GB Most Beautiful Miss Universe 1952-2010

**bonner** Fri Mar 04, 2011 2:41 am

The Countdown is about to Start…

As Miss Universe celebrates its 60th anniversary, GB will tell its history in a countdown to the Most Beautiful Miss Universe 1952-2010. Fifteen pageant experts scored them all, and in a few months you will meet the big winner.

Our judges are: Greg Borowski, Willian Prendiz de Jurado, Edwin Toledo (Times of Beauty), Ricardo Guiraldes (Chilean Charm), Julio Rodriguez (Belleza Venezolana), Alberto Dubal (Miss Memorabilia), Jimmy Harris (Beauty School), Pepe Medel, Jean-Marie Vandecasteele, Andre Sleigh, Rose Foulger, Luis Trujillo. From GB, Ed Dominguez, Henrique Fontes, and Chris Kuntz.

Keep in mind that the highest and lowest scores are eliminated.

Let the show begin…

**bonner** Fri Mar 04, 2011 2:46 am

60th – Miriam Stevenson, USA (1954)
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(Our judges are: Greg Borowski, Willian Prendiz de Jurado, Edwin Toledo (Times of Beauty), Ricardo Guiraldes (Chilean Charm), Julio Rodriguez (Belleza Venezolana), Alberto Dubal (Miss Memorabilia), Jimmy Harris (Beauty School), Pepe Medel, Jean-Marie Vandecasteele, Andre Sleigh, Rose Foulger, Luis Trujillo. From GB, Ed Dominguez, Henrique Fontes, and Chris Kuntz)

Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson, from South Carolina, USA, competed in the 3rd edition of Miss Universe, in 1954. She edged out the big favorite and still the most talked about Miss Brazil of all times, Martha Rocha.

The American and the Brazilian beauties tied after the judges’ final voting. As Catalina was the major sponsor of the pageant in its early years, the tie-breaking judgment finally came down to who had the better physical figure, which went to Miriam’s favor, for she had the “fitter” hips over Martha Rocha.

Stevenson gave the car she won in her Miss Universe Prize package to Martha Rocha as a consolatory prize.

Thirty-three countries competed in Miss Universe 1954, and the other finalists were Virginia Lee Wai-Chun of Hong Kong (3rd place), Regina Ernst of Germany (4th place), and Ragnhild Olausson (5th place).

Miriam conquered the first of so far 7 American titles, and it remains one of the most controversial ones ever. She became a television presenter and enjoy relative success as a tv commercials actress and model until the mid 1970′s.

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**Wojtek** Fri Mar 04, 2011 2:08 pm

She don't deserve the last place, there were worse ones

**bonner** Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:51 am

59th – Linda Bement (USA)
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(Our judges are: Greg Borowski, Willian Prendiz de Jurado, Edwin Toledo (Times of Beauty), Ricardo Guiraldes (Chilean Charm), Julio Rodriguez (Belleza Venezolana), Alberto Dubal (Miss Memorabilia), Jimmy Harris (Beauty School), Pepe Medel, Jean-Marie Vandecasteele, Andre Sleigh, Rose Foulger, Luis Trujillo. From GB, Ed Dominguez, Henrique Fontes, and Chris Kuntz)

1960 was the year when Miss Universe left its original home, Long Beach (CA), and moved to Miami Beach (FL). Linda Bement, from Utah, USA, and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, became the third American woman to be crowned Miss Universe, once again leaving as 1st runner-up the international press favorite: Daniela Bianchi, from Italy.

Bianchi, the Miss Universe Italy never had, became an actress and remains one of the most memorable Bond Girls of all times (she played Tatiana Romanova in From Russia With Love).

The other runner-ups were Elizabeth Hodacs of Austria (3rd place), Nicolette Joan Caras of South Africa (4th), and María Teresa del Río of Spain (5th), the last one, the first Spaniard to ever compete in Miss Universe.

Among the semi-finalists was Colombia’s Stella Márquez, who would later that year be crowned the first ever Miss International, in Long Beach. Today Márquez is the national director of Miss Philippines Universe and International.

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**bonner** Tue Mar 08, 2011 5:03 am

58th place – Chelsi Smith (USA)

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(Our judges are: Greg Borowski, Willian Prendiz de Jurado, Edwin Toledo (Times of Beauty), Ricardo Guiraldes (Chilean Charm), Julio Rodriguez (Belleza Venezolana), Alberto Dubal (Miss Memorabilia), Jimmy Harris (Beauty School), Pepe Medel, Jean-Marie Vandecasteele, Andre Sleigh, Rose Foulger, Luis Trujillo. From GB, Ed Dominguez, Henrique Fontes, and Chris Kuntz)

Moving from the early 1960′s to the mid 1990′s, but remaining in the US, Chelsi Smith, Miss Universe 1995, is next on the list, at the 58th position. Windhoek, Namibia, hosted the pageant, the first held on African soil.

