Aphrodite: 60 Years of Miss Universe

APHRODITE 60 Years of Miss Universe

This is a Fedra book published by alfred a. knopf Text copyright © 2011 by Harald Meyer-Delius Jacket Art copyright © 2011 by Harald Meyer-Delius All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of FEDRA Ediciones, Creta.

Visit us on the Web! missuniverse.com fedraediciones.com.es ISBN 978-0-375-85611-2 (trade) - ISBN 978-0-375-95611-9 (lib.bdg.)

ISBN 978-0-307-97418-1 (e-book) - ISBN 978-0-307-93074-3 (intl. tr. pbk.)

The text in this book is set in 14-point Bodony.

Printed in the United States of America November 2011 BGV 10987654321 First Edition

APHRODITE 60 Years of Miss Universe

Written and Compiled by Harald Meyer-Delius

Index 11. Foreword by Paula Shugart

38. 1962

68. 1974

12 History

40. 1963

70. 1975

14. 1951

42. 1964

72. Competing States

16. 1952

44. Selection of Constestants

74. 1976

18. 1953

46. 1965

76. 1977

20. 1954

48. 1966

78. 1978

22. 1955

50. 1967

80. 1979

24. 1956

52. 1968

82. Delegates

26. 1957

54. 1969

84. 1980

28. 1958

56. National Costume

86. 1981

30. 1959

60. 1970

88. 1982

32. Process

62. 1971

90. 1983

34. 1960

64. 1972

92. 1984

36.1961

66. 1973

94. Swimsuit

Candidates of the Miss Universe 1951 Pageant.

98. 1985

130. 1997

162. 2009

100. 1986

132. 1998

168. 2010

102. 1987

134. 1999

176. 2011

104. 1988

136. Evening Gown

180. Trivia

106. 1989

140. 2000

182. Interview with Riyo Mori

108. The Crown

142. 2001

186. Interview with Stefania Fernandez

112. 1990

144. 2002

200. Interview with Donald Trump

114. 1991

148. 2003

206. Interview with Gloria Diaz

116. 1992

150. 2004

210. Pageant Controversy

118. 1993

152. More than Physical Beauty

214. The future of the Pageant

120. 1994

154. 2005

216. Miss Universe 2012

124. Medal Grid

156. 2006

186. Final Words

126. 1995

158. 2007

190. Notes

128. 1996

160. 2008

196. Bibliography

AND THE FIRST RUNNER UP IS...

Foreword by Paula Shugart, President of the Miss Universe Organization

M

Zuleyka Rivera, from Puerto Rico, Miss Universe 2006.

iss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers. The contest was founded in 1952 by California clothing company Pacific Mills. The pageant became part of Kayser-Roth and then Gulf and Western Industries, before being acquired by Donald Trump in 1996. In 1998, Miss Universe changed its name from Miss Universe, Inc. to Miss Universe Organization and the headquarters moved from Los Angeles, California, to New York City that year.

Donald Trump brought in a new team of professionals to the contest headed by its new CEO, Molly Miles, and president Maureen Reidy. The contest would use the slogan “Redefined for Today” for promotion of the pageants. The current Miss Universe is Leila Lopes, from Angola. She won the title on September 12, 2011. The first use of the title “Miss Universe” was as part of International Pageant of Pulchritude which began in 1926. These events, the first international contests, lasted until 1935 when the Great Depression and other events preceding World War II led to their demise. This pageant had no direct relationship with the modern event. The winner of the later “Miss America 1951” pageant, Yolande Betbeze, refused to pose in a swimsuit from its major sponsor, Catalina swimwear. As a result, the brand’s manufacturer Pacific Mills withdrew from Miss America and set up the Miss USA and Miss Universe contests. The first Miss Universe Pageant was held in Long Beach, California in 1952. It was won by Armi Kuusela from Finland, who gave up her title though not officially to get married, shortly before her year was complete. Until 1958 the Miss Universe title (like Miss America) was post-dated, so at the time Ms. Kuusela’s title was Miss Universe 1953. The pageant was first televised in 1955. CBS began nationally broadcasting the combined Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants from 1960 and, separately, from 1965. In 2003 NBC took over the television rights. Xbox Live will be streaming the pageants online internationally starting in 2012.

