Miss Universe Stats & Trivia

Did you know that two of our Miss Americas can be credited with the inspiration to create the Miss Universe Organization?

The morning after she was selected, Yolande Betbeze, Miss America 1951, announced that she would not pose for photographs in a swimsuit. A few months later, Yolande's predecessor, Jacque Mercer, was making an appearance for Catalina, the Miss America swimsuit sponsor, and EB Stewart, the president of Catalina, was complaining about Yolande's refusal to pose.  Jacque said to Mr. Stewart "Why don't you start your own pageant?"  She suggested the title Miss United Nations which remained the working title until Universal Pictures (the film company) got involved and the name was changed.  Rosemary LaPlanche, Miss America 1941 (from California), crowned the first winner in Long Beach in 1952.

The pageant was held in Long Beach, California from 1952 to 1959 and the Miss USA Pageant was held at the beginning of the week.  Miss USA was crowned midweek and started competing in Miss Universe the very next day. Miss Universe was crowned on Saturday night.

The pageant moved to Miami Beach, Florida in 1960 where it remained until 1971.  This was also when Miss USA started being held approximately six weeks prior to Miss Universe.

Advances in satellite television capabilities allowed the pageant to start traveling around the world in 1972 when the pageant was held in Puerto Rico. Subsequent host cities through 1980 were Athens, Manila, San Salvador, Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, Acapulco, Perth, and Seoul.

Depending on how you count various titles, between 160-165 different countries have competed at Miss Universe over the last 64 years. For example, Ceylon becoming Sri Lanka in 1972 is pretty straight forward, but England competed along with Scotland and Wales until 1990 when they were combined into the title of United Kingdom and later Great Britain.

The total number of contestants hovered in the low 30's in the 1950s, rose from the 40s into the low 60's by the end of the 1960's, finally reached the mid-70s by the end of the 1970s, fluctuated between the mid-60s and the low 80's during the 1980s, ranged from the low 70s to the low 80s throughout the 1990s & 2000s, and has been solidly in the upper 80s for the last four years.

Notice Miss India, third photo down in the left column.  That's Persis Khambatta who went on to star in the first Star Trek movie in 1979 with the shaved head.

Did you know that Iraq sent a rep in 1972 and that Cuba (listed as Free Cuba) competed 14 times between 1952-1967 (with a 3rd RU and a Top 15 SF)?

I'll admit it, I learned much of my world geography from watching Miss Universe, and I still miss the team of Bob Barker and Helen O'Connell as hosts.

This blog has three lists for your enjoyment:
Best Records: which countries have the best records of making the semi-finals or better
Highest Participation: which countries have sent representatives to Miss Universe most often
Predicting this year's semi-finalists: which countries have been doing well recently

Best Records
Key - 20(5)-W,1,2,3,4 means that the country has made the semi-finals at Miss Universe 20 times with five of those women placing.  In this situation, the country can boast a Miss Universe Winner, a 1st Runner-up, a 2nd Runner-up, a 3rd Runner-up, and a 4th Runner-up.
Note - there have been several years where a Top 6 or a Top 5 were called as Finalists but not everyone was named as a Runner-up.  These will be indicated with a "5" or a "6."
Ties are broken first by the number of finalists and then by the actual placement of those finalists.
1. USA - 59(35)-W,W,W,W,W,W,W,W,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,3,4,4,4,4,4,5,5,6,6,6,6
2. Venezuela - 40(29)-W,W,W,W,W,W,W,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,3,3,3,3,3,4,4,5,6,6,6
3. Brazil - 33(15)-W,W,1,1,1,1,1,2,3,3,4,4,4,4,4
4. Colombia - 31(13)-W,W,1,1,1,1,2,2,3,3,3,4,5
5. Sweden -29(13)-W,W,W,1,2,2,3,3,3,4,4,4,4
6. Germany - 21(7)-W,1,3,3,4,4,4
7. India - 22(7)-W,W,1,2,3,4,6
8. Puerto Rico - 20(12)-W,W,W,W,W,1,2,2,3,4,5,6
9*. England/Great Britain/UK - 20(9)-1,2,2,2,3,3,3,4,4
I counted Great Britain's Top 10 placement in 2013 since she was born in London.  Scotland and Wales have an additional five semi-finalist placements EACH, and three runners-up EACH as well.  In fact, all three countries made the semi-finals together or in 1961, 1976, and 1979.  No contestant from the British isles has ever won Miss Universe, however, Miss United Kingdom has won Miss World five times (Miss World is based in London and was founded in 1951, one year prior to Miss Universe's founding).
10. Israel - 20(7)-W,2,3,3,4,4,4
11. South Africa - 20(6)-W,1,2,3,3,5
12. Philippines - 19(12)-W,W,1,1,1,3,3,3,3,4,5,6
13. Finland - 18(12)-W,W,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,3,4
14. Japan - 18(9)-W,W,1,2,3,3,4,4,4
15. Greece - 18(4)-W,1,2,3
16. Australia - 17(11)-W,W,1,2,2,2,3,3,4,4,6
17. Mexico - 17(9)-W,W,2,3,3,4,5,6,6
18. Spain - 17(8)-W,1,1,2,2,2,3,4
19. Norway - 17(3)-W,1,2
20*. France - 17(1)-W
20*. Peru - 17(1)-W
France and Peru have the best records of making the semi-finals but with only a single Top 5 Finalist so far, and that Finalist became Miss Universe: Christiane Martel, 1953 (France) and Gladys Zender; 1957 (Peru); Other nations with only a single Top 5 Semi-Finalist, who happened to be names Miss Universe include: Lebanon-Georgina Rizk, 1971; Namibia-Mchelle McLean-1992; Botswana-Mpule Kwelagobe-1999; and Angola-Leila Lopes, 2011.
22. Canada - 16(5)-W,W,1,2,5
23. Italy - 15(5)-1,1,2,4,6
24. Argentina - 15(3)-W,2,4
25. Netherlands/Holland - 13(5)-W,1,3,4,6
26. Chile - 13(2)-W,6