When pre-pageant favorites from Sweden, Chile, Nigeria, Korea and Cook Islands failed to advance to the semi-finals, it looked like it would be a battle among Canada, Colombia and Puerto Rico, with Colombia having an “extra edge” over the other two. Wrong. Colombia finished in 10th place, Puerto Rico stopped in the “top 6”, and only Canada made it through the “top 3”, along with the USA and exotic (but very brainy!) India.

In the year of the unexpected, when by the way for the first time ever Europe was completely left out of the semi-final, Canada’s Lana Buchberger was called as 2nd runner-up, India’s Manpreet Brar finished in 2nd place, and Chelsi Smith of Texas, USA, was crowned Miss Universe 1995 – the first black (or bi-racial) American to be crowned Miss Universe, when, coincidently, the pageant was first held in the African continent.

Chelsi Mariam Pearl Smith, 22 at the time, unquestionably had many qualities. This beautiful young woman was very articulate and charming. She was born in California to 19-year-old parents Craig Smith, an African American maintenance man, and Denise Trimble, a white American secretary. Her parents divorced before she was two, and her mother, an alcoholic at the time, granted Smith’s grandparents Barnie and Jeanette custody of her.

Not always Miss Universe had a perfect body, for many, one of her main assets in beauty pageants. She was overweight as a teenager, before becoming Miss Universe, and also as an adult, years after her reign was over. As a singer, her first single was “Dom Da Da”, part of the soundtrack for The Sweetest Thing, starring Cameron Diaz. The former Miss Universe has also acted in few movies and hosted tv specials.

In the election of The Most Beautiful Miss Universe 1952-2010, Chelsi fell into the “love or hate” category, getting very high scores from four of our judges, all above ’9,40′, and the lowest possible ’8,00′ from five of them.

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**bonner** Fri Mar 11, 2011 2:54 am

57th place – Deborah Carthy-Deu (Puerto Rico)

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(Our judges are: Greg Borowski, Willian Prendiz de Jurado, Edwin Toledo (Times of Beauty), Ricardo Guiraldes (Chilean Charm), Julio Rodriguez (Belleza Venezolana), Alberto Dubal (Miss Memorabilia), Jimmy Harris (Beauty School), Pepe Medel, Jean-Marie Vandecasteele, Andre Sleigh, Rose Foulger, Luis Trujillo. From GB, Ed Dominguez, Henrique Fontes, and Chris Kuntz)

The city of Miami welcomed 79 candidades who competed for the Miss Universe title in 1985. Unexpectedly, Puerto Rico conquered its 2nd crown with Deborah Carthy-Deu, ranked 57th in the Most Beautiful Miss Universe 1952-1960 contest.

When Bob Barker announced the ‘top 10′, there were no negative surprises. Uruguay, Chile, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Ireland, Brazil, USA, Zaire, Spain, and Canada all deserved to be semi-finalists.

The audience, mostly Latin, had Miss Spain as the favorite, but loudly applauded all Latinas and Miss USA (the first Hispanic to win the Miss USA title, Laura Martinez-Harring was born in Mexico. She later became an actress of relative success. Laura was also the first of five women from Texas to consecutively win the Miss USA title).

The press covering the pageant had Misses Spain and Canada as the two main front-runners, but Miss Canada failed to advance to the final five. Conversely, based on the scores she had received throughout the competition, it looked like Spain’s Teresa Sanchez easily ‘had it’.

Benita Mureka-Tete, the exotic (and at the same time classic!) black Cinderella from Zaire (today’s Democratic Republic of Congo), and Andrea López, a knockout bombshell blonde from Uruguay, seemed to be the ones who represented some threat to the Spaniard stunner (Teresa was actually the 1st runner-up from Spain, the actual titleholder could not compete in Miss Universe), but it was Deborah from Puerto Rico, who had entered the top 5 in 5th place, who surprisingly became the final judges’ choice.

Deborah started ‘getting ground’ in the competition when she won the evening gown competition. Elegance, by the way, is one of her trademarks. Although the results were disappointing for most of those who watched the pageant, Carthy-Deu had an excellent year as Miss Universe, and in 1986 returned to crown her successor, in Panama City, more beautiful than ever.

Miss Universe 1985 was not a very successful actress, but has always been an excellent television presenter. She owns a modeling school in Puerto Rico for future models, actresses and beauty queens. In 2009, at the age of 43, Deborah gave birth to her first son.

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**Wojtek** Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:03 pm

Chelsi 58th?!?! For me she's one of the best MU from 90s!

