Miss Universe 1952

Miss Universe 1952
Armi Kuusela
Date28 June 1952 (1952-06-28)
PresentersBob Russell
VenueLong 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
  • United States
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela
  • West Germany
WinnerArmi Kuusela
Finland
(Relinquished)
CongenialityMyriam Lynn (Belgium)
Valerie Johnson (Montana)

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

At the conclusion of the event, actress Piper Laurie crowned Armi Kuusela of Finland as Miss Universe 1952.[2][4]

Contestants from thirty 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 23 June to 30 June 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] Indrani Rahman of India became the first contestant to be married with children.[11][12]

This policy was changed in 1957 where the participation of women who are married or already have children was prohibited.[13] This policy was then reinstated in 2023.[14][15] One contestant was selected to replace the original dethroned winner.

Replacements

Gladys Rubio, Runner-Up of Miss Uruguay 1952, was appointed to represent Uruguay after the winner, Rosa Adela Prunell, withdrew because her mother wanted to accompany her.[16]

Debuts

This edition saw the debuts of Alaska, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Greece, Hawaii, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey, the United States, Uruguay, Venezuela and the West Germany.[17]

Elisabeth van Proosdij of Holland was set to compete for the first time but withdrew because she was already married during her reign, despite Miss Universe permitting married contestants.[18][19] Leila Teresa Tuma of Syria withdrew due to political tensions in her country.[20] Brazil and the Republic of China were invited but withdrew due to insufficient preparations for national pageants.[8]

Results

Placements

Placement Contestant
Miss Universe 1952
1st Runner-Up
  •  Hawaii – Elsa Edsman[21]
2nd Runner-Up
  • Greece – Ntaizy Mavraki[21]
3rd Runner-Up
4th Runner-Up
Top 10[21]

Special awards

Award Contestant
Miss Amity
  •  Belgium – Myriam Lynn[21]
Miss Friendship
  • Montana – Valerie Johnson[21]
Most Popular Girl in Parade
Miss Welcome to Long Beach
  • Jeri Miller

Contestants

Thirty contestants competed for the title.[22]

Country/Territory Contestant Age[b] Hometown
Alaska Shirley Burnett[23] 19 Fairbanks
Australia Leah McCartney[24] 19 Elwood
Belgium Myriam Lynn[25] 25 Brussels
Canada Ruth Carrier[1] 21 Ontario
Chile Esther Saavedra[22] 23 Santiago
Cuba Gladys López[22] 20 Havana
Denmark Hanne Sørensen[26] 20 Copenhagen
Finland Armi Kuusela[27] 17 Muhos
France Claude Godard[28] 22 Paris
Great Britain Aileen Chase[22] 21 London
Greece Ntaizy Mavraki[29] 18 Athens
Hawaii Elsa Edsman[30] 20 Honolulu
Hong Kong Judy Dan[31] 21 Hong Kong
India Indrani Rahman[32] 21 Chennai
Israel Ora Vered[33] 18 Tel Aviv
Italy Giovanna Mazzotti[34] 19 Lombardy
Japan Himeko Kojima[22] 20 Osaka
Mexico Olga Llorens Pérez[35] 21 Ciudad Juárez
Norway Eva Røine[22] 24 Oslo
Panama Gisela Malek[36] 18 Coclé
Peru Ada Bueno[37] 18 Apurímac
Philippines Teresita Sanchez[38] 19 Malolos
Puerto Rico Marilia Levy[39] 20 Lares
South Africa Catherine Higgins[40] 19 Transvaal
Sweden Anne Marie Tistler[22] 19 Stockholm
Turkey Gelengül Tayfuroğlu[41][42] 18 Ankara
United States Jacqueline Loughery[43] 21 Brooklyn
Uruguay Gladys Rubio[22] 21 Montevideo
Venezuela Sofía Silva[44] 23 Tumeremo
West Germany Renate Hoy[22] 21 Ludwigshafen

Notes

  1. ^ Kuusela relinquished her title as Miss Universe 1952 shortly before her reign was scheduled to end to marry Filipino businessman, Virgilio Hilario, on May 4, 1953. Despite this, her resignation was not made official by the Miss Universe Organization.
  2. ^ Ages at the time of the pageant

