Miss Universe winners: 1952-2010

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The contest was founded more than 50 years ago. The first Miss Universe pageant was held in 1952 in Long Beach, California. It was won by Armi Kuusela from Finland.

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Christiane Martel was the only French to win the Miss Universe crown. It happened in 1953.

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In 1954, 21-year-old Miriam Stevenson became the first woman from the United States to win the pageant.

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The pageant was first televised in 1955. The Miss Universe crown was won by Hillevi Rombin from Sweden

© Photo : Miss Universe L.P., LLLP.In 1956, 20-year-old Carol Morris became the second Miss U.S.A. to win the Miss Universe title. In 1960, photos of happy Carol and her newborn son Christopher made the front pages of the American newspapers.

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In 1956, 20-year-old Carol Morris became the second Miss U.S.A. to win the Miss Universe title. In 1960, photos of happy Carol and her newborn son Christopher made the front pages of the American newspapers.

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Gladys Zender from Peru won the title in 1957.

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The only Colombian among the Miss Universe winners was Luz Marina Zuluaga (1958).

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The 22-year-old Japanese supermodel Akiko Kojima won in 1959

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Linda Bement was the third Miss U.S.A. to be crowned as Miss Universe. It happened in 1960

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Miss Germany Marlene Schmidt was named the most beautiful in 1961

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In 1962, the title was won by Miss Argentina Norma Nolan

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Ieda Maria Vargas from Brazil became Miss Universe in 1963

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The Greek Kiriaki Corinna Tsopei won in 1964.

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Apasra Hongsakula was the first Thai among the beauty queens in 1965.

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Margreta Arvidsson continued the winning series of Sweden in 1966.

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Sylvia Louise Hitchcock from the United States became Miss Universe in 1967.

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Martha Vasconcellos became the second Brazilian among the pageant winners (1968).

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The 19-year-old Gloria Diaz from the Philippines became Miss Universe in 1969.

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Marisol Malaret from Puerto Rico won the title a year later.

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The first and the only Lebanese winner was Georgina Rizk (1971).

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The Australian Kerry Anne Wells became Miss Universe in 1972.

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Margarita Moran took the crown away to the Philippines a year later.

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Spanish actress Amparo Munoz won in 1974.

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Anne Marie Pohtamo from Finland became the world’s beauty queen in 1975.

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Rina Messinger was the first Miss Universe from Israel (1976).

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Janelle Commissiong from Trinidad and Tobago became in 1977 the first black woman to win the Miss Universe title.

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In 1978, the winner’s crown was sent to South Africa. Margaret Gardiner became Miss Universe.

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Maritza Sayalero became the first winner from Venezuela (1979).

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Shawn Nichols Weatherly from the United States was crowned Miss Universe in 1980.

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In 1981, the crown was delivered again to Venezuela, to Mona Irene Lailan Saez Conde.

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In 1982, Canada’s Karen Diane Baldwin won the pageant in Peru.

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A year later, Lorraine Downes from New Zealand won the crown.

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In 1984, Scandinavian features were again in fashion. Yvonne Ryding from Sweden became Miss Universe.

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The second Miss Universe from Puerto Rico Deborah Carthy-Deu gains the crown in 1985 in Miami Beach.

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Barbara Palacios Teyde continued the triumphal series of Venezuela in 1986.

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In 1987, Cecilia Carolina Bolocco Fonck from Chile was named Miss Universe.

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Porntip Nakhirunkanok from Thailand won in 1988.

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The first Dutchwoman won the pageant in 1989. Her name was Angela Visser.

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Norway’s Mona Grudt started the decade with victory (1990).

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Lupita Jones represented Mexico in 1991 and won.

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In 2002, Oksana Fedorova became the first Miss Universe from Russia. Later she gave up the title.