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I have impression that judges don't like Americans

**bonner** Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:49 am

56th place – Brook Lee (USA)

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Our judges are: Greg Borowski, Willian Prendiz de Jurado, Edwin Toledo (Times of Beauty), Ricardo Guiraldes (Chilean Charm), Julio Rodriguez (Belleza Venezolana), Alberto Dubal (Miss Memorabilia), Jimmy Harris (Beauty School), Pepe Medel, Jean-Marie Vandecasteele, Andre Sleigh, Rose Foulger, Luis Trujillo. From GB, Ed Dominguez, Henrique Fontes, and Chris Kuntz)

The election of Brook Lee in 1997, the 7th American beauty to be crowned Miss Universe, in Miami Beach, caused indignation among the Latin pageant community, who preferred Misses Curaçao, Panama (who one year later won the Miss International title), Italy, or Colombia (who failed to make the cut) over the Hawaiian beauty. 1997 was a year of many impressive beauties, and consequently, with several great possibilities. In addition to the above mentioned favorites, others such as Venezuela (1st runner-up), Philippines, Finland, Chile, Switzerland, Iceland, Trinidad & Tobago (2nd runner-up), France, Poland, Czech Republic, Australia, India (who committed suicide in 2004), Israel and Costa Rica, were all expected to do well.

However, it was Brook Lee who won the title and broke patterns. If not a classic or memorable beauty in its “raw” and traditional concept, Brook had something that can multiply a woman’s beauty: sense of humor. Smart, funny, unrehearsed, unpretentious, and most of all, unpredictable, she left behind traditional schools of beauty and the “expected”, which was phenomenal in many ways. Lee was an excellent Miss Universe, perhaps one of the best. Popular especially in Asian countries, the Miss Universe who spoke from heart left the best impression wherever she went.

“If there were no rules in your life for one day, and you could do something outrageous, what would you that be?”, was Miss Universe 1997′s final question. “I would eat everything in the world. You do not understand! I would eat everything twice!”, was the answer that helped the judges deciding for her. Funny, real, bold. After all, she received the crown from a chubby Alicia Machado, Miss Universe 1996, who had gained considerable weight during her year of reign (probably from actually eating everything in the world!).

Brook will always be remembered as the Miss Universe with the aloha spirit, uncomprehended by some, loved by so many others.

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**bonner** Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:52 am

Wojtek wrote:Chelsi 58th?!?! For me she's one of the best MU from 90s!
I have impression that judges don't like Americans

maybe because they had 7 crowns..hmmm i think Sylvia is the prettiest miss USA Very Happy

**bonner** Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:00 am

55th place – Gloria Diaz (Philippines)

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(Our judges are: Greg Borowski, Willian Prendiz de Jurado, Edwin Toledo (Times of Beauty), Ricardo Guiraldes (Chilean Charm), Julio Rodriguez (Belleza Venezolana), Alberto Dubal (Miss Memorabilia), Jimmy Harris (Beauty School), Pepe Medel, Jean-Marie Vandecasteele, Andre Sleigh, Rose Foulger, Luis Trujillo. From GB, Ed Dominguez, Henrique Fontes, and Chris Kuntz)

In the year when the man first landed on the moon, the Woodstock Festival changed concepts of fashion, beauty, and behavior around the world, 18-year-old Gloria Diaz of the Philippines beat the odds and was crowned Miss Universe 1969, in Miami Beach, Florida, USA. It was the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one, and in that sense Miss Philippines’ election was very emblematic.

When the semifinalists were called, the major surprise was Gloria, the exotic underdog from the Philippines. Nobody could’ve predicted that she was moments away from being elected Miss Universe. The crowd and press huge favorite was Miss Australia, Joanne Barret, who finished as 2nd runner-up. In addition to Miss Australia, among the most applauded candidates were Misses Finland, Harriet Marita Eriksson, Brazil,Vera Fischer (a future actress who would perhaps become the most famous Miss Brazil of all times), Peru, Maria Julia Mantilla Mayer (aunt of Miss World 2004, Maria Julia Mantilla), Israel, Chava Levy (3rd runner-up), Chile, Monica Larson, Yugoslavia, Natasa Kosir, and Colombia, Margarita Maria Reyes Zawadsky.

When it was announced that Miss Finland, Harriet Marita Eriksson, was the 1st runner-up, and the short and odd beauty from the Philippines was Miss Universe 1969, there were more protests than applause among the shocked Miami Beach crowd attending the pageant. The international media heavily criticized Miss Philippines’ victory, but the Filipinos couldn’t care less, and celebrated their first Miss Universe victory for days.

For some, it was a political victory. The people of the Philippines were mostly unhappy with their participation in the Vietnam War (the government of the Philippines supported the US and sent troops to Vietnam) and showed it in public protests. Gloria’s Miss Universe victory could be a way of “calming their nerves”, once the Philippines is a nation with great appreciation for its beauty queens and their achievements.

For others, like our judge Alberto Dubal, Gloria’s victory came in good time, to break formerly established patterns and to give Miss Universe a more democratic and truly “universal” face. Dubal nicknamed Gloria “Miss Woodstock”.

Because the man first landed on the moon just a few days after the election of Miss Universe 1969, the pageant that year did not get as many newspapers’ headlines and magazine covers around the world as in previous years.

