Maria Martha Hacker Rocha (born 19 September 1936) is a former Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

ian beauty pageant contestant.

She is the seventh child of engineer Álvaro Rocha and housewife Hansa. At the age of 18, in 1954, after winning the title of Miss Bahia in her home state, she became the first Miss Brazil to become a finalist of the 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. However, despite popular acclamation, even in the USA, who favored her to win the title of Miss Universe it was Miss USA

Miss USA

The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...

, Miriam Stevenson

Miriam Stevenson

Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson born 4 July 1933, of Winnsboro, South Carolina, won the Miss USA pageant as Miss South Carolina USA in 1954. She was the first Miss USA to hold the Miss Universe beauty crown....

, who won the title. According to legend, Miriam's hip measurement was 2 inches (5.1 cm) smaller than that of Martha. The narrower look was the "standard measure" at that time.

Ever since, Martha Rocha has been a Brazilian reference of beauty.