Movers & Shakers – My Final Picks & Thoughts Before Miss Universe

Hello! How’s everyone doing?! Been busy but I can’t help but share my insights after witnessing a Miss Universe preliminary show full of movers and shakers which have greatly influenced CHANGE on every pageant pundits’ top bets for a crown and placements. Anyhow, I’ll make this short and SWEET.

Let me start with my perceived Trump picks which can probably steal the spotlight from the more deserving girls.

Chanel, Miss Canada, has got the moves waggling while holding Trump’s golf club and it had probably made quite a huge impression on the mogul after making a hole in one! Now, the deal is she gets to have a trump card after winning a game or two and she did! Nonetheless, she still proves herself worthy of a placement being a seasoned pageant girl as she did an impressive showing during preliminaries.

Elvira’s moves are over-the-top and she comes off struggling at times. She definitely, isn’t from a humble background coming from an opulent family and it really shows on how expensive her look is throughout the pageant though utterly plain! This girl can even afford hiring a premier pageant instructor that had mentored a former Miss Universe, also recognized to have connections and much influence in the pageant circle, including MUO itself so go figure.

The girl whose first name sounds like the host city, Doral. Miss Isreal, Doron Matalon, indeed made headlines which Trump really loves for his pageant. The hullabaloo could even earn Doron enough airtime in the finals being an actual Trump pick which, I think, would be unfair to victim, Miss Lebanon, Saly Greige who was just cautious about being prosecuted in her country. Apart from these countries’ decades-long squabbles, the real argument now is was the photo taken really a selfie or just photobombing? LOL

Andjelka is pretty much seen around Trump and her beauty could easily be a Trump Card prototype. I really wouldn’t mind this possibility because she is a sentimental favorite of mine to win the crown! I have met this girl personally and she is a doll / goddess in person! One could simply stare at her and listen to her stories all day and not get tired of it. She would have aced the closed-door interviews but it is just not enough to save her when she looked disoriented during preliminaries. I am just saddened seeing her falter so this is one Trump Card I would really appreciate.

From Russia with love! I was rather disappointed with Yulia for her anticlimactic approach to this pageant. She came off strong from day one only to lose her momentum just before the preliminaries. She may look like a villainess but is actually a sweet-talker and probably, one of the more-intelligent girls in the competition. I guess Trump still owes Russia of a placement after it missed a spot during the 2013 pageant just as it hosted the most expensive year in this pageant’s history.

-TOP 15-

Melissa Gurgel may now be under everyone’s radar but it does not change the fact that this girl is a runway diva! Those twists and turns just does it for me making her no less than qualified to continue the top 5 placement streak of her predecessors.

Noyonita was fun to watch on stage and is much lively in motion. No matter how petite she is, she doesn’t get eaten up on stage alongside the others girls nor with what she is wearing. I have always liked how exotic her features are complemented with a tan which is poles apart from her fair-skinned predecessors. Having said that, I hope she pulls her hair up to show-off more of her face and neck like during the time she won her national pageant.

Though still heartbroken over Anna Andres’ inexplicable dethronement, Diana Harkusha, Miss Ukraine, has lived up to everyone’s expectations, putting up a good fight just when it REALLY mattered and that is during the preliminaries. Even if she looked like she messed up with the tanning spray on her body, tones-darker than her face, I was impressed on how she carried her gown. It looked heavy and its train is just crazy but she made it seem like she’s sashaying in the clouds.

Ziphozakhe just radiates with happiness and positivity. Her smile is contagious! Rather the most ambassadorial and diplomatic speaker in the bunch, she could run for an office and actually win it with ease. She was flawless in her immaculate white evening gown number and was simply enjoying every moment in her swimsuit. Thank God, Rolene won and we now get to witness on the Miss Universe stage, the girl with the most distinctive name in the competition, Ziphozakhe Zokufa!

Josselyn Garciglia laid all her cards on the table during the most crucial moments of the competition and I must say, she shut me up completely. Her eyes just glistened and there’s, like, this radiance surrounding her. Just when I thought she was always trite and all-cloudy the moment she set foot in Doral, I was mistaken! As I watched her walk down the stage, a Laura Elizondo just donned on me. Still smitten by her up to now.

-TOP 10-

Pimbongkod may now relax and meditate like a Buddhist monk as I sense a good chance of her making it. She is the best girl sent by her country to the Miss Universe Pageant in the last decade and in my opinion, the best Asian delegate this year! I mean, what more could we ask for? She’s tall, articulate and fairly beautiful. Haters can just go on hating but this girl is just way up there. To others, she may come off lanky and too demure but it cannot be mistaken as she definitely knows her Muay Thai and could give serious damage in this competition.

Gabriela Berrios had a praiseworthy transformation from the time she won her nationals to her days at the Miss Universe Pageant but not everyone knows that an even bigger transformation occurred in her life before winning MUPR. She has an inspiring story to tell as she was once challenged with low self-esteem and faced with harsh criticisms growing up over-heavy before being a Miss Puerto Rico. To many, she was one of the pleasant surprises of the night but I have always seen a frontrunner in her since day one.

Just when I thought Migbelis’ gown design made her look like she’s on the heavy side, the two-piece swimsuit she wore just reaffirms how she did put on the weight. And although how big she has become, this girls also has a big heart and is always gracious to the fans in Doral surrounding her all the time. A non-conforming Miss Venezuela, she does not take it all in like the usual queens from her country. She just seems to be having a good time with the girls. Her sunshiny personality and Miss Venezuela-archetype beauty should make up for everything else she lacks.

Androgyny at its finest! Though polarizing, Kaci’s beauty is simply one of a kind in this competition. That strong jawline, sported with a boyish coiffure, was evened out with a queenly sophistication. She was always on point but not too calculated during the show and its effect was just remarkable on stage.

C’mon! Give Karina Ramos a placement she rightfully deserves! And though the crowd cheered so loudly over Colombia, it just proved that a frontrunner like Paulina, isn’t really a tough act to follow. In fact, Karina even outdid Paulina performance-wise. This young achiever had a stellar performance during preliminaries and this could seal her fate in probably placing very high come the pageant night. She carried her subpar evening gown superbly and it just shows it is really not about how good or bad a gown is but on how one carries it.

-TOP 5-

The thunderous applause and laud await Paulina Vega in the finals once she makes it or even win the Miss Universe crown for Colombia but expect chairs to fly on stage if not. Her boisterous supporters cheering for her give her that extra-energy on stage, but once it dies down, it seemed that she is just another normal contestant. Her body, though, is easily the best in this batch and the rumors surrounding her, no matter how negative it is, makes her one of the most talked about contestant this year.

Camille says BYE latinas! She is proof that one does not have to be haughty or flamboyant in order to get noticed. She is always calm and collected that she almost comes off being too safe in the competition like how she was during prelims but I feel it is just how French women are. Not overbearing and always composed. Her beauty alone can put her all the way to the top. I consider her the face of the pageant this year.

Mary Jean Lastimosa is living her dream and I am just as happy along with her adoring fans as she savors every moment of it at the Miss Universe Pageant. Incredibly down to earth and genuinely friendly, a congeniality award is also a possibility for her. After witnessing her in every activity and her performance during preliminaries, I must say she just has the right mix of everything her predecessors had while competing at Miss Universe and this time around, it could just be the right ingredient in order to finally win the crown for her country after decades of waiting.

Red is definitely the color for Nia and that gown she wore was one of the BEST of the night. Probably taken for granted by pageant followers because of her USA sash, it still doesn’t keep her away from taking that crown, again, for the USA. In fact, she is just a shot away from winning as she is one of the most consistent and a well-rounded contestant in this batch. We may just have a black-belter Miss Universe this year.

Desiree can just send postcards to her hot boyfriend back in Spain as she tours the globe being the new Miss Universe! Seriously, she walks like a winner already as I watched her move on stage during preliminaries sans the crown, sash and bouquet. She is a sight to behold with such a commanding presence that even many of her fellow contestants consider her the likely Miss Universe. She can be clumsy or tacky all she wants but Miss Universe is just written all over her!

Thank you for reading and Happy Miss Universe Day!

Extinct Misses Of Miss Universe

Formed during the breakup of the Soviet Union, CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) is an international organization consists of countries which were part of the former Soviet Republics, once competed during the Miss Universe Pageant in 1992. Lidia Kuborskaya is the only known Miss CIS in the Miss Universe Pageant


There were 38 Miss Austrias in Miss Universe and it even sent candidates 32 years straight from 1959 to 1990 with highest placement by Eva Maria Düringer, first runner up to Janelle Commissiong in 1977, Elizabeth Hodacs in 1960 who was 2nd runner up, a Miss Photogenic award with Karin Schmidt in 1965 and 3 finalists. The most famous Miss Austria would probably be Eva Rueber-Staier, who was a finalist in Miss Universe 1969 and was picked among the top 10 best in swimsuit, and was an eventual Miss World later that year. She became a James Bond actress and had appeared in 3 James Bond movies.


As we come to think that Iraq would have never competed at any international beauty pageant, there was indeed the first and only Miss Iraq in Miss Universe and the only Miss Iraq to ever compete at a big 4 pageant. The beautiful Wijdan Burhan El-Deen Sulyman competed in Miss Universe 1972 in Dorado Puerto Rico, the year where there were widespread fear on terrorist attacks that even caused Georgina Rizk, the outgoing Miss Universe, to not attend the pageant along with Miss Lebanon that year.


Dahomey, now known as Benin, was once a colony of France and had its only candidate to Miss Universe in 1962, Gilette Hazoume. However, she was sick during preliminary competition and did not compete in it but was present on stage during the pageant night.


Cuba had 14 Misses in Miss Universe. Marcia Rodríguez placed in the top 15 in 1956 and third runner up the following year with María Rosa Gamio Fernández. It stopped sending girls to beauty pageants in 1967 as it was restricted in communist policy of Cuba.


Six Miss Okinawa once graced the Miss Universe Stage in the 60s (1963 to 1968). Okinawa was under the United States administration from 1945 to 1972 and is now a known prefecture of Japan.