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HISToRY T

he first use of the title “Miss Universe” was as part of International Pageant of Pulchritude which began in 1926. These events, the first international contests, lasted until 1935 when the Great Depression and other events preceding World War II led to their demise. This pageant had no direct relationship with the modern event.

The winner of the later “Miss America 1951” pageant, Yolande Betbeze, refused to pose in a swimsuit from its major sponsor, Catalina swimwear.

As a result, the brand’s manufacturer Pacific Mills withdrew from Miss America and set up the Miss USA and Miss Universe contests. The first Miss Universe Pageant was held in Long Beach, California in 1952. It was won

by Armi Kuusela from Finland, who gave up her title though not officially to get married, shortly before her year

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was complete. Until 1958 the Miss Universe title (like Miss America) was postdated, so at the time Ms. Kuusela’s title was Miss Universe 1953.

The pageant was first televised in 1955. CBS began nationally broadcasting the combined Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants from 1960 and, separately, from 1965. In 2003 NBC took over the television rights. Xbox Live will be streaming the pageants online internationally starting in 2012.

Each year, Miss Universe organizers receive bids from organizations who wish to select the Miss Universe contestant for a country. This allows competition between different pageants to hold a country’s license, as happened for Miss Italy and Miss France for example, when the licenses for their respective traditional organizations were revoked (the usual Miss France competition returned in 2004). Usually a country’s candidate selection involves pageants in major cities, with the winners competing in a national pageant, but this does not always occur. For example, in 2000 Australia’s national pageant was abolished as a relic of a bygone era, with Australian delegates instead chosen by a modeling agency. Such “castings” are generally discouraged by the Miss Universe Organization, which prefers national pageants that preserve an aura of respectability and competition. Despite being “cast”, Miss Australia, Jennifer Hawkins, was chosen as Miss Universe 2004. Later that year, Australia resumed its national pageant and chose Michelle Guy as Miss Universe Australia 2005.

Some of the most successful national pageants in the last decade have been Venezuela, USA, Puerto Rico, etc. which command consistently high interest and television ratings in their respective countries.Recent arrivals in the pag-

On this page: The contestants of the 1951 Miss Universe Pageat. On the oposite page, smaller image: A close up of the runway. Bigger image: The crowning moment.

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On this page, (left) María de la Parra, from Peru, Miss Universe 1958 at the crowning moment. (Bottom) María with her parents. On the opposite page, Semi-finalists of the Miss Universe 1953 Pageant.

eant include China (2002), Albania (2002), Vietnam (2004), Georgia (2004), Ethiopia (2004), Latvia (2005), Kazakhstan (2006), Tanzania (2007), and Kosovo (2008); there have also been efforts to revive strong national pageants in South Africa, Canada, Spain, Japan, Philippines; Latin America (especially Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil) among other regions. Prior powerhouses are Finland, Germany and Sweden. England is the most successful non-winning country with nine Top five positions.

Many European countries allow 17-year-old contestants to compete in their pageants, while Miss Universe’s minimum age is 18, so national titleholders often have to be replaced by their runners-up. Miss Universe also prohibits transsexual applicants and age fabrication.

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NATIONAL COSTUME

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Maria Kamiyama from Japan at the Miss Universe 2011 pageant.

n the early years of the pageant the delegates who made the cut were announced after the preliminary competition. From 1965 to the present day the semi-finalists were not announced until the night of the main event. The semi-finalists once again competed in evening gown and swimsuit and a top 5 were announced. An interview portion was introduced in 1960 to decide the runners-up and winner. From 1959 to 1964 there were slight format changes. From 1959 through 1963 there was no cut to reach the five finalists. The runnersup and winner were called from the assembled 15 semi-finalists. In 1965 the pageant returned to the original format of a cut to five finalists, and remained so until 1989. In 1969 a final question was posed to the last five contestants. The final question was an on-and-off feature of the pageant.

In 1998, the number of finalists was reduced to 5, although there still was a cut to a final 3.

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On the oposite page: Sushmita Shen, from India, Miss Universe 1994. On this page: from top to bottom, Sheldry Saez, from Panama, at the Miss Universe 2011 Parade of Nations. Maria Andriago, from El Salvador, at the 1954 Miss Universe Pageant. Jessica Villarroel, from Peru, at the 2009 Miss Universe pageant.

