Miss Universe 1953

Miss Universe 1953 was the 2nd Miss Universe pageant, held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California, United States of America on 17 July 1953.

Miss Universe 1953
Christiane Martel
Date	17 July 1953 (1953-07-17)
Presenters	Bob Russell
Venue	Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California, United States
Entrants	26
Placements	16
Debuts	Austria Switzerland
Withdrawals	Chile Cuba Great Britain Hong Kong India Israel
Winner	Christiane Martel France
Congeniality	Jeanne Thompson (Louisiana)
Photogenic	Myrna Hansen (USA)
← 1952 1954 →

At the end of the event, actress Julie Adams crowned Christiane Martel from France as Miss Universe 1953.^[1][2] It is the first victory of France in the pageant's history.^[3] Miss Universe 1952 Armi Kuusela of Finland was not able to crown her successor after she chose to relinquish her crown in order to marry.^[4][5]

Contestants from twenty-six countries and territories competed in this year's pageant, marking the smallest turnout to date for Miss Universe as of 2023. The pageant was hosted by Bob Russell. This edition also featured the Metallic Bronze Crown designed by American silversmith Allan Adler, an all-bronze crown known for its lack of rhinestones and gemstones. The crown was only used for this edition.^[6]

Background

Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, the venue of Miss Universe 1953

Miss Universe 1953 and her court (from left to right): Ana Bertha Lepe, Myrna Hansen, Kinuko Ito, and Maxine Morgan.

Selection of participants

Contestants from twenty-six countries and territories were selected to compete in the pageant. One contestant was selected after another national pageant was held to replace the original dethroned winner.

Replacements

After Miss France 1953 Sylviane Carpentier chose not to participate in any international pageant in order to marry, two separate competitions were held to determine the candidates of France to Miss Universe and Miss World.^[7] The Miss Cinema 1953 contest which was responsible for sending the candidate of France to Miss Universe was won by Christiane Martel.^[8]

Debuts and withdrawals

The 1953 edition saw the debuts of Austria and Switzerland, and the withdrawals of Chile, Cuba, Great Britain, Hong Kong, India, and Israel after their respective organizations failed to hold a national competition or designate a contestant. Singapore was also set to compete in this edition.^[9] However, the Miss Singapore contest was postponed to next year due to lack of time and preparation.^[10][11]

Results

Placements

Placement	Contestant
Miss Universe 1953	France – Christiane Martel[1]
1st runner-up	United States – Myrna Hansen[1]
2nd runner-up	Japan – Kinuko Ito[1]
3rd runner-up	Mexico – Ana Bertha Lepe[1]
4th runner-up	Australia – Maxine Morgan[1]
Top 16	Austria – Lore Felger  Canada – Thelma Brewis  Denmark – Jytte Olsen  West Germany – Christel Schaack  Italy – Rita Stazzi  Norway – Synnove Gulbrandsen  Panama – Emita Arosemena  Peru – Mary Ann Sarmiento  South Africa – Ingrid Mills  Turkey – Ayten Akyol  Uruguay – Alicia Ibáñez

Special awards

Award	Contestant
Miss Photogenic	USA – Myrna Hansen
Miss Friendship	Louisiana – Jeanne Thompson

Pageant

Format

From ten semi-finalists in 1952, sixteen semi-finalists were chosen at the preliminary competition that consists of the swimsuit and evening gown competition. Each of the sixteen semi-finalists gave a short speech during the final telecast using their native languages. Afterwards, the sixteen semi-finalists paraded again in their swimsuits and evening gowns, and the five finalists were eventually chosen.^[12]

Selection committee

• Jeff Chandler – American actor^[12]
• Arlene Dahl – American actress^[12]
• Rhonda Fleming – American actress, singer^[12]
• Constance Moore – American actress, singer^[12]
• Bud Westmore – American make-up artist for film^[12]

Contestants

Miss Universe 1953 participating countries and territories

The Miss Universe 1953 contestants in Long Beach, California

Twenty-six contestants competed for the title.^[13][14]

Country/Territory	Contestant	Age[a]	Hometown
Alaska	Muriel Hagberg[15]	18	Fairbanks
Australia	Maxine Morgan[16]	20	Sydney
Austria	Lore Felger[17]	18	Vienna
Belgium	Elayne Cortois[18]	23	Brussels
Canada	Thelma Brewis[19]	21	Ontario
Denmark	Jytte Olsen[20]	18	Gilleleje
Finland	Teija Sopanen[21]	20	Tampere
France	Christiane Martel[22]	18	Paris
West Germany	Christel Schaack[23]	18	Berlin
Greece	Doreta Xirou[24]	19	Athens
Hawaii	Aileen Lauwae Stone[25]	20	Honolulu
Italy	Rita Stazzi[26]	21	Milan
Japan	Kinuko Ito[27]	21	Tokyo
Mexico	Ana Bertha Lepe[28]	18	Tecolotlán
Norway	Synnøve Gulbrandsen[13]	23	Oslo
Panama	Emita Arosemena[29]	22	Panama City
Peru	Mary Ann Sarmiento[30]	22	Department of Ucayali
Philippines	Cristina Pacheco[31]	18	Manila
Puerto Rico	Wanda Irizarry[32]	20	Rio Piedras
South Africa	Ingrid Mills[33]	20	Salisbury, Rhodesia
Sweden	Ulla Sandklef[34]	18	Gothenburg
Switzerland	Danielle Oudinet[35]	20	Lausanne
Turkey	Ayten Akyol[36]	21	Istanbul
USA	Myrna Hansen[37]	18	Chicago
Uruguay	Alicia Ibáñez[38]	23	Montevideo
Venezuela	Gisela Bolaños	20	Carabobo