This country in Oceania sent 10 candidates to Miss Universe from 1976 to 1986. Jennifer Abaiyjah, Miss Papua New Guinea in 1981 withdrew from the competition.

Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in the southern part of Africa existed in 1953 to 1963 now split into countries of Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The only Miss Rhodesia to walk the Miss Universe stage is Jonee Sierra in 1961.


There were 38 Miss Hong Kongs at Miss Universe with Virginia Lee as its highest placement in 1954 when she became 2nd runner up and in 1988 with Pauline Yeung who was 4th runner up in the year when Miss Universe was held in Taipei. Hong Kong now competes at The Miss China Universe Pageant since 2002 as it now is a Special Administrative Regions of the People’s Republic of China.


Tunisia had 7 Misses at Miss Universe. Zohra Boufaden was Miss Congeniality in 1969. Here we see Aida Mzali with Georgina Rizk, the eventual Miss Universe, smoking in swimsuits.


Helen Giatanapoulus is the only Miss Jordan to join Miss Universe. She participated in 1960. This is another case of the contest being banned in a country and Jordan hasn’t sent any representatives since.


Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, had 8 Misses to the Miss Universe Pageant. Pageant favorite Benita Mureka was 2nd runner up to Deborah Carthy-Deu in 1985 and the next year Likobe Dobala was in the top 10. Ombayi Mukuta in 1972 won the Miss Congeniality award.


St. Maarten, though geographically connected to St. Martin which also competed at Miss Universe in 2000 and 2006, are different island countries. This island at the Netherland Antilles had representatives to Miss Universe in 1976, 1977, 1980 and 1982.


Christine Spooner is the only Miss New Hebrides. She was a contestant in Miss Universe 1978. New Hebrides was a colonial name for a group of islands in the South Pacific and is now known as Vanuatu.


Zimbabwe sent its representatives to Miss Universe in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001; with its only placement with Corinne Crewe who were among the top 10 semifinalists in 2000.


Four Misses of Czechoslovakia competed in Miss Universe, placing the semifinals twice; Now split into Czech Republic and Slovak Republic in 1993 and were both represented in the Miss Universe Pageant thereafter. Jana Hronkova placed in the top 10 during Miss Universe Pageant in 1990


Ceylon is actually the former English name given by Brits to Sri Lanka during the British occupation. There were 12 Misses that wore the Ceylon sash at the Miss Universe Pageant and had then used Sri Lanka since 1974 after it was renamed. Maureen Hingert, Miss Ceylon in 1955 was 2nd runner up to the late Hillevi Rombin of Sweden. Shiranthi Wickremesinghe, Miss Ceylon 1973 became the first lady of Sri Lanka marrying the sixth President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa.


From the republics of Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro was represented 3 times from 2003 to 2006. These republics split in 2006 and was represented at the Miss Universe independently and from Serbia, a disputed territory Kosovo rose and have been represented to the pageant since 2008. Sanja Papic is 3rd runner up in Miss Universe 2003 and is the best and the only placement of Serbia and Montenegro


Greenland, the world’s largest island in terms of its area, sent candidates to the Miss Universe Pageant from 1987 to 1990.

Morocco had one finalist to the Miss Universe Pageant, Jacqueline Bonilla, its very first Miss placed among the top 15 candidates in 1957. It had sent 7 more candidates from the 60s to the late 70s but was stopped since the pageant was banned.

One of the richest country in the world for its opulent iron and steel industry, Luxembourg sent 27 Misses to Miss Universe by the end of the 50s to the 90s, but there hadn’t been any placement for this rich European country.


Perhaps we will never see another Miss Taiwan who had a 3rd runner placement in 1962 with Helen Liu and a 4th runner up placement in 1964 with Lana Yi Yu, because the last time its representative Chen Szu-yu tried to register as Miss Taiwan representative in the Miss Universe Pageant in 2003, an intrusion was made by the Chinese authorities and Chen was ordered to wear a Chinese Taipei sash instead of Taiwan. Miss Universe organizers however, allowed Chen to wear the Taiwan sash while off stage and so Chen had 2 sashes that year. Taiwan had 18 Misses sent to Miss Universe.


Also known as Myanmar, Burma had 3 representatives sent to Miss Universe from 1959 to 1961. In 1960, its candidate Myint Myint May won the Miss Congeniality Award sharing this with Miss Louisiana, Judy Rebecca Fletcher since Miss USA and Miss Universe were held together and both the candidates from these pageants were eligible to receive special awards. Burma also prohibited sending reps to the Miss Universe Pageant.


Now Samoa in the South Pacific Ocean, there were 6 Miss Western Samoas in the Miss Universe Pageant from 1981 to 1986.


There were 10 Miss Bonaires to the Miss Universe Pageant. It sent girls in the late 60s to the 90s with its last representative in 1999. The Leeward Antilles’ ABC islands -Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, would have had 3 years of straight placement with Taryn Mansell of Aruba placing in 1996, Verna Vasquez of Curacao placing in 1997 and Uzmin Everts of Bonaire in 1998, had she placed in the top 10 that year. Everts was one of the heavy favorites to win the Miss Universe crown in Hawaii but failed to make the cut.

The Kingdom of Swaziland, in southern Africa, sent two candidates for Miss Universe, in 1993 and 1994.


Suriname had 22 women sent to Miss Universe. Its first representative Gertrud Gummels, placed in the top 15 in 1958. It had competed as Surinam til 1982 and had used Suriname thereafter.


There were 10 Miss Cook Islands in Miss Universe from the 1980s to the late 90s. This one happy Māori island hasn’t sent any candidate to the pageant after 1999.


The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics also known as the Soviet Union. It competed as Miss Soviet Union in 1990 and Miss USSR in 1991. This socialist state of the Euro-Asian existed from 1922 to 1991. The USSR split into countries like Russia, Ukraine, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania that have been represented in the Miss Universe Pageant from then on. Yulia Lemigova was 2nd runner up during 1991 Miss Universe.


The West Indies was consists of various islands in the Caribbean that were once colonies of the United Kingdom that included Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados. There had been three representatives of the West Indies, in 1954 as Kingston, Jamaica and in 1955 and 1958 as Port of Spain, Trinidad


Margaret Rose Cools Lartigue represented this Caribbean Island Nation during Miss Universe 1985 in Florida.


Christine Hughes is the only Miss Grenada in Miss Universe. She represented her Caribbean Island country in Miami Beach Florida in 1964


The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was represented 15 times in Miss Universe and had 3 semifinalists. Yugoslavia was riven in 1992 and it is where its former member states Slovenia and Croatia are and are now sending candidates to the Miss Universe Pageant. Miss Yugoslavia however, came back in 2001 and in 2002 as the new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and renamed Serbia and Montenegro which was represented the following year. Daliborka Stojšić is the first Yugoslav semifinalist in Miss Universe 1968 and Natasha Pavlovich was top 10 during Miss Universe 1991.

There were Miss Gambias from 1983 to 1986 and Abbey Scattrel Janneh, the first Miss Gambia Miss Universe, won the Miss Congeniality award in 1983.


Bermuda had 27 Misses sent to the Miss Universe Pageant with highest placements made by Gina Swainson who was first runner up to Maritza in 1979 and then Miss World in the same year. Margaret Hill was also Miss Photogenic in 1970.


The gate to the Mediterranean, Gibraltar sent 8 representatives to Miss Universe in the 80s and 1990. Jessica Palao was Miss Congeniality in the 1984 Pageant.

Holland is a region in the western part of the Netherlands. Holland is generally used to refer to the whole of the Netherlands but its usage was disliked by its Dutch population. Holland was renamed to Netherlands starting in 1991 and just after the name change, the first woman to wear Miss Netherlands sash, Paulien Huizinga became first runner up that year. There were 34 Miss Hollands, first in 1956 and from 1958 to 1990 and just before its name was changed, Angela Visser became Miss Universe in 1989. Miss Hollands in Miss Universe had photogenic awards in 1958 and 1985 and even a best national costume award in 1964.


Guadeloupe, an overseas region of France in the Caribbean was first represented in the Miss Universe Pageant in 1977. It had 6 Misses in total, and was represented in the 80s from 1980 to 1984.


Martinique, an island in the Caribbean Sea which is an overseas region of France, debuted in the Miss Universe Pageant in 1957, the first of the French overseas region to be represented at the Miss Universe Pageant. It had four Misses in the 80s from 1981 to 1984.


New Caledonia was a French overseas territory in the Pacific and had one Miss during the 1982 Miss Universe Pageant, the beautiful and light-eyed Lenka Topalovitch.


The French Island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean was represented ten times in the Miss Universe Pageant, the most number of Misses sent to Miss Universe of a French Territory. No placements however was ever recorded by its candidates from 1977 to 1986.

Tahiti is the most known island of the French Polynesia, an overseas country of the French Republic and have placed two consecutive years, 1980 and 1981 during the Miss Universe Pageant making it to top 12 and the only French country/ territory to place Miss Universe. There were seven Miss Tahitis in Miss Universe, 1962 as its debut and from the years 1977 to 1981 and 1985. Since 1987, girls from the Overseas Territories, Departments and Regions of France, like Tahiti, Reunion, New Caledonia, Martinique and Guadeloupe can only compete at the National Pageant of France before they can earn the right to represent France at the Miss Universe Pageant. Tatiana Teraiamano, a young Tyra Banks dead ringer, was top 12 semifinalist during the 1981 Miss Universe Pageant

Alaska has been represented at the Miss Universe Pageant from 1952 to 1958 with it highest placement in the top 15 in 1957 with Martha Lehmann. Alaska was an organized incorporated territory of the US but was admitted to the Union that made it a US state since 1959. Succeeding Miss Alaskas have competed to the Miss USA Pageant since then.

Bophuthatswana has always been a part of South Africa but was once a territory set aside for its black inhabitants by the Apartheid system. It is now reintegrated to South Africa since 1994, and Alina Moeketse is the only known Miss Bophuthatswana in Miss Universe who competed in 1979.

