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 (United States)
← 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	United States – 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
Greece	Doreta Xirou[23]	19	Athens
Hawaii	Aileen Lauwae Stone[24]	20	Honolulu
Italy	Rita Stazzi[25]	21	Milan
Japan	Kinuko Ito[26]	21	Tokyo
Mexico	Ana Bertha Lepe[27]	18	Tecolotlán
Norway	Synnøve Gulbrandsen[13]	23	Oslo
Panama	Emita Arosemena[28]	22	Panama City
Peru	Mary Ann Sarmiento[29]	22	Department of Ucayali
Philippines	Cristina Pacheco[30]	18	Manila
Puerto Rico	Wanda Irizarry[31]	20	Rio Piedras
South Africa	Ingrid Mills[32]	20	Salisbury, Rhodesia
Sweden	Ulla Sandklef[33]	18	Gothenburg
Switzerland	Danielle Oudinet[34]	20	Lausanne
Turkey	Ayten Akyol[35]	21	Istanbul
United States	Myrna Hansen[36]	18	Chicago
Uruguay	Alicia Ibáñez[37]	23	Montevideo
Venezuela	Gisela Bolaños[38]	20	Carabobo
West Germany	Christel Schaack[39]	18	Berlin

Notes

1. Ages at the time of the pageant