Diaz, the first Filipino and third Asian beauty to be crowned Miss Universe, became a major celebrity and a talented actress in her country. After 1969, the world (and Miss Universe) would never be the same…

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**bonner** Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:35 am

54th place – Georgina Rizk (Lebanon)

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(Our judges are: Greg Borowski, Willian Prendiz de Jurado, Edwin Toledo (Times of Beauty), Ricardo Guiraldes (Chilean Charm), Julio Rodriguez (Belleza Venezolana), Alberto Dubal (Miss Memorabilia), Jimmy Harris (Beauty School), Pepe Medel, Jean-Marie Vandecasteele, Andre Sleigh, Rose Foulger, Luis Trujillo. From GB, Ed Dominguez, Henrique Fontes, and Chris Kuntz)

1971 was the last of the Miami Beach years, after that, Miss Universe would take on the world, being held in different countries every year, mostly in Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia. To close the “Miami Beach era”, the Middle East elected its first Miss Universe, Lebanon’s Georgina Rizk.

Georgina had competed in Miss World 1970 and failed to advance to the semi-finals, so the press covering Miss Universe did not pay much attention to her in the beginning, favoring the candidates from France, Finland, Brazil, Israel and Philippines. The latest one, chosen as Miss Photogenic, surprisingly was not even a semi-finalist. Other press favorites who stayed behind were Colombia and Portugal. Both were expected to advance, but failed to do so.

Tribute: the Lebanese government issued stamps to honor its first (an so far only) Miss Universe

Speaking of surprises, there were a few good ones among the candidates who did make the cut, like the lovely Cherrie Raphaelia Creque, Miss Virgin Islands, or yet another beautiful Caribbean, Beba Franco, coming from the country which had won the title one year earlier, Puerto Rico.

After a great swimsuit presentation, Miss Lebanon was even more impressive and daring in the evening gown parade, when she hit the stage wearing a very revealing top and hot pants. She made an unforgettable fashion statement and bagged the Miss Universe crown, the first (and so far only) won by Lebanon, and the 4th won by an Asian beauty.

The other finalists were Australia, Tony Suzanne Rayward (1st runner-up), Finland, Pirjo Aino Laitila (2nd) Irene Laitila, Puerto Rico, Beba Franco (3rd), and Brazil, Eliane Parreira Guimarães (4th ). The exclusion of Miss France from the “top 5” was widely commented by the press and people in general, after all, she was considered by many the #1 front-runner for the crown that year.

Never before a Miss Universe needed so much security to attend her activities, but Georgina did a good job fulfilling her duties. However, after a few months she put on some considerable weight, making headlines around the world.

In the 1972 Miss Universe pageant in Dorado, Puerto Rico, Rizk was not allowed to crown her successor due to government restrictions because of fears of a terrorist attack. Such fears were triggered when, two months prior to the pageant, bombings occurred outside the hotel in which Miss USA, Tanya Wilson, was then staying. In addition, a group of Japanese hired by Arab terrorists, attacked the international airport in Tel Aviv and killed twenty-two Puerto Rican tourists. The Puerto Ricans were en route to the Holy Land when the massacre occurred. Lebanon did not compete in 1972 and Georgina could not be there to crown Miss Universe 1972.

She was married in 1976 to Ali Hassan Salameh, a Palestinian national with Black September, who was assassinated in 1979 by the Mossad. Georgina Rizk is currently married to renowned Lebanese singer Walid Toufic, with whom she has two children.

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**bonner** Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:37 am

Philippines is wasted beauty in 1971 Sad

**bonner** Tue Mar 29, 2011 5:57 am

53rd place – Mpule Kwelagobe (Botswana)

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(Our judges are: Greg Borowski, Willian Prendiz de Jurado, Edwin Toledo (Times of Beauty), Ricardo Guiraldes (Chilean Charm), Julio Rodriguez (Belleza Venezolana), Alberto Dubal (Miss Memorabilia), Jimmy Harris (Beauty School), Pepe Medel, Jean-Marie Vandecasteele, Andre Sleigh, Rose Foulger, Luis Trujillo. From GB, Ed Dominguez, Henrique Fontes, and Chris Kuntz)

Trinidad & Tobago hosted the last Miss Universe contest of last millennium, an edition full of surprises. To the sounds and colors of Trinidad & Tobago’s famous carnival, 84 delegates from around the globe were introduced, a record number of candidates until then. Everything ran smoothly until the semi-finalists’ were announced: and surprises among those who made it, and those who didn’t, popped up like popcorns!

Miss France, Mareva Galanter of Tahiti, later elected the most beautiful Miss Universe non-finalist until 2001, caused the major shock. She was out of contention. Others were Panama’s Yamani Saied, Brazil’s Renata Fan, Colombia’s Marianella Paccini, Slovakia’s Aneta Kuklova, Israel’s Rana Raslan (the first, and so far only, Arab Israeli to win the Miss Israel title), and Bolivia’s Susana Barrientos. It was also only that second time ever that Miss USA was left out of the semi-finals.