There had been 4 Miss Transkeis in Miss Universe. It sent candidates in 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1983. Transkei is in the southeastern region of South Africa segregated for its black denizens as part of the Apartheid policy and has been reintegrated also in 1994.


The island country of Fiji once walked the Miss Universe stage in 1979 and 1981.

Miss Latvia sent candidates in 2005 and 2006. The Barbie-like Ieva Kokorevica placed in the top 10 in 2005 and was actually one of the favorites that year.

This country in West Africa sent representatives to the Miss Universe Pageant from 1974 to 1977.


Maltese women graced the Miss Universe stage 33 years straight from 1968 to 2001 but no one has ever made the cut in the pageant’s history.


There had been 5 Miss Hawaiis in Miss Universe in the years 1925, 1953, 1957, 1958 and 1959. The first ever Miss Hawaii to The Miss Universe Pageant was the first ever Miss Universe First Runner-Up when Elza Kananionapua Edsman placed second to Armi Helena Kuusela in 1952, while Geri Hoo was 2nd runner up to Luz Marina Zuluaga of Colombia in 1958. Hawaii was also an organized incorporated territory of the US until 1959 when it was declared the 50th state of the USA. It has then started sending its reps to the Miss USA Pageant the following year. In 1997, Brook Antoinette Mahealani Lee represented Hawaii at the Miss USA Pageant where she had to win in order to represent the USA prior to winning the title of Miss Universe.


This African nation in West Africa sent representatives to the Miss Universe Pageant in 1974, 1985 and 1987.


More formally known as Saint Christopher Island, Saint Kitts had two candidates to Miss Universe, 1977 and 1979.

England is a constituent country of the United Kingdom and was first represented as Miss Great Britain at the very first Miss Universe Pageant in 1952. Back in the day, England is a Miss Universe Powerhouse country. Out of its 36 Misses from 1955 to 1990, they had 10 finalists, two 4th runners up, three 3rd runners up and 2nd runners up, and a first runner up, Brenda Blacker in 1964 who gave England its highest placement at the Miss Universe Pageant. Susan Pratt however, wasn’t able to compete on stage in 1963 when she was hit by a car along with her escort while crossing a street on her first night in Miami for the Miss Universe competition. She was released from hospital just before the pageant and had appeared at the pageant seated on a chair on the stage during the final night. England also had 5 Miss Photogenic awards with Kim Carlton winning the Best National Costume at the same time in 1962 and its first representative Margaret Rowe was Most Popular Girl in Parade.

There is just one Miss Lesotho at the Miss Universe Pageant. This neighbor country of South Africa had Joan Libuseng Khoali representing her country in Acapulco Mexico in 1978.


In 1995, the island country of Seychelles had its one and only representative to the Miss Universe Pageant. Maria Payet competed in Windhoek Namibia in 1995.


Cote d’Ivoire or Ivory Caost in West Africa was represented once in 1986 in Panama City. Marie Francoise Kouame was Miss Ivory Coast in that year.

Scotland sent 29 Misses to the Miss Universe Pageant from 1961 to 1990, skipping 1987. Its first representative Susan Jones, in 1961 paced among the 15 finalist and it did fairly well in the late 70’s placing 3rd runner up in 1976 with Carol Jean Grant, 2nd runner up the following year with Sandra Bell, top 12 with Lorraine Davidson in 1979 and its last and highest placement with Linda Gallagher in 1980. This constituent country of the UK, along with Wales and England went on being represented as Miss United Kingdom and Great Britain which started in 1991.


French Guiana, an overseas region of France on the north Atlantic coast of South America, had 3 misses in Miss Universe, 1977, 1983 and 1984.


Elena Delunger Tomokane is the only Miss Micronesia in Miss Universe. She competed in San Salvador in 1975


This island country in the Indian Ocean had Jacqueline Robertson compete in 1961 and is the only known Miss Madagascar in Miss Universe.

The had been 30 Miss Wales in the Miss Universe Pageant, from 1961 to 1990. Its first representative in Miss Universe Rosemarie Frankland was 1st runner up to Marlene Schmidt of Germany in 1961. She then later on won Miss United Kingdom and represented UK at the Miss World Pageant in 1961 where she eventually won. She shared the same fate with Helen Elizabeth Morgan who was also first runner up in Miss Universe in 1974 and also winning the Miss United Kingdom then the Miss World crown in 1974 but Helen resigned 4 days after being crowned Miss World when it was found out she had an 18 month old son. Wales also had a 2nd runner up, Sian Helen Adey-Jones in 1976 , a finalist and a Congeniality award.

As much as we have lost many countries that compete in this pageant, we all hope to see other nations participating in the future. After all, Miss Universe is one of the most celebrated beauty pageants of our time. In my opinion, beauty pageants are not always about who is the fairest of the candidates or who ends up walking away with the crown. Beauty Pageants are also about making other countries and territories known to its viewers and making people aware that the not-so known motherlands also exist on this planet. XOXO

The Universe As It Was

I share with you guys this piece on how beauty pageant enthusiasm was somehow like in the late 1920’s to the turn of the 1930’s amidst the crash in market and trade. A doze of snooze, yes; but something to take your grasp on.

The “Universe” As It Was..

Controversies are nothing new to the City of Galveston in Texas. It held its Annual Bathing Girl Revue – The International Pageant of Pulchritude. This beauty pageant made headlines as Miss Chicago won the pageant over the highly-favored Miss France. It seemed like it was the battle between the New and the Old World on what should be the standard of a seamless beauty, the Aphrodite of Mythology with luminously ethereal beauty or the Cadenced Splendor of woman with narrow hip and leveled chest, as debated all over the tabloids.

Miss France during the Annual Bathing Girl Revue

The crowd-favorite Miss France lost to the home court girl Miss Chicago during the pageant

This local pageant incessantly ran out of following as it only featured home-grown beauties and so it started to capitalize on beauties elsewhere, including girls from different states of America that went as far as neighboring countries Canada and Mexico; and from these cluster of beauties, a bevy of tourists came pouring in, to observe what soon would become the derivation of Miss Universe. From then on, 32 Americans from different states competed alongside 10 girls from other countries. The pageant was like an assessment on whether the local girls could stand a chance against foreign participants. This Olympics of Physical Beauty was rather successful until the following year when the possibility of discord perforated which defied the integrity of this beauty contest.

Olga De Sa & the Consul General

Olga De Sa was Miss Brazil during the 1929 contest. She came in the hopes of becoming the first International Beauty Titleholder from her country. Her beauty was as delicate as a rose with a dimpled smile and eyes the could melt the hearts of any spectator. From the time she arrived in Galveston, she was closely monitored by the Brazil Press along with the zeal of enthusiasm of her countrymen. To Brazilian correspondents, Da Sa’s visit to the United States was tantamount to the recent visit of then US President, Herbert Hoover to Brazil; or so the Brazilians thought she were, since De Sa’s presence was not really appreciated as opposed to the expectations of her compatriots back in Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paolo that received first-hand information of De Sa’s activities during the pageant through wire dispatch.

Lisl Goldarbeiter of Austria was the first foreign Winner & is said to be the first woman to be called Miss Universe

On the day of the pageant, this unanticipated disappointment came upon the Brazilians. The vote of the panel was 6 to 1 that crowned the very first foreign contestant that is Lisl Goldarbeiter from Austria. Her fine European features and slender figure in bathing suit was much favored by the judges as seen on the headlines on every newsstands. The Brazilians were unimpressed at the outcome of the pageant. De Sa failed to place at all. Crowds, which had gathered in the streets of Rio to read the wire feedbacks, jeered loudly. The editors who had followed De Sa swore that this injustice must be countered.

Dorothy Dell

A year later, the crown was again placed to the head of an American. A lass named Dorothy Dell from New Orleans won. She was a country singer and was rather, the shortest of the contestants that year. Brazil made a strike back and held their own Miss Universe, an international beauty pageant which had drawn ladies as far as Greece, Turkey and Germany; and surprisingly, the USA was even represented on the said pageant. To every Brazilian’s delight, their hometown girl won. Yolanda Pereira was crowned and the competition ran in her favor with much ease; and of course, the blond bombshell Miss from the USA did not figure. The non-placement was like a deliberate move by organizers in order the get even with the previous year’s result at the International Pageant of Pulchritude. The judges told the press on every news published in Brazil, that they never really appreciated the Nordic beauty and specifically singled out the blond contestant from the USA, when almost half of the participants during the beauty contest are Nordic beauties from Europe.

Yolanda Pereira – Brazil’s own Miss Universe

In 1931, another European girl was crowned in Galveston. The International Pageant of Pulchritude had recovered its diverse reputation in crowning their winner and crowned the brunette Miss Belgium in their effort to divert the attention of the international media back to their beauty pageant. But, this time around, trade and markets all over the world were collapsing rapidly and beauty pageants were the least of the world’s concerns. Two more girls were crowned in the years 1932 & 1935 and pageants were then held in Belgium. The international pageant was reverted back to being just a local beauty pageant in Galveston Texas then beauty pageants were silenced in years because of world tribulation.

Olga De Sa’s name was lost to oblivion. Dorothy Dell became rising star to fame until the stardom was cut short to a fatal car accident in 1934. Dell’s co-regnant Yolanda Pereira however, live to be 90 and passed away in 2001 while Lisl Goldarbeiter whose crowning kindled an entire melee, was trapped in the holocaust that reached Europe. She married an opulent man but lost all family’s fortune during the 1938 Anschluess. Her husband negated her entire family from escaping the ravages of war and it was when they separated.

Lisl Goldarbeiter

The war ended. Most of Lisl’s relatives died during the war. She actually was one of the very few people from her clan that survived and she ended up marrying a cousin who waited for her through her years of pomp and fame as a beauty queen – all but just a wisp of memory after the war. In his eyes, Lisl’s beauty is still outwardly as she is after all, his Universe.

Name Meanings Of Miss Universe Titleholders

More often than not, beauty queen names resound in our pageant-crazed minds especially the Miss Universe winners, whose names have made it in history that always pop up in our heads each time a Miss Universe Pageant is celebrated and reminisced. Let us now get to know more about their names and find out what the actual meaning is to every Miss Universe name.


