Coming from Miss Universe placements back in 1984 and 1987, Ilma Julieta Urrutia and Laurie Simpson went on to win Miss International in the same years, respectively.
It no longer comes as a complete surprise that some Miss Universe placers went on to achieve greater victories in other beauty pageants.
Ilma julieta (2nd from right) during the MU1984 Top 10 Swimsuit Competition
Consider Ilma Julieta Urrutia Chang of Guatemala first. She is the only Big 4 pageant winner from the Central American country to date. After landing in Miami Beach for Miss Universe 1984, she was easily noticed and became one of the running favorites going into the finals. True enough, she found herself being called to join the Top 10. And while her climb to the Top 5 never materialized, she was still considered a very competitive beauty queen such that country organizers decided to field her once more. And at the Kanagawa Prefectural Civic Hall in Yokohama, Japan, she outlasted the competition and defeated early picks from Venezuela and Sweden (who became her runners-up) to become Miss International 1984.
Laurie Tamara Simpson during MU1987 in Singapore
There is also Laurie Tamara Simpson of Puerto Rico. Her first stop was Singapore for Miss Universe 1987. In the Lion City, she made heads turn and was constantly in the short-list of many pageant followers. And during the Coronation Night, she was initially part of the Top 10. From there, she performed well enough to snatch the fifth and final Top 5 spot (
from 6th placer Geraldine Asis of the Philippines). Eventual winner Cecilia Bolocco of Chile was a winner right from the start, though, and she got the 4th Runner-Up honor for her efforts.
But when it was time to conquer Tokyo, this Puerto Rican became a strong front-runner. At Nihon Seinen-Kan, she was elected Miss International 1987, big notches better than her MU achievement.
There are still other ladies who went the same route as Ilma and Laurie in the major beauty contests. But since Miss International 2014 will be starting soon, I opted to focus on them as the Throwback Thursday feature of the week. 😉
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normannorman.com 
Normz, i-feature mo nmn yun mga hindi successful sa miss world at naging miss universe, katulad ni mpule kwelagobe 99 at michelle mclean 92. Or yung hindi naging succesful sa universe at naging miss world katulad nila susana djuim 1955 at gina swaison 1979.
but sometimes it also works the other way around — miss universe 1993 dayanara torres was a miss international 1992 semifinalist (top 15) 🙂
And of course, there’s Stella Marquez. Can’t leave her out. 🙂
Bakit wala si Lia Borrero ng Panama? 1997.
and take note in both pageants Phil. reps did well namely Desiree Verdadero and Pebbles Asis.
Priscila Perales of Mexico competed in Miss Universe 2006. Then she won Miss International in 2007
in MU 1974 held in Manila, JOhanna Riita Raunio placed 3rd runner up to Amparo Munoz. A few months later she got the same placement as 3rd runner up in Miss international contest in Japan. in 1994 Miss U held in the Phils again, MIss Aruba Alexandra Ochoa failed to make it even in the semi-finalists list. But 3 months later, she emerged 1st runner up in the Miss International in Japan
2nd runner-up naman po. 😉
you’re right, 2nd runner up nga pala si Miss Finland. miss Colombia was the 3rd runner up. tnx for correcting
No worries.
#MaryAnneBiancaMI2014
Unfortunately, I don’t really know them at all and thanks for this TT because at least I learned that there were successful crossovers in the past. I laud Miss International for the fact that they do not care about their winners’ previous pageant participation background. The Org crowns who, they feel, deserves th honour at that particular moment. Well, that shpould be the case, I guess…
Maligayang umaga, Pilipinas! 🙂
I agree. I kinda love the TT of pageant history. Parang showbiz din ma drama and full of juicy tidbits. Thanks Kuya Norms for making it more interesting than the deep blue sea. 🙂
You are so witty. I guess you already know that, aye?!?
Another stunning beauty is Lia Victoria Borrero of Panama. After being one of the semifinalists in MU 1997 she went on to win Miss International
Yes, JP. Indeed Lia is. 🙂
So Kuya Norms are you saying it should not be a problem with Ms Thailand as far as MI is concerned, that her being dethroned by ME for contract violation?