Miss Universe 1954
Encyclopedia
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....
was held on 24 July 1954, at Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They had 33 young ladies in the competition. Miss USA, 21-year-old 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....
, won the competition. She became the first American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to win the Miss Universe competition.
Placements
| Final results | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss Universe 1954 |
|
| 1st runner-up |
 Brazil - Martha RochaMartha Rocha Maria Martha Hacker Rocha is a former Brazilian 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... |
| 2nd runner-up |
|
| 3rd runner-up |
 Germany - Regina Ernst |
| 4th runner-up |
 Sweden - Ragnhild Olausson |
| Top 16 |
 Argentina - Ivana Olga Kislinger Chile - Gloria Legisos Mesina Costa Rica - Marian Esquivel McKeown Early Modern France - Jacqueline BeerJacqueline Beer Jacqueline Vangramberg is a former Hollywood film and television actress who was also named Miss France in the 1954 Miss Universe Pageant...  Greece - Rika DiallinaRika Diallina Rika Diallina also spelled Dialina and Dialyna, born in Heraklion, Crete in 1934, won the Miss Star Hellas title, and went on to represent Greece at the Miss Universe 1954 pageant in Long Beach, California....  Italy - Maria Teresa Paliani Norway - Mona Stornes Panama - Liliana Torre Peru - Isabella León Velarde Dancuart Philippines - Blesilda Mueler Ocampo Uruguay - Ana Moreno |
Special awards
| Award | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss Congeniality |
|-
| Most Popular Girl in Parade
|
- Brazil - Maria Martha Hacker Rocha
|}
^ Miss Greece, Rika Diallina, was unable to enter the United States due to passport problems. Effie Androulakaki was sent to replace her. Androulakaki managed to win the award before Diallina's problems were sorted out. Androulakaki withdrew from the pageant after Diallina's arrival, turning down the suggestion from the pageant officials that she continue to compete in the contest as "Miss Crete"
Contestants
Alaska - Charlein Lander- Argentina – Ivana Olga Kislinger
Australia - Shirley Bliss
Belgium - Christiane Darnay Neckaerts- Brazil - Maria Martha Hacker Rocha
Canada - Joyce Mary Landry- Chile - Gloria Legisos Mesina
- Costa Rica - Marian Esquivel McKeown
Cuba - Isis Margarita Finlay García
El Salvador - Myrna Ros Orozco
Finland - Lenita Airisto- Early Modern France - Jacqueline Beer
- Germany - Regina Ernst
- Greece - Rika DiallinaRika DiallinaRika Diallina also spelled Dialina and Dialyna, born in Heraklion, Crete in 1934, won the Miss Star Hellas title, and went on to represent Greece at the Miss Universe 1954 pageant in Long Beach, California....
Honduras - Lilliam Padilla- ' - Virginia Lee Wai-Chun
Israel - Aviva Pe’er
- Italy - Maria Teresa Paliani
Japan - Mieko Kondo- ' - Kae Sun-hae
Mexico - Elvira Castillo Olivera
New Zealand - Moananui Akiwa Manley- Norway - Mona Stornes
- Panama - Liliana Torre
- Peru - Isabella León Velarde Dancuart
- Philippines - Blesilda Mueler Ocampo
Puerto Rico - Lucy Santiago
Singapore - Marjorie Wee- Sweden - Ragnhild Olausson
Thailand - Amara At-SavanonAmara At-SavanonAmara At-Savanon is 2nd Runner-up of Miss Thailand 1953. She is first daughter of Luang Prajerd-aksornlaksana and Madam Georgette. She is French Thai, her father is Thai and her mother is French...- Uruguay - Ana Moreno
United States - Miriam StevensonMiriam StevensonMiriam 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....- ' - Evelyn Laura Andrade (Kingston, JamaicaKingston, JamaicaKingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
)
Debuts
Returning countries and territories
- Chile, Hong Kong and Israel last competed in 1952Miss Universe 1952Miss Universe 1952, the very first Miss Universe pageant, was held on June 28, 1952 at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California, USA. 30 contestants competed for the crown...
.