Armi means impactful, audacious and bright. The moment this beauty queen set foot on stage, these qualities simply manifested which had awed the judges. Interestingly, her second name Helena, means light, and that is just how radiant her beauty was the time she won the title.


Christiane’s name means the follower of Christ. She has the qualities of being demure and was often silent but observes everything in a larger perspective. Her way of strategizing, perhaps; but had definitely worked in her favor after winning the Miss Universe crown in 1953.


The name Miriam means rebellious but on the other hand, this quality makes her passionate in everything she does. Good thing she didn’t lose in her conquest in winning the Miss Universe title as her name also means bitter and vicious.


Hillevi is a Nordic name that means a healthy battle as of a sportsman like what this Miss Universe was as a Swedish decathlon champ, just before joining beauty pageants.


The name Carol means Champion. A winner’s name indeed as she won the Miss Universe crown in 1956. She is also a free-spirited person and is strong-willed, a characteristic of a true victor.


Gladys means the sword; And the one who holds the sword is the leader of the pack. It is why she loves adventure and is often, full of excitement for changes. Definitely, Gladys was so excited as she won the crown, for yet another life-changing experience winning the Miss Universe title.


Luz means light, and is known to have strong a desire to express herself. She simply lights up a room full of people with her glow. Her second name Marina, is of the sea and it is how fluid she is as she moves on the Miss Universe stage.


Born amid the autumn foliage in Japan, Akiko means autumn child in Japanese. The splendor beauty of the Autumn season, light and bright in color, is like the beauty of this first Oriental Miss Universe.


Linda, a common and well-known name which means pretty. Beautiful as it always sounds, Linda is charismatic; that often influences people surrounding her.


Marlene is a compound of Maria Magdalene is also known as the woman from Magdala where Magdalene was from. A person from the tower, or someone of opulent origins, like what this Miss Universe was because her beauty is, somewhat, akin to royalty worthy of a crown.


Norma is paradigm of beauty in the year 1962 when she won the Miss Universe title. Paradigm also means pattern and it is actually the meaning of the name Norma. Her second name Beatriz, however, means the voyager.


Ieda was rewarded of the most beautiful title in the world of beauty pageants back in 1963 as she was crowned Miss Universe. Her name means a gift, and that is what she was to her countrymen being the first Miss Universe from Brazil.


The name Corrina means Maiden; and this fair maiden captured the hearts of many when she won the Miss Universe title in 1964 being the only Greek winner in the pageant’s history thus far.


Apasra is the female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Budhist mythology. It is also referred to as supernatural female beings known for its youthful and elegant beauty. She moves gracefully on stage as Apsara’s are superb in the art of dancing.


The Scandinavian name Margareta means a pearl and she was as precious as this prized gem from the sea is, when she became the second Miss Universe from Sweden back in 1966.


The name Sylvia was derived from silva which means wood and the name of this fourth Miss Universe winner from the USA, means “from the forest”. Indeed, Sylvia was as lush as the forest greens, the year she reigned Miss Universe.


The name Martha basically means lady but in its biblical meaning, it means irritating. Nonetheless, she was nowhere near irritating as she was hailed the most beautiful woman in the universe back in 1968.


The name Gloria actually is close to how its meaning sounds – glory; She indeed attained glory as she was proclaimed Miss Universe in 1969 and is the first Filipina to win the title in an eventful year when man first landed on the moon.


Marisol means sea and sun. Her beauty was a sight to behold like the sun setting by the sea and is the first Miss Universe from Puerto Rico, winning the crown in 1970.


Georgina means the tiller of the soil; a farmer. And like any diligent crofter, she had worked her way up to winning the Miss Universe crown in 1971.


The name Kerry means dark and dusky but Kerry shined on the Miss Universe stage back in 1972 that eventually earned her the crown. The first Miss Universe from Australia showed confidence and grace which actually is the meaning of her second name Ann.


Margarita is the Spanish word for daisy and she was as beautiful and delicate as this flower when she competed during the Miss Universe Pageant held in Athens, Greece back in 1973; the first time the pageant was held in Europe.


Amparo means shelter or protection and no matter how hard the criticisms were after she gave up her Miss Universe crown, she was protected of her title and she still is enlisted as Miss Universe 1974.


Anne Marie is the second Finnish Miss Universe and her name Anne means kindness but it is quite unexpected that a well-known name like Marie, which is her second name, actually means the sea of sorrow.


Rina means a joyous song in Hebrew; her name became a household name in her country, Israel, when she won as Miss Universe in 1976. Rina’s name also means peaceful in other derivations.


The name of the first black Miss Universe, Janelle, means “God has been gracious”; and it really happened as God had blessed her generously when she won the Miss Universe title in 1977.


As the name Margaret is known to be a name of a saint, it also means, the child of light. Indeed fitting for a queen with such glowing beauty, winning the Miss Universe title in 1978.


Maritza’s name means, from the sea. In its Spanish origins, Maritza also means beloved and that is what she had become to her countrymen as she is Venezuela’s first Miss Universe winning the title in 1979.


The name Shawn means a gift from God, and that is what she is to her adoring parents from South Carolina, and eventually, to her home state as she became the fifth Miss USA to become Miss Universe when won the crown in 1980.


Irene means peaceful. The serene beauty of blond Venezuelan, Irene had just entranced the judges back in 1981 as she was adjudged Miss Universe in 1981 making her, the second Miss Venezuela to win this coveted crown.


The name Karen means pure and innocent; and just as this Canadian beauty seemed naïve, her spotless performance during the pageant had made her Miss Universe in 1982. Her second name Dianne means divine and that is how she looked like wearing her crown.


Lorraine means someone made famous during a battle and as this Kiwi beauty battled it out at the pageant during Miss Universe 1983, she won the crown, becoming the first and only Miss New Zealand to win the Miss Universe title.


The Archer; it is what the name Yvonne means. And this young lass just hit the bull’s-eye at the Miss Universe pageant in 1984 becoming the third Swedish beauty queen to win the Miss Universe crown.


The name Deborah actually means a bee and she indeed made a huge buzz as she won the Miss Universe title in 1985 becoming the second Miss Puerto Rico to win Miss Universe. In the bible, the name Deborah is of a prophetess who summoned a battle against the army of intruders.


The name Barbara means a traveler from a foreign land and it is quite fascinating that she actually comes from Spain and had traveled to Venezuela, eventually winning her national title and went on to represent Venezuela at the Miss Universe Pageant in 1986 where she emerged victorious.


Cecilia means a famous bearer and it was what she had become acquiring the crown when she won Miss Universe in 1987. Her name also comes from the blind saint Cecile, who is the patron saint of Music.


The two syllables in the name Porntip have meanings. Porn means a blessing or happiness whereas Thip or Tip means celestial or divine. If combined, it means a blessing from a celestial being or a divine blessing.


Angela’s name speaks for itself. It means Angel or the messenger from God. The angelic beauty of Angela graced the covers of magazines and even much more after winning the Miss Universe crown in 1989.


The name of Mona means noble; it is what she has always been to her compatriots as she brought honor to her country when she earned the prestigious Miss Universe crown in 1990.


While the name Lupita is always known as just the abbreviation of Guadalupe, it also means from an abundant river of black stones and water wolf that is actually a freshwater fish.


The name Michelle means someone close to God or someone who is god-like. Tall and statuesque Michelle was somewhat ethereal, the day she competed for the title, Miss Universe in 1992.


It is interesting to know that the name Dayanara, apart from its meaning – kindness & heavenly, which she actually was, wearing an immaculate white gown during the finals of Miss Universe 1993; also means a husband destroyer from its Greek derivation. Talk about her controversial breakup with Marc Anthony years back.


Hindi name Sushmita actually means, a good smile; and the benevolence to her grin, plus her unmatched eloquence had worked in her favor, the time she competed in 1994 during the Miss Universe Pageant in spite of many stunners that made it with her in the finals.


Chelsi is such a cutesy name but it in fact means, port. The meaning itself became substantial as Chelsi became the first biracial Miss USA to win the Miss Universe title in 1995 harboring such beauties on the said beauty pageant thereafter.


The name Alicia means sweet and honest and someone with a noble humor; these were the traits that definitely showed during Alicia’s interview at the pageant. One of Alicia’s first names, Yoseph actually means God’s generosity; and, oh, what a blessing her victory was!


Brook means by the stream but her second name Mahealani means a heavenly moonlight or a rare gem. It is also interesting to know that Mahealani means a beautiful fun-loving girl, which Brook had definitely shown during her Miss Universe heydays.


Wendy’s name means family or a wanderer and she had indeed travelled the world after winning the Miss Universe crown in 1998, making her the second Trinidadian to win this beauty title.


Born on a rainy day, Miss Universe 1999 was given the name Mpule, which was derived from the Setswana word Mot and Lalepula that means, the one who comes with the rain.


The name Lara has different meanings; cheerful, protection and even famous; which Lara had become when she won the Miss Universe title in the year 2000 after a rare unanimous vote by the jury.


The name Denise means abundance and it was also derived from its Greek origins that means, the follower of Dionysius – The God of Wine.


Dethroned but one of the most beautiful and celebrated Miss Universe titleholders of all time, Oxana holds a Russian name which means hospitable; a trait she would have emanated had she been given the chance to keep her title as Miss Universe in 2002.


As the runner up to Oxana, Justine assumed Oxana’s place as Miss Universe in 2002. The name Justine means just and upright and it actually is what the organization had stood up for when it let Justine took over Oxana’s place after not fulfilling her duties as Miss Universe.


The name Amelia means the defender. After all the undesirable grapevine that surrounded her while competing in Miss Universe 2003, she defended herself as a worthy contestant, only fitting of the Miss Universe title. Her name also means industrious and it indeed showed when she was said to have raised most funds for the organization during her reign.


Jennifer means white and fair and it indeed turned out that way as she was hailed the fairest of them all when she won the Miss Universe title in 2004. The name also means soft and smooth; both happened to be Jen’s noticeable physical attributes.


