Brucene Smith
Encyclopedia
Karen Brucene Smith-Galvan (née Smith; born June 21, 1951) is a former beauty queen
from the United States
who was crowned Miss World USA 1971 and Miss International 1974
.
Galvan graduated from Calhoun High School
in 1969 and was a former student at Victoria College and a junior
in elementary education at the University of Texas at Austin
when she decided to participate in Miss World USA.
's national beauty pageant, Miss World USA, held in Hampton, Virginia
, capturing the crown and the right to represent the United States
in Miss World 1971
.
After her win, Calhoun County
honored Galvan with a public reception and proclaimed October 24 as Brucene Day.
As the official representative of her country
to the 1971 Miss World
pageant, held in London
, she was a bookies' favorite and became one of the top 7 finalists, placing sixth overall.
After the competition, Galvan joined Bob Hope
for his 21st Christmas tour overseas.
as Miss American Beauty
in the 1974 Miss International
pageant in Tokyo
and was crowned the eventual winner of the title, receiving two million yen in first prize money.
, but New York City
's jet set
life proved to be overwhelming for her small-town upbringing and she returned to Austin
one month later.
After crowning Miss International 1975
, Galvan stayed for six months in Japan
, working as a model and making appearances across the country. Then she returned to the United States and continued her work as a model in Dallas for three more years.
In 1980, Galvan married husband David with whom she has six children, and moved to Helotes, Texas
near the Hill Country
in San Antonio
's metropolitan area
to focus on raising a family.
Beauty Queen
"Beauty Queen" is the second song from Roxy Music's second album, For Your Pleasure. The lyrics refer to Ferry's girlfriend, Valerie Leon, one-time UK beauty queen, B-movie actress and model working in the Newcastle area, circa 1973.-Musicians:...
from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
who was crowned Miss World USA 1971 and Miss International 1974
Miss International 1974
Miss International 1974, the 14th edition of Miss International, was held at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan on October 9, 1974. 45 contestants competed for the title. Brucene Smith of the United States, representing American Beauty, was crowned Miss International 1974.-Placements:-External links:*...
.
Early life
Galvan was born and raised in Port Lavaca with parents David Bruce Smith and Belle Dunlap-Smith; and grandmother Adela Dunlap. She grew up with four sisters: Cynthia, Darlene, Carrie, Suzanne; and one brother, Robert Bruce. Her father, David Bruce, named her after him, Brucene.Galvan graduated from Calhoun High School
Calhoun High School (Port Lavaca, Texas)
Calhoun High School is a public high school located in Port Lavaca, Texas and is part of the Calhoun County Independent School District. It came into being when all of the county schools were consolidated in 1948. The present school was built in the 1960s when the former high school, now Travis...
in 1969 and was a former student at Victoria College and a junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
in elementary education at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
when she decided to participate in Miss World USA.
Miss World USA 1971
Galvan competed against 47 delegates in her countryUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
's national beauty pageant, Miss World USA, held in Hampton, Virginia
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
, capturing the crown and the right to represent the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in Miss World 1971
Miss World 1971
Miss World 1971, the 21st annual Miss World pageant, was held on November 10, 1971 at Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom. 56 contestants competed for the Miss World...
.
After her win, Calhoun County
Calhoun County, Texas
Calhoun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, the population was 20,647. Its county seat is Port Lavaca. It is a part of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area...
honored Galvan with a public reception and proclaimed October 24 as Brucene Day.
As the official representative of her country
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to the 1971 Miss World
Miss World 1971
Miss World 1971, the 21st annual Miss World pageant, was held on November 10, 1971 at Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom. 56 contestants competed for the Miss World...
pageant, held in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, she was a bookies' favorite and became one of the top 7 finalists, placing sixth overall.
After the competition, Galvan joined Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
for his 21st Christmas tour overseas.
Miss International 1974
On October 9, 1974, Galvan represented the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as Miss American Beauty
Miss United States International
Miss US International is the official United States of America preliminary to Miss International. The USA has sent a representative to the Miss International pageant since its inception in 1960...
in the 1974 Miss International
Miss International 1974
Miss International 1974, the 14th edition of Miss International, was held at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan on October 9, 1974. 45 contestants competed for the title. Brucene Smith of the United States, representing American Beauty, was crowned Miss International 1974.-Placements:-External links:*...
pageant in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and was crowned the eventual winner of the title, receiving two million yen in first prize money.
Life after Miss International
In January 1975, Galvan was briefly signed by Wilhelmina ModelsWilhelmina Cooper
Wilhelmina Cooper was a model who began with Ford Models and, at the peak of her success, founded her own agency, Wilhelmina Models, in New York City in 1967.-Life:...
, but New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's jet set
Jet set
"Jet set" is a journalistic term that was used to describe an international social group of wealthy people, organizing and participating all around the world in social activities that are unreachable to ordinary people...
life proved to be overwhelming for her small-town upbringing and she returned to Austin
Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
one month later.
After crowning Miss International 1975
Miss International 1975
Miss International 1975, the 15th Miss International beauty pageant was held at Okinawa's Expo Portside Theater, Motobu, Japan on November 3, 1975. 48 contestants competed for the pageant. Finally, Lidija Manić from Yugoslavia crown as Miss International 1975....
, Galvan stayed for six months in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, working as a model and making appearances across the country. Then she returned to the United States and continued her work as a model in Dallas for three more years.
In 1980, Galvan married husband David with whom she has six children, and moved to Helotes, Texas
Helotes, Texas
Helotes is a city in Bexar County, Texas, United States. It is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,285 at the 2000 census; the July 1, 2009 Census estimate, however, showed the population had grown to 7,960.-History:According to...
near the Hill Country
Texas Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country is a vernacular term applied to a region of Central Texas featuring tall rugged hills consisting of thin layers of soil atop limestone or granite. It also includes the Llano Uplift and the second largest granite monadnock in the United States, Enchanted Rock, which is located...
in San Antonio
Greater San Antonio
Greater San Antonio is a 8-county metropolitan area defined by the Office of Management and Budget. It is located in the South Central region of Texas. The MSA of Greater San Antonio is colloquially referred to as the "San Antonio-New Braunfels" metropolitan area as of the 2010 census.The official...
's metropolitan area
United States metropolitan area
In the United States a metropolitan statistical area is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are not legally incorporated as a city or town would be, nor are they legal administrative divisions like...
to focus on raising a family.