References

  1. ^ a b "Blonde from Finland named Miss Universe". Ottawa Citizen. June 30, 1952. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  2. ^ a b 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. ^ Diane Bell (September 5, 2014). "La Jollan was 1st 'Miss Universe'". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  5. ^ Voltaire Tayag (16 May 2021). "Miss Universe crowns: Sentimental favorites, all-time greats". Rappler. Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. 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. ^ Sam Roberts (26 February 2016). "Yolande Betbeze Fox, Miss America Who Defied Convention, Dies at 87". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  8. ^ a b c 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. ^ "Indrani Rahman Was Married With A Kid When She Went On To Represent India At The First Miss Universe". India Times. 15 July 2016. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  12. ^ Shrivastava, Anuradha (18 February 2021). "Inspiring Story Of Indrani Rahman Who Represented India At The First Miss Universe In 1952". Postoast. Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ Earl D. C. Bracamonte (12 August 2022). "Miss Universe allows moms, wives to join starting 2023". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  15. ^ Peony Hirwani (12 August 2022). "Miss Universe announces inclusive change to pageant after more than 70 years". The Independent. Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
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  17. ^ Wang, Zijing (23 September 2024). "Beyond the Crown: Miss Hong Kong's Shifting Influence". The World of Chinese. Archived from the original on 24 January 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  18. ^ "Elisabeth van Proosdy Miss Holland 1951". De Telegraaf. 28 April 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 11 January 2025 – via Delpher.
  19. ^ "Miss Holland getrouwd". Het Parool. 1 July 1952. p. 7. Retrieved 11 January 2025 – via Delpher.
  20. ^ Samy Marwan Mobayed (30 March 2022). "Syrian beauty pageants from a long, long time ago". Raseef22. Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lo, Ricky (September 30, 2016). "The first (1952) Miss U pageant". Philippine Star. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i "The 'UN of Beauty'". Long Beach Independent. 22 June 1952. p. 76. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Seeks 'Miss Universe' title". Oxnard Press-Courier. 21 June 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 7 July 2023 – via Google News Archive.
  24. ^ "Miss Victoria wins Miss Australia". The Sun News-Pictorial. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 17 June 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 17 October 2025 – via Trove.
  25. ^ "Jewels lost, says beauty". Singapore Free Press. 7 July 1952. p. 8. Retrieved 7 July 2023 – via National Library Board.
  26. ^ "Danish beauty". Gettysburg Times. 21 June 1952. p. 5. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via Google News Archive.
  27. ^ "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.
  28. ^ "She's Miss France". The News. 31 May 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via Trove.
  29. ^ "Greece's pageant entry". The Indianapolis Star. 26 June 1952. p. 44. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via Google News Archive.
  30. ^ "Elsa Edsman chosen as "Miss Hawaiian Islands"". The Honolulu Advertiser. Honolulu, Hawaii. 18 June 1952. p. 13. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Hollywood film shop". Shamokin News-Dispatch. Shamokin, Pennsylvania. 20 July 1956. p. 9. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "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.
  33. ^ "Israel's choice for Miss Universe". The Sentinel⁩. 3 July 1952. p. 15. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library of Israel.
  34. ^ "Sabato a Long Beach sarà eletta "Miss Universo.," (PDF). l’Unità. 25 June 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 15 April 2025 – via l'Unità - Archivio storico.
  35. ^ "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. Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  36. ^ "Panama's prettiest". The Evening Independent. Massillon, Ohio. 21 June 1952. p. 2. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "Peru's entry". The Call-Leader. Elwood, Indiana. 18 June 1952. p. 8. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ Ricky Lo (12 February 2010). "Misses RP for Miss U pageant, 1952-'63". Philippine Star. Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  39. ^ 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). Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  40. ^ "Look alike beauty winners". The Daily Reporter. 21 June 2022. p. 3. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ "Turkish Delight". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 21 June 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ Tarihi, Güncelleme (4 May 2020). "Güzeller canlı yayında buluştu" [Beauties met on live broadcast]. Hürriyet (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  43. ^ "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.
  44. ^ 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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