Although Natalie was born in November, her name actually means, born on Christmas Day. Her victory, however, was celebrated like Christmas day by fans all over the world after her well-deserved victory in 2005 during the Miss Universe Pageant.


Zuleyka had started the fierce era in Miss Universe and she was indeed remarkable like what her name actually means – a splendorous beauty. She was sleek and polished during her metal chains evening gown number and her solid performance during the show was indeed splendid!


As much as it was perceived that the name Riyo is the Japanese equivalent for Rio which means river, Riyo in Kanji actually means, world of truth or reason. Speculations may have intensified after she won the Miss Universe title in 2007 but the truth of the matter is, that Riyo did well on stage during the pageant.


The name Dayana means heavenly and that is what she was at the pageant; a sight to behold as she twirled in her canary yellow Stracia gown! Her second name Sabrina means a legendary princess and that is what she had become bringing the Miss Universe crown back to Venezuela after twelve years, back in 2008.


Stefania probably has the most applicable name related to the Miss Universe crown. Her name means garland or a crown worn on the head; a name just right for a Miss Universe-crowned contestant.


To be heard or to listen intently is what Ximena means. Her name was heard all over the news as she won the Miss Universe title in 2010, making it two Miss Universe crowns for Mexico to date, bringing joy to the hearkening countrymen of Ximmy.


The name Leila means nocturnal or born in the night. It also means dark beauty which Leila really is, making her the first Angolan to win the Miss Universe title back in 2011.


Olivia means olive which is the symbol of peace. Her second name Frances means a freeman which pretty much says on how spontaneous and carefree she was every time she speaks, specifically at the Miss Universe Pageant.


The female counterpart of the archangel name Gabriel; the name Gabriela means God’s given strength to a person. She definitely showed many of these strengths during the Miss Universe competition in 2013. Her moniker Molly means bitter but it was actually derived from another word nicknamed after her by a parent, when she was born a big baby.

Now that we know the meaning of all Miss Universe names, not only we can appreciate how beautiful these beauty queens are during their Miss Universe reigns, but also know what makes their name special every time we hear it. Who knows… We fairies might consider propagating one day and think of having our own children, naming them after these beauty queens that we have come to admire and appreciate from years of watching beauty pageants.

The Miss Venezuela Trivia Of The Queens

The Miss Venezuela contest has been around since 1952 and in its over six-decade long existence, it had many interesting beauty queen stories taken into account, especially of its past titleholders. I have gathered some of the many intriguing trivia about these Miss Venezuela titleholders and its organization that are worth remembering for every beauty pageant advocates’ knowledge.

Irene Layling Sáez Conde, Miss Venezuela 1981, had a conservative upbringing at a young age that her father had to be persuaded many times before Irene was allowed to compete at the Miss Venezuela Pageant. Irene studied in an abbey and so the more she was prohibited to participate. Her parents finally agreed given the condition that their daughter Irene, would only wear a swimsuit twice; during the press presentation and during the finals of Miss Venezuela. But a series of events had changed it drastically as she won the actual pageant and was even sent to compete at a South American pageant just before competing at the Miss Universe Pageant where she won one crown after another.

Maria Antonieta Campoli won Miss Venezuela at the tender age of sixteen, making her the youngest winner of this revered beauty pageant. An Italian-born, she is a naturalized Venezuelan and had represented Venezuela during the Miss Universe Pageant in 1972 when the pageant was held in Dorado, Puerto Rico where she finished third place. The age, however, did not become the issue when she competed in Puerto Rico, but her actual citizenship until the then president of Venezuela proclaimed that she is indeed Venezuelan by laws of the constitution, having been in the country before the age of five.

Veruska Tatiana Ramirez, Miss Venezuela 1997, once worked as a waitress in Tachira. She was actually discovered by Marena Bencomo, Miss Venezuela 1996 as Veruska asked for an autograph during one of the beauty queen’s tour in the city. Rather impressed by Veruska’s beauty and commanding height, she was convinced by Marena to travel to Caracas to try out for the Miss Venezuela Pageant. As soon as Veruska was seen By Osmel Souza, she was granted, right away, of the Miss Tachira sash, the state where she hails from. It was a close fight between her and Osmel’s favorite candidate, Cristina Dieckmann, Miss Venezuela-World in 1997, but it was destined to be a fairytale ending for Veruska when she won the Miss Venezuela crown. She would eventually become first runner up in Miss Universe 1998, and held the highest televised swimsuit score at 9.855, until the record was broken by the Goddess Oxana Federova during Miss Universe 2002 with a 9.88.

Mariángel Ruiz Torrealba, Miss Venezuela 2002 is said to be one of the most natural-looking Miss Venezuela. Not that it is something to brag about, since she had to go through the scrutiny of Osmel Souza after winning the Miss Venezuela title; but it was said that Ruiz was recommended to undergo enhancement procedures to please Osmel’s ideal beauty palette but this Miss Venezuela was said to be belligerent, refusing to everything at her own will. The Miss Universe Pageant season was fast-approaching but it was reported that a Miss Venezuela would not be sent to compete in Panama City for sponsorship reasons or just maybe, Osmel did not want to send her or even create news that time about Miss Venezuela. Ruiz still participated that year and was said to have assistance from pageant organizers and sponsors that year in order for her to compete in Panama. She placed second to Amelia Vega in 2003, who also trained in Venezuela in preparation for the Miss Universe Pageant.

One of the tallest Miss Venezuela is Eva Lisa Ljung, Miss Venezuela 1989. She actually lived most of her life in Sweden as a kid. She visited Venezuela at the age of sixteen, and was quite tall for her age with Barbie-like features, the krypton of Osmel Souza. As soon as she was seen by Osmel, the czar said she had to win Miss Venezuela. Problem is that Eva, is not a naturalized Venezuelan and did not even speak good Spanish. This, however, did not stop Osmel at all. With Osmel’s contacts from the government, her papers were ready in just a matter of hours just so she can participate. She was immediately put with the Lara sash and eventually won the Miss Venezuela Pageant as promised. Ljung competed in Miss Universe 1989 where she placed among the top ten.

Elluz Coromoto Peraza González had the shortest reign of Miss Venezuela ever! She reigned for only thirty-six hours, to be exact, as she chose marriage over her title. While in strict supervision of her parents, especially after winning the title, the young Elluz said she would only go out to buy ice cream but went on missing for hours, only to sneak out to marry her then boyfriend. Her first runner up Judith Castillo, took over her throne in a rather, emotional ceremony turning over the Miss Venezuela crown, robe, and sash. Judith went on to become first runner up to Rina Messinger of Israel in 1976 Miss Universe, making this the highest runner up placement of Venezuela on the said pageant in the seventies.

It has always been known that the oldest Miss Venezuela winner would be at the age of 24, the age when Vanessa Goncalves, won the Miss Venezuela Pageant but the grapevine tells otherwise as the oldest winner was in fact Yajaira Vera, Miss Venezuela 1988. As one of the beauty czar, Osmel Souza’s protégée, the documents stating her real birth were somehow modified in order to make her four years less her actual age. The speculations had been denied but she is already a doctor the time she competed in pageants. It indeed justified what the usual age of doctors are in Venezuela – 28 years old at the very least!

Miss Venezuela 1986, Barbara Palacios, is the first Miss Venezuela to have won the national title, with an existing degree. She already had a degree as publicist the time she was crowned Miss Venezuela. Interestingly, Barbara is also a naturalized citizen of Venezuela and is actually Spanish by blood. She went on to become Venezuela’s third Miss Universe after her victory in Panama City during Miss Universe 1986.

Miss Venezuela 1993, Minorka Marisela Mercado Carrero, had represented Venezuela in two international competitions. First being a pro-volleyball athlete during the IV FIVB Jr World Cup Volleyball competition just before being discovered to compete for the Miss Venezuela Pageant; and then winning the national beauty title to compete during the Miss Universe competition in 1994 held in Manila, Philippines where she placed second runner up to Sushmita Sen.

Paola Ruggeri, Miss Venezuela 1983, was also a professional athlete before winning the Miss Venezuela Pageant. She placed among the top twelve finalists at the Miss Universe Pageant held in Missouri where she was the only contestant from a Latin American country to make the cut in 1983. Her svelte figure indeed showcased a swimmer’s gait and grace, all at the same time, during the swimsuit completion.

Venezuela has always been known for its cosmetic and surgical procedures done to its beauty contestants to enhance their features; but the first Miss Venezuela to actually admit to have gone under the knife, was Miss Venezuela 1975, Maritza Pineda Montoya. Right after winning the title, this beauty queen had the audacity as she openly said how the nose job just before completing at the Miss Venezuela Pageant, had indeed worked in her favor. Maritza says, she has never been happier of the outcome of her newfangled nose as much as it was winning the Miss Venezuela crown.

The late Maye Brandt, Miss Venezuela 1980, had ended her life, afire herself with a gunshot wound that had caused her death at the age of twenty-one, only a couple of years after winning her title. All sorts of speculations had circulated stating what had caused this beauty queen’s depression and one of it was that her actor husband was caught in the act with another man. Incidentally, the gun she used to herself was one of the gifts she received after winning the Miss Venezuela title, given by a friend who was a high-ranking police officer.

It has always been known that Maritza Sayalero is the first Miss Venezuela to win the Miss Universe crown but it is interesting fact that this country had almost won this title back in the sixties. During the Miss Universe Pageant in 1967 held in Miami Beach, Florida, Mariela Perez Branger, Miss Venezuala 1967, had tie scores with Silvia Hitchcock, Miss USA, during the finals. A tiebreaker had to be made that time, so the two contestants were called back to the stage for further judges’ deliberation. It was then decided that Silvia Hitchcock is Miss Universe, leaving Branger in second place, edged-out with just a few marks.

Bella La Rosa, Miss Venezuela 1970, had a twin sister, Linda, whom she replaced as a contestant during the Miss Venezuela Pageant in 1970. Linda had to leave the contest due to a supposed horse-riding accident but it was said that she did not really wanted to compete in the first place. Like any other twins growing up, they had often been compared to one another on who was more beautiful, but as Bella won the Miss Venezuela crown, she did not just prove this to her family but also her country, or rather, the whole world, as she placed among the top fifteen semifinalists at the Miss Universe Pageant in 1970.