They gave place to surprising Ghana’s Akuba Cudjoe, Jamaica’s Nicole Haughton, India’s Gul Panag (stunning face, but completely out of shape) and the delightful Diana Nogueira of Spain (a Miss Spain finalist, the winner competed in Miss World), for many, the queen of the night.

Favorites from Venezuela, Carolina Indriago, Philippines, Miriam Quiambao (like Spain, not the original winner from her country), Mexico, Silvia Salgado, and Puerto Rico, Brenda Liz Lopez, advanced next to Misses Botswana, Mpule Kwelagobe, and South Africa, Sonia Raciti, who were expected to be semi-finalists, but nothing further than that.

A new cut, and more surprises: stunning Mexico and Puerto Rico were out. Spain, Botswana, South Africa, Venezuela and Philippines continued on the competition. After interviews and the final cut, another favorite fell: Venezuela. At that point, it looked like Miss Philippines ‘had it’, but with her contagious personality, great answers, beautiful smile and exotic looks, Miss Botswana, who two years ago had been completely ignored by Miss World judges, became the first black African to be crowned Miss Universe. Philippines was 2nd, Spain was 3rd (later elected by GB the Sexiest Woman Alive and Miss Grand Slam 1999).

In the pageant that saw all odds being broken, Mpule Kwelagobe, also the first woman from her country to compete in Miss Universe, emerged as an extraordinary titleholder, recognized and honored as a human health rights activist, especially for her fight against HIV/AIDS and advocacy for youth and women to have greater access to sexual reproductive education and services.

Among the favorites who did not please the 1999 judges, at least two went on to achieve great success in their countries: Mareva Galanter became one of the most popular television presenters in France, and a singer; Renata Fan became the first woman to lead soccer discussions in Brazil, where she remains a successful tv hostess.

On a sad note, Russia’s Alexandra Petrova was brutally murdered a few years after Miss Universe 1999.

After Mpule, no other black woman won the Miss Universe title.

In 1999, the recently born Global Beauties website covered Miss Universe for the 1st time, and from then on, it has been regarded by most as one of the best and most respected pageant-related websites in the world.

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**bonner** Tue Mar 29, 2011 6:04 am

52nd place – Norma Nolan (Argentina)

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(Our judges are: Greg Borowski, Willian Prendiz de Jurado, Edwin Toledo (Times of Beauty), Ricardo Guiraldes (Chilean Charm), Julio Rodriguez (Belleza Venezolana), Alberto Dubal (Miss Memorabilia), Jimmy Harris (Beauty School), Pepe Medel, Jean-Marie Vandecasteele, Andre Sleigh, Rose Foulger, Luis Trujillo. From GB, Ed Dominguez, Henrique Fontes, and Chris Kuntz)

In an important political year for Argentina, when it broke free from a military coup and lived times of intense cultural production, Argentina, after recently conquering the Miss World title, won its first Miss Universe title with Norma Nolan.

Miss Argentina was never a press favorite, and when she was called among the top 15, Nolan was regarded as a “dark horse”. It was after her amazing national costume and evening gown performances, when she showed unquestionable elegance and poise, that Miss Argentina started being noticed.

In an year when 11 out of 15 semi-finalists were brunettes, Norma ended up being crowned, leaving behind the two favorites for the crown, who, ironically, were two blondes: Austria’s Christa Linder (for everyone’s shock, she was just a semi-finalist), who later became an actress, and Finland’s Anja Aulikki Järvinen (2nd runner-up), who marked Finland’s return to Miss Universe’s finals after it won the title in 1952, and the beginning of great success for this Scandinavian country, which had a series of runner-ups and favorites which culminated with a second title in 1975.

Exotic countries for the time, like Dahomey (currently Benin), Morocco, and Haiti (the first black Miss Universe semi-finalist), participated in the pageant. Lebanon and New Zealand had their first Miss Universe semi-finalists ever, and the USA had its first ethnic winner: Macel Leilani Wilson of Hawaii.

If never a press favorite, Norma was very popular among the other contestants, who were very happy to see Miss Argentina being crowned as Miss Universe 1962. Not much is known about her life after Miss Universe, which she chose to keep private.

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**bonner** Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:23 am

51st place - Apasra Hongsakula (Thailand)

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(Our judges are: Greg Borowski, Willian Prendiz de Jurado, Edwin Toledo (Times of Beauty), Ricardo Guiraldes (Chilean Charm), Julio Rodriguez (Belleza Venezolana), Alberto Dubal (Miss Memorabilia), Jimmy Harris (Beauty School), Pepe Medel, Jean-Marie Vandecasteele, Andre Sleigh, Rose Foulger, Luis Trujillo. From GB, Ed Dominguez, Henrique Fontes, and Chris Kuntz)

Apasra Hongsakula was born to be a queen. After the teenager nicknamed Pook (which in Thai means fat, a nickname her mom gave her because she was a chubby baby) was crowned Miss Thailand, she was groomed and prepared to compete in Miss Universe 1965 by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, queen of Thailand, an exotic kingdom known for its beauty, rich culture and sensational cuisine.

