Miss Universe 1952

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Miss Universe 1952
Armi Kuusela-1.jpg
Armi Kuusela
Date28 June 1952 (1952-06-28)
Presenters Bob Russell
Venue Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California, United States
Entrants30 [1]
Placements10
Debuts
  • Alaska
  • Australia
  • Belgium
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Cuba
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Great Britain
  • Greece
  • Hawaii
  • Hong Kong
  • India
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Mexico
  • Norway
  • Panama
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Puerto Rico
  • South Africa
  • Sweden
  • Turkey
  • Uruguay
  • United States
  • West Germany
  • Venezuela
Winner Armi Kuusela
Finland
CongenialityMyriam Lynn (Belgium)
Valerie Johnson (Montana)
1953  →

Miss Universe 1952 was the first Miss Universe pageant, held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California, United States on 28 June 1952. [2] [3]

Contents

At the end of the event, actress Piper Laurie crowned Armi Kuusela of Finland as Miss Universe 1952. [2] [4] It was the first victory of Finland in the history of the pageant.

Contestants from 30 countries and territories participated in this year's pageant. The pageant was hosted by Bob Russell. The competition featured the Romanov Imperial Nuptial Crown, which was previously owned by a Russian czar. The crown was said to have 1,535 diamonds, 300 carats, and was valued at $500,000. [5]

Background

Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, the venue of Miss Universe 1952 Municipal auditorium and lagoon, Long beach, Calif (68317).jpg
Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, the venue of Miss Universe 1952

Location and date

After Miss America 1951 Yolande Betbeze refused to pose for a publicity picture wearing a swimsuit from Catalina Swimwear, [6] [7] then-Miss Universe executive producer Oliver Reinhardt negotiated in with the officials of Pan American World Airways and Catalina Swimwear to sponsor the Miss Universe pageant, which will be held in Long Beach, California. [8] The city of Long Beach provided $30,000 USD for the competition to be held from June 23 to June 30, 1952. [9] [10]

Selection of participants

From all countries and territories invited to participate, thirty competed in the competition for the first time. The age requirement in this edition is from eighteen to twenty-eight, where women who are married and have children can also participate. [8] This policy was changed in 1957 where the participation of women who are married or already have children was prohibited. [11] This policy was then reinstated in 2023. [12] [13] One contestant was selected to replace the original dethroned winner.

Replacements and withdrawals

Runner-up of Miss Uruguay 1952 Gladys Rubio Fajardo was appointed to represent Uruguay after Miss Uruguay 1952 Rosa Adela Prunell withdrew from the competition as her mother wanted to accompany her. [14]

Elisabeth van Proosdij of Holland withdrew as she got married during her reign despite Miss Universe allows married women to compete. [15] [16] Leila Teresa Tuma of Syria was supposed to compete in this edition, but withdrew due to political tensions. [17] Brazil and the Republic of China were also invited to compete in this edition, but withdrew due to lack of preparations to organize a national pageant. [8]

Results

Placements

PlacementContestant
Miss Universe 1952
1st runner-up
2nd runner-up
3rd runner-up
4th runner-up
Top 10

Special awards

AwardContestant
Miss Amity
Miss Friendship
Most Popular Girl in Parade
Miss Welcome to Long Beach
  • Jeri Miller

Contestants

Miss Universe 1952 participating countries and territories Miss Universe 1952 Map.PNG
Miss Universe 1952 participating countries and territories

Thirty contestants competed for the title. [19]

Country/TerritoryContestantAge [a] Hometown
Flag of Alaska.svg Alaska Shirley Burnett [20] 19 Fairbanks
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Leah MacCartney [21] 19 Melbourne
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Myriam Lynn [22] 25 Brussels
Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg  Canada Ruth Carrier [1] 21 Ontario
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile Esther Saavedra [19] 23 Santiago
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba Gladys López [19] 20 Havana
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Hanne Sørensen [23] 20 Copenhagen
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland Armi Kuusela [24] 17 Muhos
Flag of France.svg  France Claude Goddart [25] 22 Paris
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Aileen P. Chase21 London
Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece Ntaizy Mavraki [26] 18 Athens
Flag of Hawaii.svg Hawaii Elza Kananionapua Edsman [27] 20 Honolulu
Flag of Hong Kong (1959-1997).svg  Hong Kong Judy Dan [28] 21 Hong Kong
Flag of India.svg  India Indrani Rahman [29] 21 Chennai
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Ora Vered [30] 18 Tel Aviv
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Giovanna Mazzotti19 Lombardy
Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan Himeko Kojima20 Osaka
Flag of Mexico (1934-1968).svg  Mexico Olga Llorens Pérez [31] 21 Ciudad Juárez
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Eva Røine 24 Oslo
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama Elzibir Gisela Malek [32] 18 Coclé
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru Ada Gabriela Bueno [33] 18 Apurímac
Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg  Philippines Teresita Sanchez [34] 19 Malolos
Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico Marilia Levy Bernal [35] 20 Lares
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa Catherine Higgins [36] 19 Transvaal
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Anne Marie Thistler 19 Stockholm
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Gelengül Tayfuroğlu [37] 18 Ankara
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States Jacqueline Loughery [38] 21 Brooklyn
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay Gladys Rubio Fajardo21 Montevideo
Flag of Venezuela (1930-1954).svg  Venezuela Sofía Silva [39] 23 Tumeremo
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany Renate Hoy 21 Ludwigshafen

