It all started here – Miss Universe, that is. The very first pageant took place in June 28, 1952 when a beautiful Finnish beauty named Armi Helena Kuusela won the title in Long Beach, California. Her court included Elza Kananionapua Edsman of Hawaii, Daisi Mavraki of Greece, Judy Dan of Hong Kong and Renate Hoy of Germany. She was crowned by popular Hollywood actress Piper Laurie.
Do watch highlights of her win in these old footages:
The very first Philippine representative was Teresita Torralba Sanchez (right photo). She may have not placed but I reckon that it was a good experience for her. After all, she was part of the inaugural batch of thirty (30) candidates who vied for the crown. But what was more interesting to note is the eventual Philippine connection of the very first Miss Universe when – as part of her prizes – she traveled around the world.
Anna-Lisa Hilario
Below is the latest recorded video interview of Armi with husband Al during last year’s SDYS Encore Tribute 2019 in San Diego.
Armi was widowed last 1975, afterwhich she remarried an American – Albert Williams. Life brought her and the children to Barcelona in Spain and Izmir in Turkey before finally living in La Jolla, California where she was involved in several charity causes and even cancer research at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (now Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute), also in La Jolla.
Armi Barbara Crespo was a former Mutya runner-up. Little did people know that she received a special trophy for placing sixth–she lost a place in the top 5 by just 2 points. Media people only found out about her feat when she came home from Puerto Rico lugging a trophy.
Was that a placement trophy? 🙂
Fascinating trivia! That stunning caped evening gown would have been the catalyst to her placing 6th.
(Speaking of BP and Mutya crossovers, the second runner-up in Armi’s BP court, Polly Penson, because Mutya ng Pilipinas two years later.)
i have fond memories of the Gilarmi Apartments where we had the opportinity to stay at circa mid 1990s..it had the 70s kind of feels with its wooden tiled flooring, inner courtyard balcony hallway that reminds me of motor hotels which is a common 80s movie scene..accross it is G4 which back then houses the Planet Hollywood Cafe, TGIF resto was a big thing on the dinig scene, and of memory serves me right, a Fashion Cafe whose opening wa graced no less than Naomi Campbell..Linda Evangekita was a.Manila visitor around that time also..then after dining st G4, you walk back to Gilarmi Apts via tje Ayala side entrabce thru the guarded iron gate, exclusive only to its residents and guests, an experience similar to that of its nex t door neigboor, the Twin Towers..oh, those were the 90s when there was Wherelse Disco and all…
The very first MU is Miss Finlad who became a Filipino by marriage a year later. By default, the Philippines already has 5 MUs?
Wow, I have never looked at it that way, scorg 🙂
maybe if she got herself dual citizenship.
I sooooo love this TRIVIA …ALL OF THEM..
THANKS Norman…
You’re welcome, Ramon!
Norman why did her sash said “1953”
I wish I knew the answer 😕
Miss Universe titleholders of the 1950’s all had post-dated titles like the Miss America pageant… dba un nga ang gusto nilang tapatan… Luz Marina Zuluaga (Colombia) when she won in 1958 was announced as Miss Universe 1959… pero nung si Akiko Kojima na (1959 winner) … Miss Universe lang… walang year na sinabi. Then si Linda Bement was named Miss Universe 1960 and since then the titleholders kept the year they were crowned in rather than the next year in their official title.
Norman why did her sash said “1953” ?
Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1972 Armi Barbara Crespo was named after Ms. Kuusela. She would eventually place as a semi-finalist at the 20th edition of Miss Universe.
Incidentally, the 1972 Bb. Pilipinas pageant remains the largest batch ever: it had 73 (!!!) candidates. Former RP Tourism Minister Wanda Tulfo Teo and fFormer actress Janet Bordon were also part of this batch.
Time was when the now condo across Rustan’s Makati was a multi- storey apartment building called Gilarmi, contraction of the names Virgilio and Armi, which of course they owned… just some triivia..
Yes! I vividly remember visiting Gilarmi one time before, and immediately thought of Armi while going up.
“Thank you…. I love America(n)”. – Armi Kuusela.
“I have no problem with that”. – Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach
“Neither do I”. – Virgilio Hilario (Virgil Hillary, pugi si fafa). 🙂
MU-Hongkong, even then, set the benchmark for long lean Asian gams. Toned gams on the lady second from left; who is she, po, Mr.Tinio? At, as with (The) Miss Globe 2015, wala’ng Latina sa Finalistas!
Piper Laurie is, indeed, as pretty as her name. Ava Gardner was another Hollywood beauty at the time. As was Grace Kelly. Dior’s “New Look”, TIGHT waist offset by full skirt and accentuated by arm-length gloves and high-heels, is all over the “runway” (commentators, exactly how and when did the terms “catwalk” and “ramp’ arise?). Women would be liberated a decade later….
I like that the crown had a backstory – worn by a Russian empress.
MU-Cuba had a FLUID, if somewhat robotic, pasarela. But I still likey a lot.
I will unload this now. I was thinking about it last night….
Leila Lopes was probably Ito Curata’s (+) inspiration for Atty. Patitay’s MI 2019 Final 8 look. Even the hairstyle!
For Alaiza, I recommend Adut Akech at the Chanel Spring-Summer 2020 Haute Couture. Black ruffled skirt, white flouncy-pleated top, and BALD. Yes! I want MUP-Davao City to shave off ALL her hair as expression of solidarity with women in agriculture all throughout the country. She will look GOOD. Apriel Smith, MUP-Cebu, can be Vittoria, the bridal finale at the same House a year earlier. The 2020 bridal finale could either be Skelly or Galeria. Gumabao should get a boy-cut soon, NOT like Hakkenson’s (too fash).