Some of Apasra’s quality were natural elegance, silk skin and royal serenity. As a matter of fact, she lived by the royal protocol. Although short (so far she is the shortest Miss Universe ever crowned, being 1.64 m-tall), the moment she arrived in Miami Beach for her poise, beauty and extraordinary wardrobe.

If always expected to be in the “top 5”, Miss Thailand was not the number one favorite for the crown. In the “year of the blondes”, Misses USA, Sue Ann Downey, Finland, Virpi Miettinen, and Brazil, Maria Raquel de Andrade (the favorite among most competitors), all golden-hair beauties, were the front-runners, so to say.

Miss Brazil stooped in the semi-final, while Misses USA, Finland and Thailand, advanced to the “top 5” with Misses Netherlands and Sweden. Miss Thailand was the only brunette.

Holland was the 4th runner-up, Sweden the 3rd, USA the 2nd, and Finland and Thailand were left for the big moment. Miss Finland was the 1st runner-up, and the Asian doll from Thailand, Apasra Hongsakula, was crowned Miss Universe 1965. In the year of the blondes, it was an Asian brunette who triumphed.

It was Asia’s 2nd Miss Universe victory and Thailand’s first. Not the Caucasian or Latin beauty often associated to the Miss Universe crown and sash, Pook caught everyone’s attention with her exotic looks and royal manners. Ana Maria Cumba, former Miss Universe chaperone who traveled with Miss Universe 1965 to different countries and wrote the book “The World of Miss Universe”, described her as kind and considerate, but also as a beauty with a temper, who at several times arrived late at her commitments for changing cloth many times before finally leaving.

Miss Universe 1965 later married a first cousin of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit and had a son. Although the marriage ended in divorce, she is still a much revered social figure in the country, like the Royal Thai family. Apasra has been appointed “cultural ambassador” by Tourism Authority of Thailand.

57 nations competed in Miss Universe 1965. Bermuda debuted that year, with Sylvia Simons. Canada’s Carol Ann Tidey, a semi-finalist, competed later that year in Miss World and was the 4th runner-up. It was the last year when the 15 semi-finalists were announced the night before the final event.

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**bonner** Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:26 am

50th place – Riyo Mori (Japan)

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(Our judges are: Greg Borowski, Willian Prendiz de Jurado, Edwin Toledo (Times of Beauty), Ricardo Guiraldes (Chilean Charm), Julio Rodriguez (Belleza Venezolana), Alberto Dubal (Miss Memorabilia), Jimmy Harris (Beauty School), Pepe Medel, Jean-Marie Vandecasteele, Andre Sleigh, Rose Foulger, Luis Trujillo. From GB, Ed Dominguez, Henrique Fontes, and Chris Kuntz)

When Mexico City hosted the Miss Universe pageant in 2007, an Asian beauty was expected to win the title: Honey Lee of Korea. The huge favorite since the beginning, it was believed that Lee’s major threat was Greece’s Doukissa Nomikou, who caused the first big shock of the night when she was not called among the semi-finalists. Asia won indeed, but not with Miss Korea. Rather, it was Japan’s Riyo Mori who was favored by the judges.

Back to the beginning, in addition to Greece, other pre-pageant favorites who missed the cut were Spain, Dominican Republic, Colombia and Russia.

But if there were some major contenders “left in the ice”, Miss Universe 2007 also had some pleasant surprises in the top 15 and beyond, like Tanzania, who participated in the pageant for the first time, Nicaragua and Slovenia (who placed for the first time ever).

Favorites from Korea, Venezuela, Japan, Brazil, Angola, USA and the hometown girl of Mexico, all made it through the semi-finals.

Miss USA tripped in the evening gown competition, but advanced to the “top 5” under the noisy disapproval of the Mexican crowd. The other finalists were Korea, Venezuela, Japan, and Brazil, who at the final night became the main front-runner in the pageant.

USA was 5th, Korea finished in a surprising (and low) 4th place, Venezuela was 3rd, Brazil was 2nd, and Riyo Mori of Japan was crowned Miss Universe 2007. Zuleyka Rivera, the 2006 winner, crowned the second Japanese to win a Miss Universe title with a face of few friends, something that was highly criticized by the specialized press.

Mori’s victory was the culmination of a job well done in Japan. If the land of the rising sun had been a major Miss Universe powerhouse until the mid 1970′s, it virtually disappeared after that, playing a supporting role for decades, until a French woman by the name of Ines Ligron took the Japanese license over and completely revamped it. From 1998 on, Japan started sending very interesting and fashion-oriented competitors, and results started appearing in 2003, when the great Miyako Miyazaki was the 4th runner-up in Panama City.

