6 November 2018
Miss World Winners from 1951 to 1960
Miss World is one of the oldest beauty pageants amongst the Big 4 (four) international beauty pageants. Miss World beauty pageant started in the year 1951, and since then the organisation has crowned 65 beauties. The Miss World originally started as the Festival Bikini Contest, but an embarrassed British media decided to call it with a more modest name, ‘Miss World’. The pageant has crossed sixty five years, and 2016 is going to be the sixty sixth edition of the pageant. So, we on Angelopedia have decided to give you an insight to the Miss World winners from the first decade, i.e, 1951-1960. So flip through and flashback through the winners...
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Kiki Hakansson Miss World 1951 from Sweden
It was the first edition of Miss World pageant, held on July 29, 1951. A total of 26 girls competed for the very first edition of the pageant (originally known as Festival Bikini Contest). Kiki Håkansson, then 24, from Sweden won the first ever title. Kiki wore a bikini during the crowning ritual, which attracted a lot of criticism. From the next edition, the bikinis were replaced with more modest swimwear; however bikinis were eventually reintroduced to Miss World. But, Kiki Håkansson remains the only winner to have won the crown donning a bikini.
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May Louise Flodin Miss World 1952 from Sweden
It was a back to back win for Sweden at Miss World when (then) 20 years old May-Louise Flodin from Sweden won the crown in 1952. A handful of 11 girls competed for the title in 1952. This renowned Swedish model and beauty queen died in the year 2011 due to brain tumour.
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Denise Perrier Miss World 1953 from France
Denise Perrier of France won the third edition of Miss World for France, defeating 14 girls. 1953 was a double celebration for the country, as that same year, France also won the Miss Universe pageant under the representation of Christiane Martel. After her reign, Perrier pursued her career in modelling, but kept herself closely connected to Miss World. In fact, she was one of the judges at the finals of Miss World pageant in the year, 2005, 2010, 2011 and 2013.
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Antigone Costanda Miss World 1954 from Egypt
The only Egyptian woman to win the Miss World crown was Antigone Costanda. This Greek-Egyptian beauty queen is a multi talented woman. She was a professional model and also has a great knowledge of Greek, Italian, French and English. She was one of the judges at the Miss Egypt 2006 beauty contest. Costanda could not attend the Miss World 1955 finale because of political hostilities between Egypt and Britain over the Suez Canal. Hene, British actress Eunice Gayson crowned Miss Venezuela as the Miss World 1955.
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Susana Duijm Miss World 1955 from Venezuela
A Venezuelan actress, television host, beauty queen and model; that’s Miss World 1955 Susana Dujim. Before winning the Miss World title, Susana competed at the Miss Universe 1955 pageant, and placed as one of the Top 15 finalists. She became the first Latin American to win the coveted title. Her daughter, Carolina Cerruti was the official representative of Venezuela at the 1983 Miss World pageant. Susana died at the age of 79, after she suffered a stroke.
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Petra Schurmann Miss World 1956 from Germany
Petra Schürmann was the only German to have won the Miss World title. Interestingly, Petra did not even win the Miss Germany pageant, and was in fact placed third. She was chosen to represent at the pageant because of her better knowledge of English. The beauty queen had a tragic life. Petra’s daughter, Alexandra Freund, died at the age of 34 in an accident. Petra could not recover from the loss of her daughter as she was really close to her. Her husband passed away in August 2008. Following a long illness, Petra died on 14 January 2010.
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Marita Lindahl Miss World 1957 from Finland
In 1957, Finnish beauty Marita Lindahl was crowned Miss World. She became the first beauty from Finland to win the title. A total of 23 contestants competed for the title. Pageant director Eric Morley described Marita as having "the haunting beauty and intrigue of a Greta Garbo". The year 1957 also marked the debut of Canada and Luxembourg in Miss World pageant.
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Penelope Anne Coelen Miss World 1958 from South Africa
Penelope Anne was the first major international titleholder to come from Africa. 18-year-old secretary from Durban gained much recognition after the title and was flooded with various modelling offers. Coelen claimed that she would never go through the terror of competing again, noting that it was "too nerve-wracking," yet that being a Miss World contestant and titleholder was "something I would not have liked to miss."
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Corine Rottschafer Miss World 1959 from Netherlands
Dutch beauty Corine Rottschafer was crowned Miss World in the year 1959. Miss World was not her first pageant, in fact prior to winning the pageant, she was also crowned Miss Europe in 1957, and competed in Miss Universe in 1958, where she made it to the top 15 finalists list and also won the Miss Photogenic award. She is the second cousin of Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2012, Bodine Koehler.
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Norma Cappagli Miss World 1960 from Argentina
Argentine model and beauty queen won the Miss World 1960, and became the first woman from Argentina to win the title. A total of 39 contestants competed for the title. She received a winning amount of 500 pounds and a sports car. After finishing her reign, she continued her career in modelling.
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