Marena Josefina Bencomo Gimenez, Miss Venezuela 1996, comes from a well-off family in Valencia. She is a daughter of a prominent lawyer in Carabobo. It was said that during the time she competed, her father had made a huge advertising campaign to promote the candidature of the aspiring beauty queen daughter then, it was no surprise that this campaign certainly ran in her favor as she won the Miss Venezuela title that year. She went on the compete during the Miss Universe Pageant in Miami Beach, Florida in 1997 where she placed first runner up to Brook Lee of the USA.

The only Miss Venezuela to compete in both Miss Universe and Miss World is Carmen Susana Duijm Zubillaga, Miss Venezuela 1955. She placed in the top fifteen of Miss Universe on the same year but was again, invited to compete at another beauty pageant, Miss World, later that year where she eventually won and became Venezuela’s first Miss World and the first Latina to ever win this crown.

The first Miss Venezuela of color is Lucbel Carolina Indriago Pinto, Miss Venezuela 1998. As much as her victory was celebrated being the first Miss Venezuela of black heritage, it was said that Osmel Souza, known over the years in favoring European-looking Caucasian girls, was only strategizing that year upon knowing that the Miss Universe Pageant the following year, would be held in Trinidad and Tobago, a predominantly black country. No matter what the true reason is behind this victory, it indeed surrounded this Miss Venezuela a huge buzz just before arriving at the Miss Universe Pageant, resulting to being one of the favorites that year and placing among the top six finalists.

These are just some of the stories behind this successful national beauty pageant shrouded by time but are still worth remembering. This just goes to show how the people behind this organization especially its guru, Osmel Souza, have been really keen in honing, creating, and training successful beauty queens of Venezuela over the years; making this country the trailblazer in all international beauty pageants with all of its crowns and placements combined.

Beauty Pageant Coincidence & Incidents

To gain knowledge about beauty pageants and its many interesting trivia is what this particular research is all about! And now, I have put together these coincidences and incidents from beauty contests and its contestants over the decades.

Coincidence for a Commonwealth Nation

 

The Miss Universes 1976 and 1979 pageants were held in Hong Kong and Perth, Australia which are Commonwealth Nations. Coincidentally, the editions of Miss Universe in these years acknowledged all girls from the British Isles – England, Scotland and Wales, and all had made it to the semi-finals on both years. The only other year with all British Isles contestants in the semifinals was in the 1961 Miss Universe Pageant in Miami Beach, Florida USA.

Miss Universe 1976

Miss Universe 1979

 

Mall Bank Robbery Incident

Miss America 1988, Kaye Lani Rae Rafko of Michigan, was signing autographs at a mall when a loud alarm of a bell rang. The bank inside the mall had just been robbed! The police ran in chase of the bank robber and had even passed by the beauty queen. Bewildered Kaye Rafko was asked by the rushing police officer, ”Have you seen a bank robber come this way?” Nodding in the direction of the long line of waiting fans for her autograph, she replied to the officers, “Not unless he had stopped for an autograph.”

Mother and daughter Incident 

Following the footsteps of Venezuela’s first Miss World in 1955, Susan Duijm Zubillaga, is no other than her daughter, Carolina Cerruti Duijm, who was first runner-up in Miss Venezuela in 1983 that earned her the right to represent Venezuela to the Miss World Pageant. As much as it was talked about then, Carolina failed to make it as semifinalist of the 1983 Miss World Pageant.

In the same year of Miss World where Carolina Duijum competed, Unnur Steinsson, Miss Iceland and Miss World 1983 fourth runner up, was already pregnant to Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir who went on to become Miss World 2005 – The most successful feat attained of a mother-daughter pageant contestant in the big 4 pageant.

The Cheating Boyfriend: Both Coincidence and Incident in the same Pageant

In the 1958 Miss America Pageant, two finalists surprised the American audience and host Bert Parks by a sudden chitchat of two pageant contestants. They have just discovered backstage that they shared a common boyfriend, a two-timer military cadet. Miss Iowa pronounced on national TV calling out sarcasms to the cheating cadet boyfriend saying, “I think he has two very lovely ex-girlfriends.” “She said it very well,” said Miss California Lorna M. Anderson who was then 3rd runner up. A coincidence is that both girls had to be in the same pageant only to find out that their boyfriend, who happened to be the same guy, is cheating on them and an incident of a sudden outburst of emotion that had led to humiliate their cheating boyfriend live on national television.

Coincidence: Two well-known Asian Actresses happened to be in one Miss World Edition

In Miss World 1983, two Asian beauties became well-known actresses internationally.

Michelle Yeoh at the Miss World 1983 Parade of Nations

Michelle Yeoh on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Michelle Yeoh, the known Malaysian-Chinese actress who starred in the Academy Award-winning film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and the James Bond movie, Tomorrow Never Dies, was a former Miss Malaysia. She won the Miss Malaysia Pageant in 1983 where she got the right to represent Malaysia in the 1983 Miss World Pageant.

 Maggie Cheung at the Miss World 1983 Parade of Nations

Maggie Cheung, a Hong Kong actress known for her role as Flying Snow in the 2002 critically acclaimed movie HERO alongside Zhang Ziyi and Jet Li. She is the first Asian actress to have won at the Cannes Film Festival. She was a semifinalist at the 1983 Miss World pageant.

From the fight scene of Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung) and Moon (Zhang Ziyi)

 The Flowers Incident

During the Moscow Beauty 1988 contest, a pageant celebrating Soviet reforms, Maria Kalinina was chosen as the first winner of Muscovite beauty queen. The communist stage crew could not take his eyes off the very sexy newly-crowned winner.

As Maria was being crowned, the guy in charge of sprinkling the new crowned queen with flowers from an overhead bin was so distracted that he accidentally dumped the entire bin loaded with flowers on Maria, knocking off the crown from her head. Flabbergasted Maria ducked for cover as the whole bin of flowers poured over her.

 

She is now an actress and had played a role as Countess Elizabeth Bathory in the 2006 horror flick, Stay Alive.

 

Spell J-A-P-A-N Coincidence

In the 1970 Miss International pageant in JAPAN, the audience may have already had a hint on who was going to win during the pageant. In the earlier years of Miss International, the runners up usually stand beside the Miss International winner who is always in the middle, placed alternately from the left. On that particular pageant, Japan was fourth runner-up, New Zealand was third runner up, Australia was 2nd runner up and Argentina was first runner up. And, of course Miss Philippines Aurora Pijuan was the winner. If you arranged the runners up alternately with the winner Philippines in the middle, the first letter of each country will spell JAPAN.

 The Metal Post Incident

Oprah Winfrey – Miss Black Tennessee at 18

As the Queen of Talk, Oprah Winfrey, won Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant at the age of 18, the famous ABC World News Anchor, Diane Sawyer, won at about the same age during the 1963 America’s Junior Miss pageant.

Diane Sawyer was America’s Junior Miss in 1963

As Diane Sawyer competes in the America’s Junior Miss Pageant, most of the pageant judges thought Sawyer to be way too serious and composed to be considered a teen titleholder until a silly incident changed the judges’ minds.

While the rehearsals happened, nearsighted Diane walked headfirst hitting a metal post in front of the judges. Young Diane burst into child-like giggles from being serious. Entertained and captivated at the same time by her silliness due to this incident, most of the judges changed their votes in Sawyer’s favor and that night, she was proclaimed 1963 America’s Junior Miss.

Teen beauty queen Diane Sawyer 

Diane Sawyer poses with runners-up after winning the 1963 America’s Junior Miss pageant.

Incident: Filmfest Scandal

Viveka during the Manila Film Fest

Miss World 2nd runner up in 1993 Sharmaine “Ruffa” Gutierrez of the Philippines and Miss Mauritius World 1993 and Miss Mauritius Universe 1994, Viveka Babajee were roommates in the Miss World 1993 pageant. Months later after The 1994 Miss Universe pageant in Manila, Viveka got involved in the Manila Film Fest Scandal where Ruffa was falsely named the winner of best actress in the event as announce by Viveka. Miss Mauritius-Viveka fled the country and was later stripped of her national title.

Viveka was also best known for her KamaSutra condom advertisements in India. She achieved success in India after her Kamasutra stint and had an event management business. It is in June 2010 that she was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her apartment. The suicide was said to be due to depression breaking up with her boyfriend, Gautam Vohra.

 

Viveka Babajee print ads for Kamasutra

 

Two-Country Coincidence

In the year that Venezuela and India both had Miss Universe and Miss World winners from the same batch of national winners, their Miss Universe winners of 1994 and 1996 both crowned Miss USA as their Miss Universe successors with their OWN country being first runner-up.

Sushmita Sen crowned Chelsi Smith of the USA, with Manpreet Brar of India as first runner-up while Alicia Machado crowned Brook Lee of the USA with Marena Bencomo of Venezuela as first runner-up.

 Same Country in one country winner Coincidence

The first time that Hong Kong hosted an international beauty pageant was during the 1976 Miss Universe. The second time the country hosted for a pageant was in 1985 for the Miss Asia Pacific beauty pageant. The interesting coincidence is that in both pageants, it was won by Miss Israel.

Miss Universe 1976 won by Rina Messinger of Israel

 

Miss Asia Pacific 1985 won by Nurit Mizrachi of Israel

 

Amazing Coincidence for the Philippines’ Crown Winners

When the Philippines won crowns for Miss International 1964 (Gemma Teresa Cruz), Miss Universe 1973 (Maria Margarita Moran), & Miss International 1979 (Melanie Marquez), their respective 1st runners-up were all Miss USA’s.

And when the Philippines won Miss Universe in 1969 (Gloria Diaz), Miss International 1970 (Aurora Pijuan), & Miss International 1979 (Melanie Marquez), their respective 4th runners-up were from Japan.