Highest participation
Only four (4) countries have sent a representative to EVERY Miss Universe Pageant in the last 64 years (including this year).  Here's the list of the 25 countries that have sent reps most often:

USA - 64 years
Canada - 64
France - 64
Germany - 64
Greece - 63 (no rep in 1988)
Israel - 63 (no rep in 1953)
Japan - 62 (no rep in 1996 or 1997)
Venezuela - 62 (no reps in 1954 or 1959)
Brazil - 61 (no reps in 1952, 1953, or 1990)
Italy - 61 (no reps in 1969, 1992, or 2006)
Peru - 61 (no reps in 1955, 1973, or 1974)
Sweden - 61 (no reps in 2005, 2007, or 2008)
Costa Rica - 60 (no reps in 1952, 1953, 1961, or 1969)
Finland - 60 (no reps from 1956-1959)
Korea - 60 (no reps in 1952, 1953, 1956, or 1969)
Philippines - 60 (no reps from 1958-1961)
Puerto Rico - 60 (no reps from 1958-1960 or in 1969)
Belgium - 59 (no reps in 1966, 1969, 1987, 1990, or 1995)
Uruguay - 59 (no reps in 1966, 1969, 1995, 2003, or 2013)
Ecuador - 58 (no reps in 1952-1954, 1967, 1969, or 1974)
Argentina - 57 (no reps in 1952, 1953, 1965, 1995, 2002, 2004, 2005)
Colombia - 57 (no reps in 1952-1957, 1971)
Mexico -  57 (no reps in 1960-1964, 1966, 1969)
Norway -  57 (no reps in 1956, 1957, 1974, 1975, 1997, 1999, 2011)
Bolivia - 56 (no reps in 1952-1958, or 1969)


Predicting the Semi-Finalists (What countries are "On-A-Roll?")
We all know that you should automatically put the USA and Venezuela in your Top 15 but who else should we really watch during the Parade of Nations?  Here are countries that have done well in recent years
Australia-Australia has made the semi-finals in six of the last seven years, including five years straight from 08-12 with three Top 10s and three RUs plus Jennifer Hawkins' win in 04 before this streak started.
Brazil-Brazil has made the semi-finals the last four consecutive years with three consecutive RUs in 2011, 2012, & 2013, plus Brazil is 3rd overall historically.
Colombia-Paulina Vega became Colombia's second Miss Universe last year, and lost its first Miss Universe, Luz Marina Zuluaga (1957) on December 2nd. Colombia had five semi-finalists in 8 years (between 2004-2011, including 1st RU in 2008), and the country is 4th overall historically.
Dominican Republic-Amelia Vega's win in 03 and then three RUs and a Top 10 in the last ten years.
France-Four consecutive Semi-Finalists from 2009-2012.
India-India has made the semi-finals the last three consecutive years. India had eleven (!) consecutive semi-finalists between 92-02 including two wins (Sushmita Sen in 94 and Lara Dutta in 2000), four finalists, and five semi-finalists.
Kosovo-Competing only seven of the last eight years, Kosovo has had four semi-finalists, including a runner-up.
Mexico-Seven semi-finalists between 2004-2012 including Ximena Navarrete's win in 2010 and two RUs.
Philippines-Philippines has made the Semi-Finals the last five consecutive years, including four Top 5 Finalists between 2010-2013.
Puerto Rico-Thirteen (13) semi-finalists in the last 22 years, including Dayanara Torres' and Zuleyka Rivera's wins in 93 and 06 respectively, along with five more runners-up/finals placements.
Russia-Four semi-finalists between 2006-2012 including one runner-up.
Ukraine-Six semi-finalists (and three runners-up/Top 5 finalists) in the last nine years.
USA-The USA has only NOT made the semi-finals four (4) times EVER (76, 99, 02, and 10).
Venezuela-Venezuela started doing well in 1967 with its first Top 5 placement (1st RU). Over 11 years (67-77), they produced six semi-finalists, including three RUs.  Then Maritza Sayalero (one of my all-time favorites) kicked Venezuela into its highest gear by winning in 79.  Irene Saez' win followed just two years later in 81. Then, starting in 83, Venezuela made the semi-finals 21 years straight (83-03) with 16 runners-up and two more wins (Barbara Palacios Teyde in 86 and Alicia Machado in 96).  In fact, within that time period, Venezuela made the Finals/Tops 5 an incredible 13 years straight (91-03).  Most recently, the country can boast seven semi-finalists in the last nine years, including three runners-up and three more winners (Dayana Mendoza in 08, Stefania Fernandez in 09, and Gabriela Isler in 2013).

