Who would have thought that a swimsuit competition originally planned as one off event would survive until its 60th birthday as one of the oldest and the biggest beauty pageant in the world? Celebrating the 60th anniversary of Miss World pageant, Indonesian Pageants brings you 60 Miss World most important trivia and memorable moments from its 60 years history of beauty and charity work.
1951
The birth of Miss World pageant in London, United Kingdom. This very first Miss World edition was attended by 26 contestants. However, only 5 contestants were from foreign origin, the other 21 contestants were British. Crowned as the very first Miss World was Kiki Hakansson from Sweden.
1952
The first back to back victory in the history of Miss World after Mary Louise Flodin, also from Sweden, won the second edition of Miss World. Aside from Sweden in 1951 - 1952, there are also two more nations who already experienced consecutive victory at Miss World, United Kingdom in 1964 - 1965 and India in 1999 - 2000.
1953
A contestant of 1953 edition, Marina Papaelia from Egypt, is probably one of the most controversial contestant in Miss World history. A clear favorite to win the crown that time, she was perhaps more famous for her “diva” personality. Expecting herself to win, Marina screamed and fainted in disappointment when she only placed as 2nd Runner Up. In his book “The Miss World Story” published in 1967, creator of Miss Word contest Eric Morley wrote a special section about Marina, telling that “...despite the headaches and frights she gave me at the time I shall always remember her as one of the outstanding figures, in every way, among all those who have entered the contest at any time.”
1954
Antigone Costanda from Egypt won the 1954 edition, marking the very first time a nation from outside Europe won Miss World title.
1955
Susana Duijm from Venezuela became the very first Miss World from her nation. Venezuela is one of the most successful nation in Miss World, having won the crown 5 times (1955, 1981, 1984, 1991, and 1995). However this powerhouse nation seems to run out its luck lately after they didn’t place in Top 5 round even for once during the 2000’s decade.
1956
Midoriki Tokura from Japan became the first contestant from East Asia to compete at Miss World pageant. She placed as 3rd Runner Up.
1957
Egypt, a nation who has produced a Miss World and a 2nd Runner Up before, decided to boycott the contest as a protest against the invasion of Suez Canal by the British forces. This nation eventually return to compete again at Miss World in 1988.
1958
The first edition of Miss World with the annoucement of semifinalist. Before the 1958 edition, there was no semifinalist annoucement. Only the Miss World winner and her Runners Up were announced at the conclusion of the event.
1959
BBC broadcasted the pageant for the first time ever, with actor and comedian Bob Hope as its host. Before the 1959 ediiton, the final event was not broadcasted on television and was hosted by Eric Morley himself.
1960
Carmen Lesley Woodcock became the first and the only contestant from Tanganyika to compete at Miss World. Tanganyika is a short lived African nation who declared its independence in 1961 and joined with Zanzibar in 1964 to form Tanzania.
1961
Rosemary Frankland from United Kingdom became the first Miss World to be crowned in her own home country when she won the 1961 edition. Out of 59 winners so far, 6 were crowned in her home country. And out of these 6 winners, 5 were British. Miss World 2007 Zhang Zilin from China is the only non British winner to be crowned in her home country.
1962
The only Miss World edition with Top 8 finalists. Since 1961, the pageant followed a format of having Top 15 semifinalists followed by Top 7 finalists. However, in 1962, there was a tie, allowing 8 contestants in the final round. The Top 7 finalist format was used until 1986 before being used again in 2009 edition.
1963
Carole Joan Crawford from Jamaica became the first Caribbean contestant to win Miss World title. She was also the shortest Miss World winner ever at only 5’2” (159 cm).
1964
Bothe before and during her reign, Miss World 1964 Ann Sidney was dating British entertainer Bruce Forsyth. Bruce Forsyth himself would eventually get married to a Miss World winner. However, the lucky bride was not Ann, but Miss World 1975 Wilnelia Merced instead.
1965
When mega favorite Dianna Lynn Batts from United States only placed second and another British contestant won in 1965, Miss World was accused for having too much British judges in the panel, resulting in an unfair favoritism for the British contestant. When asked in interview the reason Dianna didn’t win, Eric Morley blamed her hairstyle, stating that if Dianna had worn her hair up instead of down, she would have won.
1966
Reita Faria from India the very first Miss World from her nation and also from Asia continent. Along with Venezuela and United Kingdom, India was one of the nation with the most victories at Miss World, having won the crown 5 times (1966, 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2000).
1967
Madeline Hartog Bel won the first Miss World crown for Peru. It is not until 37 years later when another Peruvian, Maria Julia Mantilla Prada won the same crown in the 2004 edition, marking the largest interval between a nation to win Miss World title.
1968
Two contestants from 1968 made the headlines for two different reasons. Maria Amparo Rodrigo Lorenza from Spain decided to withdraw from the contest for political reason as she refused to compete alongside Gibraltar (Spain still hasn’t recognise Gibraltar as an independent territoty that time). While Arene Cecilia Amabuyok from Philippines created a sensation when she told the press that she was a nun and ran away from the convent to become a beauty queen. She later retracted that story and said she only made it up.
1969
Miss Personality and Miss Photogenic were awarded for the first time. The very first winners of the two awards were Maud Alin from Belgium and Gloria Leticia del Campo from Mexico respectively.
1970
Due to its racial apartheid law, South Africa started to send two delegates to Miss World, a white contestant wearing the sash of South Africa and a black contestant wearing the sash of Africa South. The decision to allow two contestants from South Africa to compete provoked a controversy among the public. The final event itself went under a threat of Women’s Liberation activists who planted a smoke bomb under a BBC van in an attempt to prevent the contest being televised. Despite the protest, Africa South continued to compete in Miss World until 1976.
Our journey will continue with the next 20 years .... soon!
Source : Wikipedia & Pageantopolis