In 2006, Kurara Chibana was the crowd favorite in L.A., and almost did won the title, finishing as 1st runner-up. Japan’s big moment finally came in 2007, with Riyo’s glory. Ines’ hard work paid off after all.

Although Riyo was an exceptional Miss Universe, Brazilians never “swallowed” her victory. They thought their own Natália Guimarães, today a television presenter with relative success in her country, was the “obvious winner”.

Riyo Mori is the first Miss Universe from the 2000′s to appear in The Most Beautiful Miss Universe 1952-2010 ranking, at the 50th position.

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**scotty2hotty** Fri Apr 01, 2011 2:37 pm

very surprised at some of their rankings. Some of these ladies are much more beautiful that some of the winners not listed yet.

**bonner** Mon Apr 04, 2011 7:35 am

49th place – Hillevi Rombin (Sweden)
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(Our judges are: Greg Borowski, Willian Prendiz de Jurado, Edwin Toledo (Times of Beauty), Ricardo Guiraldes (Chilean Charm), Julio Rodriguez (Belleza Venezolana), Alberto Dubal (Miss Memorabilia), Jimmy Harris (Beauty School), Pepe Medel, Jean-Marie Vandecasteele, Andre Sleigh, Rose Foulger, Luis Trujillo. From GB, Ed Dominguez, Henrique Fontes, and Chris Kuntz)

It was only Miss Universe’s 4th edition, but the pageant had already taken off, making headlines around the globe and grabbing the international press attention as a major international affair. Long Beach was once again home to some of the most beautiful women in the world, and Miss Universe 1955 was a very interesting contest for a variety of reasons.

Let’s start trying to explain what the pageant looked for in those years. Many don’t know, but all judges received a detailed table explaining what perfect measurements were for the time, the famous 90-60-90 cm (bust-waist-hips). Miss Universe was created and sponsored by Catalina swimwear, therefore, it’s not hard to understand why a perfect body was more important than a perfect face back then.

However, we are talking about the 1950′s, when family values were strong, and anything (or anyone) considered too sexy could not get much exposure. Voilá! Now you are ready to understand how Miss Universe 1955 and others in the 1950′s were elected.

Favorite from England: too sexy for the 1950's

When the 33 international contestants arrived in California, photographers went crazy and jumped on the sexy and voluptious Miss England, Margaret Rowe, who became an instant and major favorite for the crown.

Others who soon became front-runners for the Miss Universe crown were Misses El Salvador, Maribel Arrieta Gálvez, who was nicknamed “Central America’s Marilyn Monroe”, Sweden, Hillevi Rombin, who started getting good reviews by the press when she first appeared wearing a swimsuit (she had the most perfect figure in the pageant), the stunning and exotic Miss Ceylon (today’s Sri Lanka), who became a relatively famous Hollywood actress later on, Japan’s Keiko Takahashi, Brazil’s Emília Correia, and USA, Carlene King Johnson.

In those times, some nasty journalists got together to select the pageant’s ugliest, or should we say, less beautiful delegates, and their choices were Mexico, Yolanda Mayen (ugliest body), and Alaska, Lorna McLeod (ugliest face).

1955's Top 15

When the names of the 15 semi-finalists were announced, only one of the judges’ choices was criticized by the press: Guatemala’s María del Rosario Molina Chacón. In the strongest year for Central America ever, in addition to El Salvador and Guatemala, Honduras, Pastora Pagán, was also qualified (she remains her country’s only semi-finalist in Miss Universe history). Another of the semi-finalists, Venezuela’s Carmen Susana Duijim, did not make any waves in Long Beach, but had something bigger reserved for her later that year in London: she would become the first South American to be crowned Miss World.

Completing the group were Sweden, Ceylon, Germany, Japan, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, England (the favorite and most applauded delegate of the night), Norway and USA.

In the top 5, the only surprise was Miss Germany, Margit Nunke, who would end in 4th place (one year later, though, she was crowned Miss Europe, in Sweden). Instead of her, the so celebrated Miss England was expected to advance, but perhaps she was way too sexy for the job back then.

Happy familly: Miss Universe 55 and her 6 kids

Miss Japan was 5th, Miss Ceylon was 3rd, Miss El Salvador was 2nd, and Miss Sweden became Miss Universe 1955. The Scandinavian country had already won Miss World titles in 1951 and 1952, clearly becoming the #1 beauty power of the decade.

Back to Miss Ceylon, Maureen Hingert, who has long been revered as “putting Sri Lanka on the map” and being an ambassador to her country, appeared in several Hollywood productions, such as The King and I, Fort Bowie, Gun Fever, and so many others.

El Salvador and Sri Lanka never again placed so high in Miss Universe. In some Latin American countries, it was reported that Miss El Salvador lost the crown because she got too much of a tan the day before the pageant, and her skin was actually red when competition time arrived!

About the winner, who indeed had the most perfect body in the pageant, besides being extremely graceful and intelligent (she spoke five languages and studied Arts), Rombin was a great athlete who excelled in gymnastics, track & field, and downhill snow skiing, having won national titles.

