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 on July 17, 1953.
Miss Universe 1953 | |
---|---|
![]() Miss Universe 1953 Christiane Martel | |
Date | 17 July 1953 |
Presenters | Bob Russell |
Venue | Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California, United States |
Entrants | 26 |
Placements | 16 |
Debuts |
|
Withdrawals |
|
Winner | Christiane Martel![]() |
Congeniality | Jeanne Thompson ![]() |
Photogenic | Myrna Hansen ![]() |
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 26 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

Selection of participants
Contestants from 26 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.
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]
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 | |
1st runner-up | |
2nd runner-up | |
3rd runner-up | |
4th runner-up | |
Top 16 |
Special awards
Award | Contestant |
---|---|
Miss Photogenic | |
Miss Friendship |
|
Pageant
Format
From 10 semi-finalists in 1952, 16 semi-finalists were chosen at the preliminary competition that consists of the swimsuit and evening gown competition. Each of the 16 semi-finalists gave a short speech during the final telecast using their native languages. Afterwards, the 16 semi-finalists paraded again in their swimsuits and evening gowns, and the five finalists were eventually chosen.[12]
Contestants


26 contestants competed for the title.[13][14]
Country/Territory | Contestant | Age[lower-alpha 1] | Hometown |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Muriel Hagberg[15] | 18 | Fairbanks |
![]() | Maxine Morgan[16] | 20 | Sydney |
![]() | Lore Felger[17] | 18 | Vienna |
![]() | Elayne Cortois[18] | 23 | Brussels |
![]() | Thelma Brewis[19] | 21 | Ontario |
![]() | Jytte Olsen[20] | 18 | Gilleleje |
![]() | Teija Sopanen[21] | 20 | Tampere |
![]() | Christiane Martel | 18 | Paris |
![]() | Christel Schaack[22] | 18 | Berlin |
![]() | Doreta Xirou | – | Athens |
![]() | Aileen Stone | 20 | Honolulu |
![]() | Rita Stazzi | 21 | Milan |
![]() | Kinuko Ito | 21 | Tokyo |
![]() | Ana Bertha Lepe | 18 | Mexico City |
![]() | Synnøve Gulbrandsen | 23 | Oslo |
![]() | Emita Arosemena | 22 | Panama City |
![]() | Mary Ann Sarmiento | – | Department of Ucayali |
![]() | Cristina Pacheco[23] | 18 | Manila |
![]() | Wanda Irizarry | 20 | Rio Piedras |
![]() | Ingrid Rita Mills | 20 | Salisbury, Rhodesia |
![]() | Ulla Sandkler | 18 | Gothenburg |
![]() | Danielle Oudinet | – | Lausanne |
![]() | Ayten Akyol | 21 | Istanbul |
![]() | Myrna Hansen[24] | 18 | Chicago |
![]() | Ada Alicia Ibáñez | 23 | Montevideo |
![]() | Gisela Bolaños | – | Carabobo |
Notes
- Ages at the time of the pageant
References
- "'Miss Universe' title is taken by brunette Parisian model". The Ponca City News. Ponca City, Oklahoma. 19 July 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "French Girl Wins "Miss Universe" Title". Indian Daily Mail. 20 July 1953. p. 4. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via National Library Board.
- Mihaela, Dima (September 13, 2009). "Miss Universe: Finnish Armi Kuusela first beauty queen". Adevărul. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
- "Miss Universe Married To Filipino With Black Eye". The Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas. 5 May 1953. p. 8, col. 34. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- "'Miss Universe' Weds Filipino with Shiner". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. 5 May 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 11 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- Tayag, Voltaire E. (16 May 2021). "Miss Universe crowns: Sentimental favorites, all-time greats". Rappler. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- "Sylviane Carpentier, Miss France 1953, est décédée" [Sylviane Carpentier, Miss France 1953, has died]. Le Dauphiné libéré (in French). Grenoble, France. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- "Miss Cinema is niet mis!" [Miss Cinema is not wrong!]. Het vrije volk (in Dutch). 26 June 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Delpher.
- "Singapore joins in quest for beauty". The Straits Times. 12 June 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via National Library Board.
- "The 'Miss Singapore' contest is postponed". The Straits Times. 21 June 1953. p. 9. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via National Library Board.
- "Contest Off". Sunday Standard. 21 June 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 11 May 2023 – via National Library Board.
- "Miss Universe Contestants Narrowed to 16 by Judges". Chillicothe Gazette. Chillicothe, Ohio. 17 July 1953. p. 12. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Miss Universe pageant Tableau of Beauty". Long Beach Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. 12 July 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- Becker, Bill (12 July 1953). "Beauties vie for "Miss Universe" title". The Knoxville Journal. p. 34. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Miss Alaska now in California; still has parka". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Fairbanks, Alaska. 10 July 1953. p. 2. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "N.S.W. Girl as Miss Australia". The Advertiser. Adelaide, South Australia. 29 May 1953. p. 3. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Trove.
- "Miss Austria". The Singapore Free Press. 16 May 1953. p. 3. Retrieved 11 May 2023 – via National Library Board.
- "Hopes of 8 Nations". Singapore Standard. 13 July 1953. p. 8. Retrieved 11 May 2023 – via National Library Board.
- "Contestant 'shoots' colleagues". Evening Eagle. 14 July 1953. p. 2. Retrieved 11 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "They Are Seeking 'Miss Universe' Title". The Advertiser. Adelaide, South Australia. 11 July 1953. p. 3. Retrieved 11 May 2023 – via Trove.
- "Teija Sopanen, Suomen Neito 1953" [Teija Sopanen, Miss Finland 1953]. Yle (in Finnish). 21 November 2011 [8 September 2006]. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- Grieger, Von Frank (8 May 2020). "Bademoden gestern und heute: der Bankrott der Biedermänner". Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- Lo, Ricky (12 February 2010). "Misses RP for Miss U pageant, 1952-'63". Philippine Star. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- Beck, Joan (February 9, 1953). "Miss Myrna Hansen, 18, Crowned 1953 Queen". Chicago Tribune. Illinois, Chicago. p. Part 3, P 3. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.