Meet Finland’s Armi Kuusela, the first ever woman crowned as Miss Universe.
ARMI KUUSELA – Here are some things to know about the first woman crowned as Miss Universe in 1952, Armi Kuusela, who married a Pinoy.
From Finland way back 1952, a woman named Armi Kuusela who was just 17 years old at that time, was crowned Miss Universe, the first ever beauty to bag the prestigious crown and title. Next to her are the runners-up from 1st to 4th:
- Elza Kananionapua Edsman, Hawaii
- Daisi Mavraki, Greece
- Judy Dan, Hong Kong
- Renate Hoy, Germany
While the other finalists are:
- Olga Llorens Pérez Castillo, Mexico
- Catherine Edwina Higgins, South Africa
- Anne Marie Tistler, Sweden
- Gladys Rubio Fajardo, Uruguay
- Jacqueleen Loughery, USA
Out of 33 official candidates, Kuusela stood out and marked the pageant’s history to be the first ever woman to own the crown. The first Miss Universe pageant was held at Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California, United States.
She stood 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) and was the only titleholder to wear the Romanov Imperial Nuptial Crown. After winning, as what a Miss Universe winner does, she had a tour to different countries and when she came to the Philippines, she met Virgilio Hilario, a Pinoy businessman. They first met in Baguio during an event.
Shortly after winning, technically not finishing her reign, she married the Pinoy businessman after a whirlwind courtship and gave up her crown. After their wedding, they went to several countries for their honeymoon and they were blessed to have five (5) children. They settled a life here in the country.
The Pinoy businessman died in 1975 and she got married again three years after his death with American diplomat Albert Williams and since then settled in San Diego, California. She is involved in some charity works and was even awarded Order of the White Rose of Finland, with the rank of a Knight, First Class in 2012.
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