Maritza Sayalero
Miss Venezuela 1979
Miss Universe 1979

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Remembering Bess Myerson, Miss America 1945

Bess Myerson, Miss America 1945.  The first woman to win a scholarship as Miss America.  You've hopefully read the many tributes and online life accounts.  Here are a few more facts about her year as Miss America.

In 1945, a total of 41 women competed at Miss America; 28 held state titles, 12 held city titles, and the final contestant's title was Miss Northern British Columbia (in Canada), who was also named Miss Congeniality.  Bess was a double prelim winner in both Swimsuit and Talent (the only double prelim winner that year).  Interestingly, 9 of the 12 city title holders came from states that also sent state winners to Miss America (Atlanta & Georgia; Boston & Massachusetts; Chicago & Illinois; Cincinnati & Ohio; Detroit & Michigan; Miami Beach & Florida; New York City & New York State; Philadelphia & Pennsylvania; San Diego & California). AND, only 6 of the 41 contestants came from west of the Mississippi River.

As we remember and honor Bess Myerson, Miss America 1945, I would like to share a few anecdotes from 'There She Is, The life and Times of Miss America," by Frank Deford (1970):

From Chapter 4 "How to Be 36-24-26 in a Swimsuit":

Bess Myerson, in 1945, held the first Miss America scholarship, presumably because she was so talented musically, but Miss Myerson has often credited a tight bathing suit with playing a large part in her victory.  She wanted to wear a size 34 white suit, but her hostess was a bit put off by the tight fit and suggested Bess wear a lime-colored size 36.  She appeared in this suit at an impromptu veterans' hospital show that was staged the day before the Pageant officially began. "They hooted and hollered at the other girls," Bess said.  "When I passed they politely flipped their hands together."

back at her hotel that night, Bess conferred with her two sisters, and it was decided that Sylvia, who was a size 36, would sleep in the white 34 to stretch it just a bit.  This Sylvia did, but the next morning they still couldn't get the straps to fit Bess, so her sisters sewed the straps shut.  Bess had to wear the suit under her evening gown and other performing clothes when she was sewn back into it for the competition.  She was a smashing victory.

From Chapter 9 "Up from Cheesecakery":

Bess Myerson once said of Lenora Slaughter, "She picked the Pageant up by its bathing suit straps and put it in an evening gown."

(Need your comments/thoughts on this next part considering the five Miss America winners since this was written in 1970): The national press, located in New York, has always looked down smugly on Miss America, and treated it, automatically, with contempt.  Nevertheless, the New York/national press has taken pains to separate its own Miss America from these indignities.  Bess has always been dealt with seriously.  Her case, of course, is only one example of the New York bias that runs through every element of the New York/national press.  The Pageant has been rather unlucky that no New York girl has won in the last quarter century, for it is nearly predictable that if one ever did, Miss America's image-which is weak in metropolitan areas, especially the more titled East-would be instantly repaired. (Thoughts?)

Without question Bess remains the most famous of all Miss Americas-although Lee Meriwether, 1955, has been making a late run on the outside as a movie and TV actress.

Bess first was quoted telling this story in 1950,...,and she repeated the tale nine years later for another newspaper.

"After I won the title, I toured vaudeville.  I came out in a high-neck gown and played The Fire Dance and Malaguena on the piano and flute.  I could hear the boys up front complaining and muttering. 'Where's the bathing suit?' so in the finale I came out in a white bathing suit, and the boys would cheer.  Toward the end of the tour, I realized they didn't want to hear my music, so I just came out in a bathing suit.  Finally, I was losing weight and not filling out the bathing suit, so I quit."

Bess remains, however, the most famous of the breed.  generally, in the quarter of a century before her, girls entered Miss America as a way to get to Hollywood.  In the quarter of a cenury past, they have entered as a way to get a scholarship. And, unquestionably the girls have fared better in college than in the movies.  In this respect, anyway, scholarships have certainly occasioned an improvement in the Pageant, and Bess, as Exhibit A, provided a rare visibility for a Miss America that surely heightened the advance.

***
Bess, thank you for your leadership and your service.

Questions, corrections, feedback, or suggestions?  Post on the CROWNED Facebook page or email me at crownedmissa@gmail.com.