The No-Show Incident of A Beauty Queen Prima Donna

Norma Smallwood – Miss America 1926

Miss America 1926 Norma Smallwood of Tulsa Oklahoma was in argument with the pageant officials of Miss America when she refused to return to Atlantic City, the city where she won the Miss America pageant, in order for her as the titleholder, grace the festivities in the city unless the organizers pay her $600 that she demanded as fee for her appearance during the festivities. The titleholder had shown how important she is that the organizers must abide to what she demands, or so she thought. The organizers refused to her demand and the beauty queen was a no-show.

The incident on how the “Miss United States” sash came to be

On several occasions before and during the period from 1982 to 1991, the Miss USA pageant used to send their first runners-up to the Miss World pageant. Then Miss World America was created but had only lasted until 1994. After Miss World America, another pageant called Miss United States World was created and it was when the American delegates to the Miss World Pageant are called “Miss United States” and United States are on their sash instead of USA.

Academy Award Winning actress Halle Berry was one of the Miss USA first runners up sent to the Miss World Pageant in 1986. She was Miss Ohio in Miss USA 1986 and first runner up to Christy Fichtner of Texas who became first runner up to Barbara Palacios of Venezuela in the 1986 Miss Universe.

 The Incident with the Press went out of hand!

Pamella Chaudry Singh, Miss India 1982 turns out to be an investigator for the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. The tabloids persecuted Pamella for many months for this. On her trip to Bali with a friend, a press vehicle that followed them around had bumped into their motorcycle that caused them to crash. Their faces were badly burnt but nobody helped them to a hospital because of the hate amidst the controversy she was in. With no one helping them, Pamella and her friend who is a nurse, tried stitching each other’s faces using a boiled needle and a thread from their bootlace which injured their face even more.

 

Three weeks after the incident, Pamella’s , condition got worse that she could have died from the infection. It took her a year to recuperate and for her skin to heal back after series of surgeries. She got involved in the most unimaginable scandals that even her mother denounced her as being a daughter publicly. She herself admits to having regret trusting the wrong people in her life that led to hard luck.

Adriana Alves de Oliveira – Miss Brazil 1981 and Miss Brazil World of 1984.

And the last coincidence on this thread goes to Adriana Alves de Oliveira. The coincidence is that she lost to a Venezuelan winner and a Canadian first runner-up on both pageants she attended, Miss Universe and Miss World.
At Miss Universe 1981, Adriana lost to Venezuelan Irene Saez – Miss Universe 1981 with Miss Canada, Dominique Dufour placing first runner up. Adriana was 3rd runner up in this pageant.

At Miss World 1984, Adriana once again lost to a Venezuelan winner Astrid Carolina Herrera, Miss World 1984 with the first runner-up Connie Fitzpatrick of Canada. Adriana placed fifth runner up in this pageant.

 

All About Pageant Question & Answer

I have been watching beauty pageants like, since 8 years old, but I am not a frustrated beauty queen nor I wanted to become Miss Universe; and no, not even Miss-Corner-of-My-Room-Universe LOL

Yeah, we are well aware on how beauty contests celebrate femininity and all that cliché, but in my years of watching beauty pageants, it is like waiting for a train wreck to take place, well, make that trains with fake boobs and big hair. Kidding!

Well, in respect to beauty queen hopefuls that I have watched throughout years of pageant fanaticism, they indeed got what it takes to win. Or so I thought.

In years of watching beauty pageants, I have taken quite a few points to avoid the most common mistakes to answering the deal-breaker FINAL QUESTION, which is at times, the sole determinant on what the beauty contest outcome would be and so to prevent the most qualified and competitive beauty queen wannabes to crash & burn during the final question part. I know right?! The part where the favorite girls in the finals trip off in answering the final question. And yeah, even worse than tripping in stilettos.

Now, like the annual pageants, this seems to have been a yearly incident… The beautiful Glamazon, front-runner girl-since-day-one and clear winner, with an average swimsuit and evening gown scores of 9.98 and 9.99 in her show-stopper evening gown and Victoria’s Secret Angel strut – reaches the final round of the contest THEN,

a) She picks the wrong judge THAT

b) asked a “close to impossible to-answer-appropriately” question THEN

c) BOOM! – There goes her chances……. The favorite Miss self destructed right before MILLIONS of viewers.

Now, the judges nor the viewers could care less about facts in this part of the competition. The question is simply a test of the contestant’s ability to THINK on her own feet.

So what’s there to do then?

It is simple. In years that we watch beauty pageants, the questions asked are in different varieties but almost in the same thought. Now, like any other beauty pageant secrets like the hairspray on swimsuit lines to your hiney, the cheat sheets is the numero-uno secret of most beauty pageant contestants. What I’m saying is that as much as hairsprays on bikinis don’t get noticed on stage, it should be the same as your answers not sounding like it came off a cheat sheet or something.

Take the case of Caitlin Upton in the Miss Teen USA 2007 pageant, coming off as a bit overly rehearsed with her lines that her geography got so mixed up in her head causing her unstructured answer to the final question.

I am surprised on how many people considered her dumb during Miss Teen that she instantly became an internet meme right after the Miss Teen USA pageant. After watching her, I thought she was just too rehearsed and upon seeing her post interviews on different TV shows, she actually is a smart teenager.

Now here are the most frequently asked type of questions in a beauty contest:

Political and Debatable Questions

If a judge asks about a controversial issue DO NOT, say what you believe in personally. If you did, you are guaranteed of pissing off like, 50% combined the viewing audience and the judges. And, there is probably a hundred percent chance that the judge asking the question chose that question because he has bias over that controversial issue.

Examples:

Carrie Prejean’s case in Miss USA 2009 when asked by Perez Hilton on Legalizing Gay Marriage.

Morgan Woolard – Miss Oklahoma in the Miss USA 2010 pageant was asked by Oscar Nunez about the tough immigration law in Arizona, that the audience even booed to Nunez after asking Woolard a controversial question.

It actually is a no-brainer where Perez Hilton or Oscar Nunez may have come from in asking these dead end questions but the key to get away with this is for the contestant to stay neutral, keep positive, keep the winsome smile then utter something that is completely harmless and borderline innocent, something open-ended that is not giving any idea leading to anything negative.

Olivia Culpo is one example. During the Miss USA 2012 pageant, she gave a rather amiable but open-ended response to a question about transgenders competing to a female beauty pageant. If Olivia had answered otherwise, she would have been lashed out here and there after the pageant that might have caused her chances in winning the Miss USA crown.

Women Empowerment Question

If a beauty pageant contestant is asked anything about roles of women in society and women empowerment, she must consider who is asking the question.

If a FEMALE judge asked the question, chances are that the woman judge believes in equal opportunity to the sexes.

If a MALE judge asked the question, chances are that the male judge believes in equal opportunity of the sexes as well! Yeah, it’s 2012 after all!

Here’s an example general answer to this question:

“I believe that women and men are equal in opportunity as everyone deserves opportunity to be the best person they can be. I appreciate the efforts of women who have come before me because without them, there wouldn’t be as much opportunities for women these days and that’s what I hope to accomplish as Miss Whatever – opening doors of opportunity to other women as being a good example.”

Why is this way of answering effective?

1. it does not condemn men

2. it hints women empowerment but not in a feminist kind of way

3. it shows that you can help other women by being good example

Well, this is totally BS, but it does sound good, right?!

Jennifer Hawkins, Miss Universe 2004, chooses to be female again in her final answer as females have much say in today’s society. She expressed woman empowerment which did not, in any way, condemn the opposite sex.

“The person you most admire” Question

This is just one of the most commonly asked questions in beauty pageants. Now, do not utter at once the first name that comes to mind unless the person fits these criteria.

Avoid these people in the following categories as possible:

1. Film Actors

2. Music Artists

3. TV Actors

4. Sports personality

5. Political figure

UNLESS they have been involved in something philanthropic doing something for a good cause that had helped many others. Example, Angeline Jolie as an actress only is a NO. Angelina Jolie and her work as UN Ambassador helping the impoverish in third world nations is a YES.

In general, a contestant is pretty safe with Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama and the saints (primarily for being martyrs with a good cause), BUT keep away with the Popes.

And of course, nothing can go wrong with the Most Admired Person from your family – Your Dad, Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, Brother or Sister. Former teachers, coaches or day to day people who have made good influence on you is also plus points. Another extra points if a family, or anyone close to you, mentor etc. is presently battling a life challenge or an illness.

Now why are these answers effective?

1. It sounds sincere (even if it is not).

2. It is not controversial I mean, most probably, you are on live television, so no one can really find the time to fact-check every information on someone you claim to be diagnosed sick with something.

3. It will make you seem down to earth like any traditional family girl. Even the most notorious liberals in the judges or the audience have a soft spot for families.

Amelia Vega in Miss Universe 2003 – known for her letter to her grandma final answer that definitely sounded sincere and won the judges.

“A Famous Person You would like to meet” Question

This is actually most similar to the person you most admire question where the same rules in answering the question apply.

Now, the first person that might pop in your thoughts are actors like Brad Pitt . Well, I mean, who in the right mind and sexuality would not want to meet Brad Pitt? I am just using him as example, you may substitute any heartthrob actors you like.

The thing is that Brad Pitt will not fare high points from the judges because he is just an actor and he ain’t known for any humanitarian works in general. Try to think of someone better. Someone who can make the judges think deeper about you than they thought you were.

The best people for this question are:

1. Well known authors (of non-controversial works)

2. Explorers

3. Successful business people

4. Anyone famous who has overcome any adversity

Keep Away from answers like:

1. Religious figure (except saints). Jesus and God at times, has always been a livewire for criticism in beauty pageant answers in an international beauty pageant

2. Politicians from the 20th Century to present. Founding Fathers like Nelson Mandella, Washington, Jefferson, Adams, and Lincoln are pretty much okay because people usually have no arguments on liking them in general.

3. Sports Figures – unless you are sure that they never got involved in any scandals

Why are these answers effective? It simply does not resort to dividing people’s opinion and ideals or beliefs.

Shamcey Supsup on her Final Question and Answer – a rather controversial answer when it came to personal faith and beliefs which was quite debatable.

