Helen Morgan (Miss World)
Encyclopedia
Helen Morgan is a Welsh
model, and the 1974 winner of the Miss United Kingdom and Miss World
pageant
s. Morgan became the first winner to resign, and the second not to finish her reign as Miss World.
, she worked in a bank
. Entering modelling competitions on a part time basis, she won the Miss Wales
and Miss United Kingdom titles in 1974.
Morgan represented Wales in the 1974 Miss Universe
pageant, where she finished First Runner Up to Amparo Muñoz
of Spain
. When Muñoz resigned as Miss Universe before the end of her reign, the crown was not offered to Morgan or any other runner up.
in Miss World
. She had originally been reluctant to enter the Miss Wales competition, and was eventually paid £30 as a last-minute stand-in when another competitor dropped out. Morgan become the second Welsh woman and the fourth UK representative to win the competition in 1974.
However, she was forced to resign four days after her victory, upon the discovery that she had a 18 month old son. Although this did not violate the competition rules (which stipulated only that entrants must be unmarried), she was made to resign.
First runner-up Anneline Kriel
of South Africa
succeeded her. Helen became the first winner to resign, and the second Miss World titleholder not to finish her reign (the first case was that of Miss World 1973
Marjorie Wallace
who, according to pageant officials, was fired for "failing to fulfill the basic requirements of the job" a few months into her reign).
- an action which was later dropped - Morgan was allowed to keep her other titles. Morgan resigned from the bank, and undertook a career in modeling, TV and films.
in the 1980s, and had two more children Poppy and Ben. Morgan later left the UK, and presently lives in Spain with her husband Ronny Lamb and family.
In 2004, Morgan agreed to judge the 2004 Miss Wales competition in Swansea
, the 30th anniversary of her competition win, won by Amy Guy
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
model, and the 1974 winner of the Miss United Kingdom and Miss World
Miss World
The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...
pageant
Beauty contest
A beauty pageant or beauty contest, is a competition that mainly focuses on the physical beauty of its contestants, although such contests often incorporate personality, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria...
s. Morgan became the first winner to resign, and the second not to finish her reign as Miss World.
Biography
Born in BarryBarry, Wales
Barry is a town and community in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales. Located along the northern coast of the Bristol Channel less than south-southwest of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, Barry is a seaside resort, with attractions including several beaches and the Barry Island Pleasure Park...
, she worked in a bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
. Entering modelling competitions on a part time basis, she won the Miss Wales
Miss Wales
Miss Wales is an annual beauty pageant held in Wales, United Kingdom to select a representative to go through to the Miss World contest. It is currently run by Paula Abbandonato and Clare Birt of Vibe Models, Cardiff.-Rules:...
and Miss United Kingdom titles in 1974.
Morgan represented Wales in the 1974 Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
pageant, where she finished First Runner Up to Amparo Muñoz
Amparo Muñoz
Amparo Muñoz Quesada was a Spanish actress who, in 1974, became the first, and so far, only Spaniard to win the Miss Universe pageant.-Miss Universe 1974:Amparo Muñoz came from the town of Vélez-Málaga, Andalusia,...
of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. When Muñoz resigned as Miss Universe before the end of her reign, the crown was not offered to Morgan or any other runner up.
1974 Miss World
Winning Miss United Kingdom earned Morgan the right to represent the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in Miss World
Miss World
The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...
. She had originally been reluctant to enter the Miss Wales competition, and was eventually paid £30 as a last-minute stand-in when another competitor dropped out. Morgan become the second Welsh woman and the fourth UK representative to win the competition in 1974.
However, she was forced to resign four days after her victory, upon the discovery that she had a 18 month old son. Although this did not violate the competition rules (which stipulated only that entrants must be unmarried), she was made to resign.
First runner-up Anneline Kriel
Anneline Kriel
Anneline Kriel is a South African model and actress. She won the 1974 Miss World contest at age 19, representing South Africa, after UK's Helen Morgan had resigned only four days after her victory. She became the second woman from her country to win the title...
of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
succeeded her. Helen became the first winner to resign, and the second Miss World titleholder not to finish her reign (the first case was that of Miss World 1973
Miss World 1973
The 23rd Annual Miss World pageant was held at the Royal Albert Hall on November 23, 1973. Fifty-four delegates vied for the crown won by an American, Marjorie Wallace of Indiana.Pageant Controversy...
Marjorie Wallace
Marjorie Wallace
Marjorie Wallace is an American model, actress, beauty queen and television presenter. In 1973, Wallace made history as the first American to be crowned Miss World. But just 104 days later, pageant officials stunned the UK when they announced Wallace would be the first Miss World to have her title...
who, according to pageant officials, was fired for "failing to fulfill the basic requirements of the job" a few months into her reign).
After Miss World
Threatened with being a named party in a divorceDivorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
- an action which was later dropped - Morgan was allowed to keep her other titles. Morgan resigned from the bank, and undertook a career in modeling, TV and films.
After modelling
Morgan married and relocated to SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
in the 1980s, and had two more children Poppy and Ben. Morgan later left the UK, and presently lives in Spain with her husband Ronny Lamb and family.
In 2004, Morgan agreed to judge the 2004 Miss Wales competition in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, the 30th anniversary of her competition win, won by Amy Guy
Amy Guy
Amy Guy is a Welsh beauty queen, television performer and athlete.She attended Yale College, Wrexham and secondary school at Ysgol Rhiwabon, Wrexham, Wales, and was the Welsh Schools National 100m and 300m Hurdling Champion...
.
External links
- Helen Morgan at Miss WalesMiss WalesMiss Wales is an annual beauty pageant held in Wales, United Kingdom to select a representative to go through to the Miss World contest. It is currently run by Paula Abbandonato and Clare Birt of Vibe Models, Cardiff.-Rules:...