Miss World Pageant

By :Alejandro Guevara Onofre

1951: London, England. Miss Sweden was the first Miss World.Miss United Kingdom, Laura Ellison-Davies, was the 1st runner-up…

1952:London, England.Miss Sweden, May Louise Flodin, was crowned Miss World.

1953:London, England. Denisse Perrier became the first French to win the Miss World. Miss Greece was the 1st runner-up…



1954:London, England. Miss Egypt, Antigone Constanda, was elected Miss World. She was the first African woman to win the Miss World.

1955:London, England. Surprisingly, Miss Venezuela, Carmen Susana Duijm Zubillaga, won the Miss World title. Miss Venezuela was given a heroines´s welcome when she returned to her country.

1956:London, England.Miss Germany, Petra Sussana Schurmann, was elected Miss World.

1957:London,England. Marita Lindahl was the first person from Finland to win the Miss World pageant.

1958:London, England.Miss South Africa, Penelope Anne Colen, was elected Miss World. She was the second African woman to win the Miss World.

1959:London, England.Corinne Rottschafer was the first woman from Holland to win the Miss World.

1960:London,England. Norma Gladys Cappagly became the first Argentinian to win the Miss World.

1961:London, England. Miss United Kingdom, Rosemary Frankland, won the Miss World title. Miss Taiwan, Grace Lee, was the first runner-up…

1962:London,England.Catharina Johanna Lodders became the second Miss Holland to win the Miss World pageant.

1963:London, England. Surprisingly, Miss Jamaica, Carole Joan Crawford, was crowned Miss World. She became the first woman from Caribbean to win the Miss World.

1964:London, England. Miss United Kingdom, Ann Sydney, was elected Miss World.

1965: London, England. Miss United Kingdom, Lesley Langley, was crowned Miss World. The United Kingdom was a dominant force in Miss World in the 1960s.

1966:London, England.Rita Faria became the first Miss India to win the Miss World title.

1967:Miss Peru, Madeleine Hartog-Bell, was crowned as the 17th Miss World in London´s Royal Albert Hall Theater on November 16th.The favourites were South Africa´s Disa Duivestein, United Kingdom´s Jennifer Lewis, Czechoslovakia´s Alzabeta Struckulova, Peru´s Madeleine Hartog-Bell, and Guyana´s Shakira Baksh. Miss World 1967 worked as a fashion model for approximately 10 months in Paris. For the first time, Tanzania sent a delegate named Theresa Shayo to London.

1968:London, England. The winner was Penelope Plummer, Miss Australia. At the onset, Israel´s Mirey Zamir was the favourite. Misses Guyana and Yugoslavia were semifinalists.For the first time, the United States did not qualify for the semi-finals.Africa sent eight delegates to London (Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia, and Uganda).

1969:London, England.Eva Rueber Staier became the first Miss Austria to win the Miss World title.Miss Mexico, Gloria Leticia Hernandez Martin del Campo,  was crowned Miss Photogenic. For the second time, Czechoslovakia, a communist republic in Europe, sent a delegate to London. Miss Czechoslovakia, Marcela Bitnarova, was one of the semifinalists at the pageant. Ironically, Peru did not participate at the Miss World.

1970:London, England. Surprisingly, Miss Grenada, Jennifer Josephine Hosten, was crowned Miss World.She became the first black woman to win the pageant. Ms.Hosten put Grenada, a small island in the Caribbean, on the map when she was elected Miss World.
Miss Yugoslavia, a communist state in Europe, qualified for the semi-finals.

1971:London,England.Miss Brazil, Lucia Tavares Petterle, won the Miss World title.Surprises among the top 15 were Misses Guyana (Nalini Moonsar),South Africa (Monica Fairall), Guam (Deborah Bordallo), and Portugal ( Ana Paula De Almeida). Surprisingly, Grenada did not participate at the Miss World.

1972:London, England.Miss Australia, Belinda Green, was crowned Miss World. She was the second woman from her country to win the coveted title.For the first time, Botswana sent a delegate named Agnes Motswere to London. Surprises among the top 15 were Misses Seychelles (Jane Edan Straves) and Mexico (Gloria Gutierrez Lopez).Surprisingly, Miss Belgium, Anne Marie Roger, did not enter the semi-finals.Before she went to England, Miss Belgium competed in Miss Universe 1972, where she was semi-finalist and Miss Photogenic.