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Miss Universe 1951 Pageant.

1951

Miss Universe 2005 Pageant.

2011

2010 M exico ’s X imena N avarrete Miss Universe 2010, the 59th edition of the pageant, was held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. on August 23, 2010.It was hosted by Bret Michaels and Natalie Morales.Ximena Navarrete, Miss Mexico, was crowned Miss Universe 2010 by outgoing titleholder Stefania Fernandez from Venezuela.

M iss U niverse 2010 Mexico Ximena Navarrete 1 st runner- up Jamaica Yendi Phillips 2 nd runner- up Australia Jesinta Campbell 3 rd runner- up Ukraine Anna Poslavska 4 th runner- up Philippines Venus Raj

Telecast judges Niki Taylor William Baldwin Chynna Phillips Evan Lysacek Tamron Hall Chazz Palminteri Jane Seymour Criss Angel Sheila E.

Top 10 Albania Angela Martini Ireland Rozanna Purcell South Africa Nicole Flint Guatemala Jessica Scheel Puerto Rico Mariana Vicente

P reliminary judges Basim Shami BJ Coleman Carlos Bremer Corinne Nicolas Louis Burgdorf Natalie Rotman Sadoux Kim

Top 15 Russia Irina Antonenko Colombia Natalia Navarro France Malika Ménard Belgium Cilou Annys Czech Republic Jitka Válková

M iss C ongeniality Australia Jesinta Campbell M iss P hotogenic Thailand Fonthip Watcharatrakul B est N ational C ostume Thailand Fonthip Watcharatrakul Trivia Mexico won Miss Universe for the second time in history, its first title since Lupita Jones in 1991. Coincidentally, Jones also won in Las Vegas.

Albania, Guatemala, Jamaica placed their highest ever in the pageant.

Czech Republic placed for the fourth consecutive time.

Australia scored its third straight placement and its highest since Jennifer Hawkins’s victory in 2004.

USA failed to place in the semifinals for first time since 2002 and only the fourth time in pageant history.

Venezuela and USA both did not make it for the second time together in the history of Miss Universe.

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2010 Swimsuit competition of the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant. On the opposite page (from left to right) Irina Sarikova from Russia, and Jessinta Campbell from Australia. On this page Venus Raj from the Philippines.

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2010

On the opposite page: Venus Raj, from the Phillipines, during the preliminary competition. On this page: Above, Ximena Navarrete, from Mexico, and Jendi Phillips, from Jamaica, during the crowning moment.

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stefanía fernandez Q&A with Miss Universe 2009

What has been your toughest day during this year as Miss Universe?

When I was going to move to New York, I thought I would be able to go back home and pick up my stuff, but it wasn’t like that. They just told me I was going the next day, and we literally arrived that day, at 11 pm. By 4 am the next morning I was giving interviews. I had to adapt to the organization, move to another country, and that hit me a little.

Has it been stressful?

No stress at all. At 19, I’ve seen many things I will later show my children, share with my family; all I can do is give thanks for everything I have lived. I’ve been given the opportunity to grow up. I used to complain about my problems, and I don’t do that anymore. I’ve seen what real problems are.

Are you aware you will not go back to your former life?

I won’t do everyday things, like going out for coffee or see a movie with my friends, at least not in my country, but I’m used to that, it’s the decision I took, and I am happy.

Stefania Fernandez, from Venezuela, during the Miss Universe 2009 evening gown competition.

What’s your everyday life like now?

Every day is different. There’s nothing planned in my routine. When I’m in New York, I take my English lessons, go to the gym, or to any events that I have there. When I’m traveling, well, one day I’m in India, the other in Russia, the other one in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, or Africa, working with women and children with AIDS. I’m sometimes even scared when they schedule something to do at midnight, and I’m wondering what they’ll have me do the next day during the morning. I remember once, in New York, I took a trapeze lesson, so there’s always a challenge.

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Any criticism or anything you’d like to change about your reign?

I don’t have any criticism, I wouldn’t change anything. I’ve learned from the good things and the bad.

Not even, for instance, having your family move to New York City with you?

Not even that. Keeping my family alone in New York, without me being able to spend time with them, I wouldn’t want that.

Have you been home this year?

