Water’s Edge, suggesting she designed hospitality spaces. Guest rooms need more than nice furniture. They need smart layouts, durable materials, comfortable beds, pleasant outside spaces, and subtle details that make guests feel at ease.
There is no clear public record of a large design company or extensive list of celebrity clients linked to Anne-mari. Her work seems to have flourished through personal connections and local projects. Like a carefully planted garden, it may be substantial without being widely advertised.
Her Relationship With Demi-Leigh Tebow
Anne-mari’s closest and most visible relationship is with her daughter, Demi-Leigh Tebow, who was born Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters on 28 June 1995. Demi-Leigh grew up in Sedgefield with Anne-mari and Johan and has frequently spoken about the powerful influence of her mother.
Demi-Leigh calls Anne-mari her rock. That describes Anne-mari’s role amid difficult times, particularly Demi-Leigh’s South African pageantry climb. Demi-Leigh appeared as Miss Universe after winning Miss South Africa in 2017. Travel, public appearances, interviews, competitiveness, and pressure were involved. A mother provided emotional support and continuity behind the polished gowns and stage lights.
Despite Demi-Leigh’s international fame and US life, they remain close. Daily WhatsApp messages show their constant communication. Anne-mari has enjoyed important events and homecomings while staying grounded in family.
Demi-Leigh has also credited her mother with teaching her strength, compassion, and determination. Their relationship seems to be based not only on affection but also on mutual trust. Anne-mari helped shape the foundation from which Demi-Leigh stepped onto the world stage.
Johan Steenkamp as Demi-Leigh’s Stepfather
Johan Steenkamp is Anne-mari’s husband and Demi-Leigh’s stepfather. He works in the building industry and has been described by Demi-Leigh as a gentle and deeply caring figure who raised her as his own.
Demi-Leigh was roughly four when Johan and Anne-mari married. His role in her childhood shows how daily dedication may build family. A stepfather is more than a legal or wedding connection. He bonds with children via patience, advice, protection, and memory.
Stability appears in the Steenkamp home. Anne-mari supplied creativity and maternal strength, while Johan brought building and actual work expertise. Their cooperation in property and guest lodging goes beyond family.
Bennie Peters and the Broader Family
Bennie Peters was Anne-mari’s former husband and Demi-Leigh’s biological father. After his divorce from Anne-mari, he married Elzabé Peters and lived in Potchefstroom. He was associated with Sunset Manor Guesthouse and remained part of Demi-Leigh’s broader family story.
Bennie died from cancer in October 2025 at the age of 62. His death was a painful moment for Demi-Leigh and the family. Although Anne-mari and Bennie had separated many years earlier, their shared connection through Demi-Leigh continued to link their lives.
Clinical psychologist Elzabé Peters was Demi-Leigh’s stepmother. Demi-Leigh praises her blended family, calling them four beautiful parents. This idea of family is not restricted to one household. It includes biological parents, stepparents, and long-term relationships.
Franje Peters and a Family Marked by Love
Franje Peters was Demi-Leigh’s younger half sister, born to Bennie and Elzabé Peters. She had cerebellar agenesis, a rare condition that caused severe disability. Franje’s life had a profound effect on Demi-Leigh and became an important influence on her advocacy work.
Franje died on 4 May 2019 at the age of 13. Her death brought immense grief to the entire family. Although Anne-mari was not Franje’s biological mother, she was connected to the family through Demi-Leigh and the wider network of love surrounding the child.
Franje’s presence helped shape Demi-Leigh’s understanding of courage, inclusion, and the value of every person’s life. Her memory continues to be part of the family’s emotional landscape.
Anne-mari’s Health Challenges
Anne-mari has faced rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic condition that has reportedly deteriorated over time. The illness has been mentioned in family discussions about visits, caregiving, and the importance of staying connected.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects energy, mobility, and daily life. Interior design, landscaping, and property care professionals may find such conditions particularly challenging. Designing interiors and planting outdoors need physical exertion.
Even so, Anne-mari continues to be portrayed as a strong and supportive figure. Her health struggles add another layer to the family’s story. Strength, in this case, is not the absence of pain. It is the ability to remain present, loving, and engaged while adapting to difficult circumstances.
A Private Life With a Lasting Influence
Anne-mari maintains a relatively private life. Her public appearances are usually connected to Demi-Leigh, family celebrations, homecomings, birthdays, or personal tributes. Social media mentions show a woman whose world revolves around family rather than publicity.
The beliefs Demi-Leigh uphold in public reflect her influence. Loyalty, compassion, discipline, and homecoming are examples. Anne-mari may not have a large design portfolio, but her creative individuality is evident in her meticulously crafted homes and family life.
Her story is a reminder that public success often rests on private foundations. In Demi-Leigh’s case, one of those foundations is a mother in Sedgefield whose presence has remained steady through triumph, illness, loss, and change.
FAQ
Who is Anne-mari Steenkamp?
Anne-mari Steenkamp is a South African interior designer, landscaper, and the mother of Demi-Leigh Tebow, who won Miss Universe in 2017. She lives in or remains closely connected to Sedgefield in the Western Cape.
What does Anne-mari Steenkamp do professionally?
She is associated with interior design and landscaping. Her work appears to focus mainly on private homes and hospitality spaces rather than a large publicly marketed design business.
Where does Anne-mari Steenkamp live?
Anne-mari is closely associated with Sedgefield, a coastal town on South Africa’s Garden Route. She and her husband, Johan, have also been connected with guest accommodation in the area.
Who is Anne-mari Steenkamp’s daughter?
Her daughter is Demi-Leigh Tebow, formerly known as Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters. Demi-Leigh was born on 28 June 1995, won Miss South Africa in 2017, and became Miss Universe later that year.
Who is Johan Steenkamp?
Johan Steenkamp is Anne-mari’s husband and Demi-Leigh’s stepfather. He works in the building industry and helped raise Demi-Leigh from the time she was about four years old.
What happened to Bennie Peters?
Bennie Peters, Anne-mari’s former husband and Demi-Leigh’s biological father, died from cancer in October 2025 at the age of 62.
Who was Franje Peters?
Franje Peters was Demi-Leigh’s younger half sister. She was born with cerebellar agenesis and died on 4 May 2019 at the age of 13. Her life strongly influenced Demi-Leigh’s personal advocacy.
Does Anne-mari Steenkamp have a public design portfolio?
There does not appear to be a widely known online portfolio showing her complete body of work. Her design activities seem to have been local, private, and possibly connected to guest properties in Sedgefield.
What health condition has Anne-mari experienced?
Anne-mari has reportedly lived with rheumatoid arthritis for several years. The condition has been described as becoming more difficult over time.