1973:London, England. Marjorie Wallace became the first American to win the Miss World title.Miss Philippines, Evangeline Luis Pascual, was the first runner-up.In July, her countrywoman, Margarita Moran,  had been crowned Miss Universe 1973. Miss Seychelles, June Gouthier, was semi-finalist and Miss Personality.

1974:London, England.Miss United Kingdom, Helen Elizabeth Morgan, was elected Miss World.Just four days after Miss United Kingdom, Helen Morgan, had ascended the throne she was dethroned by Miss World Organization. Why? She was a single mother. Miss Wales and Miss United Kingdom was the first runner-up in the final Miss Universe 1974. She once said,” I offer the triumph to my son Richard. I will feel proud that when he grow up he can says that his mother is officially one of the most beautiful woman”.She was replaced by Miss South Africa, Anneline Kriel. Miss South Africa 1974 became the third woman from Africa to win the Miss World pageant.Miss Yugoslavia, Jadranka Bajac, was crowned Miss Photogenic.

1975:London, England. Wilnelia Merced Cruz became the first woman from Puerto Rico to win the Miss World title. Miss Yugoslavia,Ladija Verkovska, was the fourth runner-up. Miss Venezuela, Maria Conchita Alonso Bustillo, finished in 7th place. From 1984 to 2004, she became an actress and singer in Latin America, Spain and the United States.
For the first time, Haiti sent a delegate named Joelle Apollon to London.Certainly, Miss Haiti had  classical beauty of the black women around the world.She finished  in 6th place. Surprisingly,Miss Swaziland,Vinah Thembi Mamba, was crowned Miss Photogenic.Miss United States, Annelise Ilschenko, did not qualify for the semi-finals.

1976:London, England.Miss Jamaica, Cinthya “Cyndy” Jane Breakspeare,  became the second woman from Jamaica to win the Miss World title.Miss United States,Kimberley Marre Foley,  did not qualify for the semi-finals. In the 1970s, many women from  Caribbean won six  global pageants:Grenada (Miss World 1970), Puerto Rico (Miss Universe 1971 and Miss World 1975), Jamaica (Miss World 1976),Trinidad & Tobago (Miss Universe 1977), and Bermuda (Miss World 1979).

1977:London, England. The Miss World 1977 title was won by Mary Stavin, Miss Sweden.Ironically, Miss Brazil, Magdalena Sbairini, was the big favourite. Surprisses among the top 15 were Miss Mexico (Elyzabeth Gonzalez) and Miss Peru (Isabel Frias Zavala).Unfortunately, Miss Nicaragua, Beatriz Lacayo Obregon, one of the most beautiful girls, did not qualify for the semi-finals.

1978: London, England. Miss Mexico, Martha Eugenia Ortiz, was a big favourite, but she did not win the Miss World title. She was for many the “Miss World of the night”! However, Miss Mexico was crowned Miss Photogenic.Surprisingly, Argentina´s Silvana Suarez was crowned Miss World. Miss El Salvador, Iris Yvette Mazorra, did not qualify for the semi-finals.She was one of the most popular delegates in Miss Universe 1978.

1979:London, England. The Miss World 1979 title was won by Gina Ann Cassandra Swainson, Miss Bermuda. She was the first runner up in the final Miss Universe 1979.Miss Venezuela, Tatiana Capote, was disqualified by Miss World Organization. What happened? One of her breasts slipped from the side during the dress rehearsal.

1980:London, England.Miss Germany, Gabrielle Brumm, won the Miss World.However, Miss Germany was dethroned by Miss World Organization. On November 28, 1980, in Agana (Guam´s capital), Miss Guam, Kimberley Santos, was elected Miss World.

1981:London, England. Miss Venezuela was crowned Miss World and Miss Americas. At the onset, Venezuela´s Carmen Josefina “Pilin” Leon Crespo was the favourite.