Notes

1. Ages at the time of the pageant

References

1. "'Miss Universe' title is taken by brunette Parisian model". The Ponca City News. Ponca City, Oklahoma. 19 July 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "French Girl Wins "Miss Universe" Title". Indian Daily Mail. 20 July 1953. p. 4. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via National Library Board.
3. Mihaela, Dima (September 13, 2009). "Miss Universe: Finnish Armi Kuusela first beauty queen". Adevărul. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
4. "Miss Universe Married To Filipino With Black Eye". The Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas. 5 May 1953. p. 8, col. 34. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
5. "'Miss Universe' Weds Filipino with Shiner". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. 5 May 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 11 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
6. Tayag, Voltaire E. (16 May 2021). "Miss Universe crowns: Sentimental favorites, all-time greats". Rappler. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
7. "Sylviane Carpentier, Miss France 1953, est décédée" [Sylviane Carpentier, Miss France 1953, has died]. Le Dauphiné libéré (in French). Grenoble, France. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
8. "Miss Cinema is niet mis!" [Miss Cinema is not wrong!]. Het vrije volk (in Dutch). 26 June 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Delpher.
9. "Singapore joins in quest for beauty". The Straits Times. 12 June 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via National Library Board.
10. "The 'Miss Singapore' contest is postponed". The Straits Times. 21 June 1953. p. 9. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via National Library Board.
11. "Contest Off". Sunday Standard. 21 June 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 11 May 2023 – via National Library Board.
12. "Miss Universe Contestants Narrowed to 16 by Judges". Chillicothe Gazette. Chillicothe, Ohio. 17 July 1953. p. 12. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Miss Universe pageant Tableau of Beauty". Long Beach Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. 12 July 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
14. Becker, Bill (12 July 1953). "Beauties vie for "Miss Universe" title". The Knoxville Journal. p. 34. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Miss Alaska now in California; still has parka". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Fairbanks, Alaska. 10 July 1953. p. 2. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "N.S.W. Girl as Miss Australia". The Advertiser. Adelaide, South Australia. 29 May 1953. p. 3. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Trove.
17. "Miss Austria". The Singapore Free Press. 16 May 1953. p. 3. Retrieved 11 May 2023 – via National Library Board.
18. "Hopes of 8 Nations". Singapore Standard. 13 July 1953. p. 8. Retrieved 11 May 2023 – via National Library Board.
19. "Contestant 'shoots' colleagues". Evening Eagle. 14 July 1953. p. 2. Retrieved 11 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
20. "They Are Seeking 'Miss Universe' Title". The Advertiser. Adelaide, South Australia. 11 July 1953. p. 3. Retrieved 11 May 2023 – via Trove.
21. "Teija Sopanen, Suomen Neito 1953" [Teija Sopanen, Miss Finland 1953]. Yle (in Finnish). 21 November 2011 [8 September 2006]. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
22. "Miss Univers : l'incroyable destin d'une Piennoise" [Miss Universe: the incredible destiny of a Viennese]. Le Républicain Lorrain (in French). 5 July 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
23. Grieger, Von Frank (8 May 2020). "Bademoden gestern und heute: der Bankrott der Biedermänner". Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
24. "World Beauties". Singapore Standard. 14 July 1953. p. 20. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library Board.
25. "Queen of the Islands". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Honolulu, Hawaii. 3 July 1953. p. 5. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
26. "Meet Miss Italy". The Straits Times. 6 July 1953. p. 3. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library Board.
27. "In Kimono". The Singapore Free Press. 23 June 1953. p. 12. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library Board.
28. Avila, Andrea (25 July 2006). "Ana Bertha Lepe, una vida trágica" [Ana Bertha Lepe, a tragic life]. El Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 July 2023.
29. Espino, Rolando (15 April 2012). "46 reinas en 60 años" [46 queens in 60 years]. La Estrella de Panamá (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
30. "Mary Ann Sarmiento, Miss Perú 1953, falleció a los 77 años" [Mary Ann Sarmiento, Miss Peru 1953, passed away at the age of 77]. El Comercio Perú (in Spanish). 12 April 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
31. Lo, Ricky (12 February 2010). "Misses RP for Miss U pageant, 1952-'63". Philippine Star. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
32. 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). Retrieved 23 July 2023.
33. "The beauty Queens seek the crown of— Miss Universe". The Singapore Free Press. 30 June 1953. p. 10. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library Board.
34. "Miss Sweden". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. 2 July 1953. p. 41. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
35. "Two beauties". The Singapore Free Press. Singapore. 10 July 1953. p. 10. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library Board.
36. "Turkey's top beauty guest here". Valley Times. 11 July 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
37. Beck, Joan (February 9, 1953). "Miss Myrna Hansen, 18, Crowned 1953 Queen". Chicago Tribune. Illinois, Chicago. p. Part 3, P 3. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
38. "Refresher (toe)". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane, Australia. 14 July 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via Trove.

External links

• Miss Universe official website