Miss Universe 1952 Explained

Presenters:Bob Russell
Venue:Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California, United States
Entrants:30
Placements:10
Winner:Armi Kuusela
Represented:Finland
Congeniality:Myriam Lynn (Belgium)
Valerie Johnson (Montana)
Next: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.[1] [2]

At the end of the event, actress Piper Laurie crowned Armi Kuusela of Finland as Miss Universe 1952.[3] [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

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

Contestants from thirty countries and territories have been selected to compete 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. 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

Gladys Rubio Fajardo was appointed to represent Uruguay after Miss Uruguay 1952 Rosa Adela "Nenela" Prunell withdrew from the competition due to undisclosed reasons.[14]

Results

Placements

PlacementContestant
Miss Universe 1952
1st runner-up
  • – Elza Kananionapua Edsman
2nd runner-up
  • – Ntaizy Mavraki
3rd runner-up
4th runner-up
Top 10

Special awards

AwardContestant
Miss Amity
  • – Myriam Lynn
Miss Friendship
  • – Valerie Johnson
Most Popular Girl in Parade
  • – Esther Saavedra
Miss Welcome to Long Beach
  • Jeri Miller

Contestants

Thirty contestants competed for the title.[16]

Country/Territory ContestantAgeHometown
Shirley Burnett[17] 19 Fairbanks
Leah MacCartney[18] 19Melbourne
Myriam Lynn[19] 25 Brussels
Ruth Carrier[20] 21 Ontario
Esther Saavedra23Santiago
Gladys López20 Havana
Hanne Sørensen[21] 20 Copenhagen
Armi Kuusela[22] 17 Muhos
Claude Goddart[23] 22 Paris
Renate Hoy21 Ludwigshafen
Aileen P. Chase 21 London
Ntaizy Mavraki[24] 18
Elza Kananionapua Edsman[25] 20
Judy Dan[26] 21
Indrani Rahman[27] 21
Ora Vered[28] 18
Giovanna Mazzotti 19
Himeko Kojima 20
Olga Llorens Pérez[29] 21
24
Elzibir Gisela Malek[30] 18
Ada Gabriela Bueno[31] 18
Teresita Sanchez[32] 19
Marilia Levy Bernal[33] 20
Catherine Higgins[34] 19
19
Gelengül Tayfuroğlu[35] 18
Jacqueline Loughery[36] 21
Gladys Rubio Fajardo21
Sofía Silva[37] 23

Notes

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

External links