And finally, the Question about yourself

As easy as this may sound, it is actually not that simple as you know yourself more than any other. We may probably be shallow or too proud at times but the thing here is not to sound like one. A pageant contestant’s objective is to be LIKEABLE to the judges.

There are some effective ways to show this:

HUMILITY: You wouldn’t be part of the finals if you are not pretty, educated or talented. Most probably, the judges are well-aware of that already. Now, the least you can do at this stage is be grateful and give credit to your parents (family), your trainers, mentors and even your teachers. It pretty much says about the good values your family has taught you, good education or anything that helped you become the better person that you’ve become upon entering the pageant.

Nana Meriwether – Miss Maryland 2012 comes off as a bit self-centered, caught-up on what her scholastic accomplishments were more than answering the final question about what she thought about children on Toddlers and Tiaras.

Bottom line is that if you were asked of a question about yourself, you need to make sure that you do not just talk about yourself and talk like a stuck-up bimbo on how you work out 7 times a week staying fit and beautiful. Again, the judges already see that. Talk in a way that makes an impression – a good one at that, even if it is partly true or totally false. Again, people won’t bother researching on stuff a beauty contestant says on live pageants. What matters is to get past answering the final question without humiliation or getting viral on YouTube in your most disgraceful moment.

Note: I do not own the photos. Its use here is merely for research purposes on beauty pageants. All credits rightly belong to the sources of the photos used. Thank you!

History 101 On Beauty Pageant

Let us take the time to read this concise overview of the history of beauty pageant that I came up with that every pageant pundits and followers must know to refresh their minds with.

Beauty Pageants, its history is deep-seated in ancient times. It was a form of entertainment in Troy, an ancient city now the northwestern part of Turkey, where the jury is consists of prominent people of its society that included actors, philosophers, sculptors, poets and even combatants. Pageants were very popular in Lesbos Island, a Greek island located in the northeastern Aegean Sea. The place where pageants were held in Lesbos Island is Ellas which actually means beauty. As form of entertainment, there was also a selection for the most beautiful wife in the Ottoman Empire, in spite of the strict Islamic principles imposed.

In ancient China, a special rule was made to point-out a process in classifying the beauty of women. Primarily, she must be delicate, pretty and small-framed with beautiful white skin and teeth and bright eyes. These rules have even been preserved in forms of poetic images from the literature of ancient Chinese.

 Four Great Beauties of China of the Four Dynasties

As narrated in the Disney Animated Film, Mulan: Xi Shi – entrancingly beautiful that fish would forget how to swim and sink away from the surface when she walks by. Wang Zhaojun – very beautiful that her appearance would entice birds in flight to fall from the sky. Diaochan – so luminously lovely that the moon would shy away in embarrassment when compared to her face. Yang Guifei – a beauty who has the face that puts all flowers to shame.

Phineas Taylor Barnum

Phineas Taylor Barnum, an American businessman, con-artist and a showman, organized dog shows, bird shows, baby contests (most beautiful baby, fattest baby and so on) that eventually led to staged beauty contests in 1854. His beauty contest was heavily protested by the public so it was closed down. Barnum was persistent in making profits out of the shows he organize so he came up with a substitute and used pictures for judging his contest. This was immediately taken on by newspapers. Since then, newspapers have been holding a beauty contest on photo for decades. So basically, beauty contests are derived from dog shows, bird shows and baby contests.

In the summer of 1888, newspapers were intrigued with the announcement of a beauty pageant to be held that September in Belgium for the Belgian Seaside Resort Spa where “The Most beautiful Girl On The Planet” is to be chosen. An interested woman participant only needs to send her picture and a brief description of herself.

In 1888, the Belgian Resort Spa held its selection for the first European Beauty Queen

 Out of 350 applications only 21 were selected by the judges. The 21 girls were then judged in person by the jury which was only consists of men. Marthe Soucaret of Guadeloupe was elected & is said to be the First Ever Beauty Queen by winning the first beauty queen of Europe.

Marthe Soucaret

The winner of the first international beauty pageant received the title of The Most beautiful Girl On The Planet and a prize of five thousand franks.

 That very-first civilized beauty pageant was quite conservative that according to reports from a Scandinavian newspaper, all women wore long dresses.

The pageant contestants are not allowed to appear before the public. They are housed in a secluded home closed to strangers, and they were brought inside a closed carriage on the way to the pageant location. The Belgian beauty contest quickly became known by other nearby countries and the idea of international beauty pageants became more popular and picked up in concept. The first German beauty contest was held in a cabaret in Berlin in 1909. The nineteen year-old Gertrude Dopieralski, won the beauty title and received a prize of 20 Reichsmarks in gold. However, poverty from of the post-war victory forced Gertrud to trade her 20-mark gold coin in the black market in exchange for food and other necessities. Dopieralski was just a cigar vendor in East Prussia.

Gertrud Dopieralski’s victory, made her beauty marketable to her advantage.

The first winner of the Miss America pageant was elected in September of 1921. The winner was Margaret Gorman, a then 16 year-old from Washington, D.C. That year’s pageant is said to be the world début of the semi-nude wear as the girls showed up in swimsuits, the first time in pageant history.

Margaret Gorman of Washington

The Miss America Winner was forbidden to appear in places of alcohol consumption. Her failure to do so will terminate her contract and repossession of her cash prizes.

Margaret Gorman, far-right with other contestants in the First Ever Miss America Pageant 

Beauty contests have existed around the U.S. since the 19th century as means to build tourism for local communities. Beauty contests were local affairs featuring women from the same community. In 1920 promoter C.E. Barfield organized a new event in Galveston Texas known as the Splash Day where the event featured the Bathing Girl Revue contest. The contest was successful in bringing on tourists in the city and so the event was then held annually. The highlight of the Splash Day is the beauty pageant.

Catherine Moylan 

Catherine Moylan had many suitors and became a famed silent film actress in the 20’s after winning the beauty pageant. Taking advantage of this trend, the Galveston event became an international competition in 1926 and was named the “International Pageant of Pulchritude. The first winner of this pageant was Catherine Moylan of Dallas, Texas, but it was in 1929 when the winner was named “Miss Universe” by the press because of more other countries participating and it was the first time a non-American girl, Lisl Goldarbeiter from Austria won the title. This is where the term Miss Universe first came up and was seen on news publications.

Lisl Goldarbeiter is said to be the true first Miss Universe in history since she is the first woman to be called Miss Universe.

In 1927 the contest became two separate events where a Miss United States will be selected which will compete with foreign participants for the International Pageant of Pulchritude. The then, “Miss Universe” pageant, included contestants from different countries. The winner was given a silver plaque and $2,000 worth in gold which is about $27,000 converted today.

The New Miss Universe – Lisl Goldarbeiter and the Finalists as quoted in every newspapers that time.

The pageant was discontinued in 1932 due to The Great Depression and since many conformists were against it.

The trend of national beauty contests also developed in many countries like Brazil, France, Turkey and the U.S. where both the Galveston event and the early Miss America pageant in Atlantic City attracted many girls from across the country. The event became famous internationally although U.S. media paid little attention to it compared to other countries.

The media in Brazil was passionate about the 1929 beauty contest that large crowds gather outside the office of Brazil’s major newspaper awaiting the fate of Miss Brazil that time. Brazilians were angered that their candidate did not make the cut then Brazil hosted its own “Miss Universe” contest in 1930 which made two titleholders in that year. During the Brazilian event, the candidate from the USA was deliberately left out in the competition and was unplaced.

 

In the Golden Era of television, the Miss America Pageant 1954 was broadcasting live for the first time. With television, beauty pageants became more popular. The first live broadcasting of the 1954 pageant was watched by 39 % of the viewers, which was over 27 million viewers that time. It broke viewer-ship records of the day.

1954 Miss America – Evelyn Ay of Pennsylvania

Evelyn Ay was the first beauty queen Crowned on live television broadcast. ABC network televised the first live Miss America broadcast on Saturday, September 11 of 1954.

In the same decade, international pageants which are very well-known today were developed; Miss World in London – 1951 and Miss Universe in Long Beach -1952, whose name was inspired from the 1926 contest, International Pageant of Pulchritude where the term Miss Universe first came up.

Miss America in 1951, Yolanda Bebetze refused to wear swimsuits in her appearances which was then sponsored by Catalina Swimwear. She insists that it had nothing to do with the objectives of a pageant for scholarship-grants. It has then changed the system for the Miss America Pageant and Catalina Swimwear had to pullout sponsorship which later on sponsored another pageant Miss USA & Miss Universe. Miss World started as a one-time event for a Festival Bikini Contest to introduce a line of swimwear in 1951 but the media called it Miss World in the newspapers. Eric Morley, founder of Miss World, later realized about the forthcoming Miss Universe pageant launched by a California clothing company named Pacific Mills, to be held in Long Beach California so he decided to make his pageant a yearly pageant.

As Catalina Swimuit sponsors the Miss Universe Pageant which was held annually in Long Beach, it was when issues and disagreement came up on some matters about the pageant and the title holders. Catalina then decided to move the Miss Universe Pageant to Miami Beach in 1960. Pageant organizer Oscar Meinhardt who developed Miss Universe in Long Beach decided to put up another pageant, The International Beauty of Congress which is now known as Miss International.The first Miss International was held in 1960 in Long Beach, when The Miss Universe pageant moved to Miami Beach, Florida.

Beautiful girls from around the world paraded in front of the judges wearing bikini wear that caused a lot of uprising and scrutiny from the public.

The first winner of Miss Universe in Long Beach was Armi Kuusela of Finland. She received a thousand pounds and had appeared on pages of different magazines.

To value the tradition of  beauty pageants is to also know what makes up its history. Beauty Pageants may forever evolve in its means and purpose especially in our lifetime when everything seems to be all about capitalism. Still, Beauty Pageants will always be remembered and celebrated by truehearted pageant followers.

Note: I do not own the photos. Its use here is merely for research purposes on beauty pageants. All credits rightly belong to the sources of the photos used. Thank you!