I’ve had the chance to go back to Venezuela three times, for work-related stuff, but I haven’t been to my house in Merida in almost two years. I went to the Divina Pastora to pay a promise; she is my Virgin, the one I trust.

I was in Caracas for the welcome, but not in my house.

How many countries have you visited as Miss Universe?

I haven’t counted them, my fans count them for me, but I think 20, and I’ve been to some of those on several occasions.

Which of the things you have denied yourself will you do once your reign concludes?

Taking a vacation. I haven’t denied myself food, I love eating. I think I need to sleep a lot, take a vacation, and share it with my family.

W her e do y ou wa nt t o g o on vacat ion?

I’ll be in Merida, my grandparents are there. They are sick. Afterward, I’ll go to my country’s beaches for a week or so.

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There was a controversy about your boyfriend, who was supposedly involved in a murder. Are you still with him?

Yes, we’re still together.

Did the organization back you up during this scandal?

They did, unconditionally. Besides, he had been with me during that weekend, he had met people from the organization, so everybody was calm. We had to wait until his lawyer spoke to the public. I had my trust in God, in the Divina Pastora, that everything would be worked out.

How have you been able to maintain the relationship in the midst of so much work?

We talk a lot, we communicate over the Internet, blackberry; he has gone to New York to visit me many times; the three times I was in Venezuela I went to see him.

Donald Trump is famous for being too demanding. How did you do with him?

Excellent. I’ve seen him about four or five times. He’s an excellent man, one of the best bosses I’ve had. The first day he met me, during the crowning, he asked me to promise him I would learn English and that’s what I did. I don’t speak it perfectly, but I get around. We have been together in some events, and he’s proud of me.

How did you face the talking about Miss Dominican Republic deserving the crown more than you?

I was always very calm. That was what everybody asked me during my first day of interviews, and I answered that my boss, Donald Trump, was happy, as well as the organization. That’s what I used to hear back then. I’ve always been like this; I care about what the people who are close to me think. My mind was set on winning, the day I left for the Bahamas I told my family I would bring that joy to Venezuela, and I did. I told my mom, and I worked hard. They elected Miss Venezuela one year before, so I worked day and night during that year.

On the oposite page: Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008, crowning Stefania Fernandez during the Miss Universe 2009 Pageant. Both from Venezuela, it was the first time in history a country won two years in a row.

What fear or weakness did you overcome with your reign?

I used to be shy in front of the camera and during interviews. When I won Miss Venezuela we worked on my speech skills a lot. I was a fresh out of school girl, who did not speak other languages, who had no modeling experience, and I’m suddenly in Miss Universe with 85 other candidates, many of whom spoke five languages, were lawyers and doctors, and that was my fear; but I always told myself I had to show the kind of person I am. I understood that if we make a mistake, we need to get over it.

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S pecial T hanks to The Miss Universe Organization, Paula Shugart, Donald Trump, Osmel Sousa, The Miss Venezuela Organization, Nuestra Belleza México, Binibining Philippinas

P hotography credits Aleta Gaetano, Jerica Pelaez, Aiko Deltoro, Ada Blackshear, Caitlyn Licea, Tammara Onan, Grady Levay, Cythia, Mundo, Jody Duffer, Rosalba Shibley, Shirlene Tillett, Ellsworth Hagler, Felix Polizzi, Leana Deslauriers, Trinidad Tyrrell, Dianna Uhlig, Siobhan Weldon, Wayne Bara, Elfriede Mcie, Kalyn Ruffin, Kymberly Gade, Daren Yelverton, Adah Penning, Curtis Blanco, Ferne Macko, Garnett Mcpeak, Ami Stalvey, Shirely Haupt, Neida Kaler, Vikki Games, Agnes Gutierez, Otelia Sidney, Bambi Dockstader, Desire Wyatt, Weston Mcnerney, Cheyenne Bulow, Meta Forsberg, Trudy Modeste, Cindi Armwood, Ryan Varghese, Leola Pankratz, Zack Serpa, Jules Tu, Leonila Manry, Corine Colby, Lawrence Mcneal, Renaldo Middleton, Elvin Wildes, Virgil Tedrick, Rosendo Pew 34

Ximena Navarrete at the Puteri Indonesia 2011 Pageant.

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