1982:London, England. Miss Dominican Republic was crowned as the 32nd Miss World in London´s Royal Albert Hall Theater.She was the first woman from her country to win the loveted title. For political reasons, Miss Argentina did not participate at the Miss World.The favorites were Misses Trinidad & Tobago and Switzerland.Special awards were given to Lolita Morena of Switzerland for Miss Photogenic, and to Maureen Therese Lewis of the Cayman islands for Miss Personality. Miss Trinidad-Tobago, Althea Ingrind Rocke, was compared to “Cleopatra” by Journalists.

1983:Miss United Kingdom, Sarah-Jane Hutt, won the international beauty Pageant on May 26, 1987, in London.Surprises among the top 15 were misses Hong Kong (Margaret Cheung) and Bolivia (Ana Taboada Arnold).Miss Bolivia made it to the quarter-finals for the second time in a row.Miss Yugoslavia, Bernart Marovt, was elected Miss photogenic.

1984:London, England. Venezuela´s Carolina Astrid Herrera was crowned Miss Photogenic,Miss Americas and Miss World. However, Miss Brazil became a big favourite by experts and journalists.Miss Brazil,Adrianne Alvess de Oliveira, had several years experience as professional model in Paris.

1985: London, England. The final results were: Miss USA (2nd runner-up), Miss United Kingdom (1st runner-up), and Miss Iceland was Miss World 1985. Ironically, Miss Venezuela, Rudy Rosario Rodriguez del Lucia,had the highest semifinal score…

1986:London, England.Giselle Jeanne-Marie Laronde from Trinidad & Tobago became the third black woman to be crowned Miss World. Curiously,Miss United States, Halle Berry (currently famous actress) went to London to enter the Miss World pageant, where she came in sixth place.Miss Ecuador, Alicia Gisella Cucalon Macias,finished in 7th place.

1987:London, England.The winner was Miss Austria.Ulla Weigerstorfer became the second Miss Austria to win the Miss World contest.The first runner-up Miss Venezuela was the crowd favourite. Albany Josefina Lozada Jimenez was one of the most beautiful women in the Miss Venezuela history.Miss Poland, Monika Nowosadko, finished in 4th place. For the first time since 1982, Argentina sent a delegate named Catherine Ciscatto. She came in sixth place.

1988:London, England. The final results were: the 2nd runner up was Miss United Kingdom, the 1st runner-up was Miss South Korea and Miss World 1988 was Miss Iceland. Linda Petursdottir became the second Miss Iceland to win the Miss World.Miss Guatemala,Mariluz Aguilar Rivas, was crowned Miss Photogenic.

1989:Victory City, Hong Kong. Surprisingly, Miss Poland, Aneta-Beata Kreglicka, was elected Miss World. She was the first woman from a communist country to win the Miss World title.The USSR competed at the Miss World pageant for the first time.Miss USSR,Anna Gorbunova, won the Miss Photogenic award.

1990:London, England. The final results were: Miss New Zealand (4th runner-up), Miss Finland (3rd runner-up),Miss Venezuela (2nd runner-up), Miss Ireland (1st runner-up), and Miss United States was Miss Americas and Miss World 1990.Miss Venezuela,Sharon Luenso Gonzalez,won the Miss Photogenic title.

1991:Atlanta,United States. Miss Venezuela, Ninibeth Beatriz Leal Jimenez, was crowned Miss Americas and Miss World 1991.She became the fourth Miss Venezuela to win the Miss World contest.

1992:Sun City, South Africa.For the first time, Africa hosted the pageant.Representatives from 83 countries, territories and dependencies attended the Miss World.Miss Russia, Yuliya Alexandrovna Kurochkina, was elected Miss Europe and Miss World 1992.

1993: Sun City,South Africa. Representatives from 83 countries and territories attended the Miss World.One of the most enthusiastic fans was Nelson Mandela, who was president of South Africa. Miss Jamaica, Lisa Hanna, was crowned Miss World.  Miss People´s Republic of China,Wang Yin Tao, did not compete at the Miss World. Miss China pageant has been forbidden since 1950 by the Chinese communists.

1994: Sun City, South Africa.The final results were: Miss Croatia (4th runner-up), Miss Zimbabwe (3rd runner-up),Miss Venezuela (2nd runner-up), Miss South Africa (1st runner-up), and India was Miss Asia and Miss World 1990.Miss India, Aishwarya Rai, also was elected Miss photogenic.