Notes

  1. ↑ Ages at the time of the pageant

References

  1. 1 2 "Blonde from Finland named Miss Universe". Ottawa Citizen . June 30, 1952. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  2. 1 2 Coetzee, Nikita (16 October 2019). "PICS: This is what the very first Miss Universe pageant looked like 67 years ago!". News24. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  3. ↑ Becker, Bill (22 June 1952). "Miss Universe to be chosen at Long Beach". Asheville Citizen-Times . p. 7. Retrieved 7 July 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Bell, Diane (September 5, 2014). "La Jollan was 1st 'Miss Universe'". San Diego Union-Tribune . Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  5. ↑ Tayag, Voltaire (16 May 2021). "Miss Universe crowns: Sentimental favorites, all-time greats". Rappler . Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "Miss America who wouldn't appear in swimsuit is finally in from the cold". Toledo Blade . 14 September 1995. p. 6. Retrieved 7 July 2023– via Google News Archive.
  7. ↑ Roberts, Sam (26 February 2016). "Yolande Betbeze Fox, Miss America Who Defied Convention, Dies at 87". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 Williams, Vera (23 March 1952). "Pageant of Pulchritude". Long Beach Press-Telegram . p. 50. Retrieved 7 July 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Epley, Malcolm (18 October 1951). "Beach combing". Long Beach Press-Telegram . p. 33. Retrieved 7 July 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Pageant plan chiefs to meet". Long Beach Press-Telegram . 28 October 1951. p. 13. Retrieved 7 July 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Miss USA turns out to be a Mrs". Park City Daily News. 19 July 1957. p. 1. Retrieved 19 July 2023– via Google News Archive.
  12. ↑ Bracamonte, Earl D. C. (12 August 2022). "Miss Universe allows moms, wives to join starting 2023". Philippine Star . Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  13. ↑ Hirwani, Peony (12 August 2022). "Miss Universe announces inclusive change to pageant after more than 70 years". The Independent . Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  14. ↑ "14 nations bid for Miss Universe". The Sun. 3 April 1952. p. 9. Retrieved 7 July 2023– via Trove.
  15. ↑ "Elisabeth van Proosdy Miss Holland 1951". De Telegraaf. 28 April 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 11 January 2025– via Delpher.
  16. ↑ "Miss Holland getrouwd". Het Parool. 1 July 1952. p. 7. Retrieved 11 January 2025– via Delpher.
  17. ↑ Mobayed, Samy Marwan (30 March 2022). "Syrian beauty pageants from a long, long time ago". Raseef22. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Lo, Ricky (September 30, 2016). "The first (1952) Miss U pageant". Philippine Star . Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  19. 1 2 3 "The 'UN of Beauty'". Long Beach Independent . 22 June 1952. p. 76. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  20. ↑ "Seeks 'Miss Universe' title". Oxnard Press-Courier . 21 June 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 7 July 2023– via Google News Archive.
  21. ↑ "These Pacific beauties seek "Miss Universe" title". Honolulu Star-Bulletin . 21 June 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 6 May 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Jewels lost, says beauty". Singapore Free Press . 7 July 1952. p. 8. Retrieved 7 July 2023– via National Library Board.
  23. ↑ "Danish beauty". Gettysburg Times . 21 June 1952. p. 5. Retrieved 23 July 2023– via Google News Archive.
  24. ↑ "College Girl from Finland Crowned Miss Universe". Tampa Bay Times. St. Petersburg, FL. June 20, 1952. p. 2. Retrieved August 26, 2022– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  25. ↑ "She's Miss France". The News. 31 May 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2023– via Trove.
  26. ↑ "Greece's pageant entry". The Indianapolis Star. 26 June 1952. p. 44. Retrieved 23 July 2023– via Google News Archive.
  27. ↑ "Elsa Edsman chosen as "Miss Hawaiian Islands"". The Honolulu Advertiser . Honolulu, Hawaii. 18 June 1952. p. 13. Retrieved 23 July 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "Hollywood film shop". Shamokin News-Dispatch . Shamokin, Pennsylvania. 20 July 1956. p. 9. Retrieved 23 July 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "Miss India finds it cool here as she heads for beauty title". Evening Star. Washington, District of Columbia. 17 June 1952. p. 7. Retrieved 23 July 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ "Israel's choice for Miss Universe". The Sentinel⁩. 3 July 1952. p. 15. Retrieved 23 July 2023– via National Library of Israel.
  31. ↑ "Silvia Derbez y el día que representó a San Luis Potosí en Miss México" [Silvia Derbez and the day she represented San Luis Potosí in Miss Mexico]. El Universal San Luis Potosí (in Spanish). 18 May 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  32. ↑ "Panama's prettiest". The Evening Independent. Massillon, Ohio. 21 June 1952. p. 2. Retrieved 23 July 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  33. ↑ "Peru's entry". The Call-Leader. Elwood, Indiana. 18 June 1952. p. 8. Retrieved 23 July 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  34. ↑ Lo, Ricky (12 February 2010). "Misses RP for Miss U pageant, 1952-'63". Philippine Star . Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  35. ↑ Rodríguez Caraballo, Harry (11 August 2022). "Estos son los pueblos que más han ganado coronas en Miss Puerto Rico" [These are the towns that have won the most crowns in Miss Puerto Rico]. Metro Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  36. ↑ "Look alike beauty winners". The Daily Reporter. 21 June 2022. p. 3. Retrieved 23 July 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  37. ↑ "Turkish Delight". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 21 June 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 23 July 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  38. ↑ "Brooklyn girl wins U.S. crown; seeks Miss Universe Title tonight". The Plain Speaker. 28 June 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 12 December 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  39. ↑ Galicia, Elier (7 June 2022). "¿Quién era Sofía Silva Inserri, la primera Miss Venezuela de la historia?" [Who was Sofía Silva Inserri, the first Miss Venezuela in history?]. Nuevo Día (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 July 2023.
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