After winning the pageant, she left Sweden for Hollywood to fulfill her acting contract with Universal Pictures, part of the prize package as Miss Universe, having appeared in a couple of movies without ever playing a major role. There Miss Universe 1955 met her future husband, with whom she had six children. Her marriage lasted for 40 years, until she, her husband and a son, died in a tragic plane accident, in 1996.

She was the first Miss Universe to pass away. Fifteen years later, in 2011, Amparo Muñoz was the second Miss Universe who died, in early 2011.

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**bonner** Mon Apr 04, 2011 7:37 am

Hilevi is one of my fav in the 50's then she placed only AT 49TH Sad

**Del** Mon Apr 04, 2011 12:47 pm

Riyo Mori only 50th???

**Wojtek** Mon Apr 04, 2011 1:03 pm

Del wrote:Riyo Mori only 50th???

Rightful place. I still don't get it why Riyo won in 2007

**bonner** Fri Apr 08, 2011 3:18 am

48th place – Karen Baldwin (Canada)

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Miss Universe 1982, the 31st annual edition of the pageant, was held at the Coliseo Amauta, in Lima, Peru on July 26, 1982. 77 contestants competed in the pageant and 18-year-old Karen Dianne Baldwin of Canada won the first Miss Universe title for her country.

Contestants run after the Miss U82 crown in Peru

It was the first time South America hosted the Miss Universe pageant, and while in Lima, the contestants stayed at the magnificent Gran Hotel Bolívar, which had been completely restored for the occasion.

New Caledonia debuted at that year’s pageant with Lenka Topalovitch. She had one of the highest preliminary swimsuit scores, but was not among the semi-finalists.

Mario Vargas Llosa, the world-famous and very talented Peruvian writter, Gladys Zender, Miss Universe 1957, and magician David Copperfield, were among the judges.

Miss Guam, Patty Chong Kerkos, was chosen as “Miss Press” days before the finals of Miss Universe 1982. Other favorites were Misses Brazil, Celice Pinto Marques, perhaps the most popular candidate among the people of Peru, South Africa, Odette Octavia Scrooby, Sari Kaarina Aspholm, Greece, Tina Roussou, and Olivia Newton-John’s lookalike Delia Frances Dolan, Miss England.

Miss Italy, Cinzia Fiordeponti, who had a very modern style and look for the early 1980′s, was another “press darling”. There was even a reception at the Italian Embassy for all the contestants. Italians believed Cinzia had a great chance to become their first Miss Universe (something that hasn’t happened yet).

The 12 semi-finalists were: Guam, Germany, Canada, Uruguay, Greece, Finland, Italy, Brazil, USA, Peru, South Africa and England. South Africa had the highest preliminary score. Among those who did not make it, surprises were Australia (who would become a “Bond Girl” and two years later would be Miss World’s 2nd runner-up), Bahamas, who had been selected as Miss Photogenic by press photographers, and Venezuela, who was expected in the sf instead of surprising Uruguay.

South Africa's low score in swimsuit remains one of the greatest Miss Universe Unsolved Mysteries!

The semi-finals eliminated early favorites from Brazil, England (Miss World’s 2nd runner-up in 1982, representing the UK), Finland (Miss World’s 1st runner-up in 1982) and South Africa. South Africa’s elimination, though, remains one of Miss Universe’s greatest unsolved mysteries. She was second in interview (behind Guam) and first in evening gown, but her score in swimsuit was considerably low (7.225, 10th place), which left her in 6th place overall and out of the top 5. Considering that the same panel of judges had voted for her in 1st place in the swimsuit preliminary competition, it is believed that a computer mistake might have ruined her chances in the competition.

Guam, the semi-final winner, Canada, who had been consistently gaining ground and was 2nd at that point, Greece, Italy, and USA (who by very little eliminated the favorite from South Africa), moved on to the ‘top 5′. The Peruvian crowd did not approve the judges’ choices: they wanted Peru, Brazil, and South Africa up there.

Miss USA was 5th, Greece was 4th, Italy was 3rd (she did not take her defeat easy, and questioned the results after the pageant was over), Guam, who many thought “had it” after leading the semi-final competition, was the 1st runner-up, and Miss Canada, Karen Baldwin, became Miss Universe 1982.

Although not a major favorite, Karen’s unquestionable beauty and elegance, and pleasant personality, made the crowd and press approve her unexpected victory. In other words, she was a positive surprise, and a very good Miss Universe.

After crowning her successor in 1983, Karen hosted The New You, a Canadian fashion and lifestyle television program and was one of the co-hosts for the 1989 Miss Universe pageant, held in Cancun, Mexico. She was also featured in the 1987 movie Who’s That Girl starring Madonna and Griffin Dunne as ‘Heather’, one of the kidnapped bridesmaids. Miss Universe 1982 now works as a film producer. Baldwin had two kids and divorced in 1996.