1995:Miss Venezuela,Jackeline Maria Aguilera Marcano, was crowned Miss Americas and Miss World in Sun City´s Entertainment Centre on November 18th.She also won the Miss Photogenic award.

1996:Bangalore, India. Irene Skliva was the first person from Greece to win the Miss World pageant.

1997:Baie Lazare,Seychelles (a small island in Africa). Representatives from 86 countries, territories and dependencies attended the Miss World.India´s Diana Hayden was elected Miss World.She was the third woman from India to win the Miss World title. For the first time since 1989, Miss Venezuela, Christina Dieckmann Jimenez, did not qualify for the semi-finals.

1998:Lake Berjay Mahé Beach Resort, Seychelles. Miss Israel,Linor Abargil, was crowned Miss Asia and Miss World.Linor Abargil was the first woman from Israel to win the Miss World contest.For the second time, Miss Venezuela,Veronica Schneider, did not qualify for the semi-finals.

1999:London, England.Miss India, Yukta Mookhey was crowned Miss Asia and Miss World 1999.At the onset, Venezuela´s Martina Thorogood Heemsem was the favourite. Many people thought that Miss Venezuela was robbed…

2000:London, England. Representatives from 95 countries and territories attended the Miss World. India´s Priyanka Mini Chopra was elected Miss World.She became the fifth Miss India to win the Miss World pageant.

2001:Sun City, South Africa. Miss Nigeria,Ibiagbanidokibudo Asenté Darego, was crowned Miss World. At the onset, Miss Chile, Christiane Balmelli was the favourite.Surprisingly, Miss Chile did not qualify for the semi-finals. The People´s Republic of China competed at the Miss World pageant for the first time.Miss China,Bing Li, was finalist.

2002:Abuja (Nigeria) and London(England). Representatives from 88 countries and territories attended the Miss World. Azra Akin was the first person from Turkey to win the Miss World pageant.Vietnam,a communist country in Asia, competed at the Miss World pageant for the first time.Miss Vietnam,Pham Thi Mai Phuong, was semi-finalist.

2003:Sanya,China. For the first time,the peoples´s Republic of China hosted the pageant.Representatives from 106 countries, territories and dependencies attended the Miss World. Miss Ireland was crowned Miss World and Miss Europe. At the onset,Rossana Davison, was the favourite.

2004:Sanya, China.Representatives from 107 countries, territories and dependencies attended the Miss World.Miss Peru, Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia,was elected Miss Americas and Miss World by internet users. Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia was the second woman from Peru to win the Miss World title.After her victory, she was given a heroic welcome in her country.Currently, she is an idol in Peru such as Teofilo Cubillas (former football player),Cecilia Tait Villacorta (former sportswoman), and Gladys Zender (ex-Miss Universe).

2005:Sanya, China. Representatives from 104 countries and territories attended the Miss World. Unnur Birma Vilhjámsdottir became the third Icelandic to win the Miss World pageant.

2006:Warswaw, the capital city of Poland. Representatives from 104 countries and territories attended the Miss World.Miss Czech Republic, Tatana Kuracharova, was elected Miss World. At the onset, Venezuela´s Federica Alexandra Guzman Diamante was the favourite. Many people thought that Miss Venezuela was robbed…

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: He is a freelance writer.Alejandro is of Italian, African and Peruvian ancestry. He's studied political science and journalism. He has published more than seventy-five research paper in English, and more than twenty in Spanish, concerning the world issues, Olympic sports, countries,  and tourism. His next essay is called "The Dictator and Alicia Alonso". He is an expert on foreign affairs. Furthermore, Alejandro is the first author who has published a world-book encyclopedia in Latina America.

He admires Frida Kahlo (Mexican painter), Hillary Clinton (ex-First Lady of the USA), and Jimmy Carter (former President of the USA). His favorite film is "Gorillas in the Mist".Some of his favorite books are “The Return of Eva Peron and the Killings in Trinidad” (by V.S.Naipaul), "Las Mujeres de los Dictadores" (by Juan Gasparini) and “Murder of a Gentle Land” (by John Barron and Anthony Paul).His personal motto is "The future is for those people who believe in the beauty o f their dreams" by Eleanor Roosevelt.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alejandro_Guevara_Onofre http://EzineArticles.com/?Miss-World-Pageant&id=601594