Miss International

Formation: 1960
Type: Beauty Pageant
Headquarters: Tokyo
Location: Japan


Miss International (officially titled The International Beauty Pageant) is the fourth largest beauty pageant in the world. It was created in Long Beach, California, USA in 1960 after the departure of the Miss Universe pageant to Miami Beach. Hosted in Long Beach until 1967, the pageant moved to Japan from 1968–1970, being hosted each year in the same city as the Expo '70. For 1971 and 1972, it was held in Long Beach again, but since that time it has been held annually in Japan.
Also called a "Festival of Beauty" and even the "Olympics of Beauty", this pageant is not based on looks alone. Contestants are expected to serve as "Ambassadors of Peace and Beauty", showing tenderness, benevolence, friendship, beauty, intelligence, ability to take action, and, most importantly, a great international sensibility.
The ultimate goal of the Miss International beauty pageant is to promote world peace, goodwill, and understanding.

Year Miss International Country Venue
2009 TBA TBA Beijing and Chengdu, China

2008 Alejandra Andreu Spain Kyoto, Japan and Macau

2007 Priscila Perales Mexico Tokyo, Japan
2006 Daniela di Giacomo Venezuela Tokyo, Japan and Beijing, China
2005 Precious Quigaman Philippines Well City, Tokyo, Japan
2004 Jeymmy Vargas Colombia Beijing, China
2003 Goizeder Azúa Venezuela Tokyo, Japan
2002 Christina Sawaya Lebanon Tokyo, Japan
2001 Małgorzata Rożniecka Poland Tokyo, Japan
2000 Vivian Urdaneta Venezuela Tokyo, Japan
1999 Paulina Gálvez Colombia Tokyo, Japan

By Number of Wins
Country/Territory Titles Winning years
Venezuela 5 1985, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006
Philippines 4 1964, 1970, 1979, 2005
Spain 3 1977, 1990, 2008
Colombia 1960, 1999, 2004
Poland 1991, 1993, 2001
Australia 1962, 1981, 1992
USA 1974, 1978, 1982
Norway 2 1988, 1995
Germany 1965, 1989
Costa Rica 1980, 1982
Britain 1969, 1972
Mexico 1 2007
Lebanon 2002
Panama 1998
Portugal 1996
Greece 1994
Puerto Rico 1987
England 1986
Guatemala 1984
France 1976
Yugoslavia* 1975
Finland 1973
New Zealand 1971
Brazil 1968
Argentina 1967
Iceland 1963
Netherlands 1961


* -Note: Yugoslavia is now dissolved into 7 countries namely: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia.
Performances by Country and Continental Regions

As of 2008
REGION Titles Best performance

Europe 20 England/Britain, Poland and Spain (3), Germany and Norway (2), Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Lebanon, Netherlands, Portugal, and Yugoslavia1 (1)

Americas 19 Venezuela (5), Colombia, and United States (3), Costa Rica (2), Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico (1)

Asia 4 Philippines (4)

Oceania 4 Australia (3), New Zealand (1)

Africa - -

Top 15 History
Rank
Country/Territory
Miss International
1st Runner-Up
2nd Runner-Up
3rd Runner-Up
4th Runner-Up
Semifinalists
Total

1 Venezuela
5 4 1 0 0 20 30

2 Philippines
4 0 2 0 1 16 23

3 United States
3 7 1 4 3 8 26

4 Spain
3 2 3 1 0 22 31

5 Australia
3 1 1 0 1 10 16

6 Colombia
3 1 1 0 0 25 30

7 Poland
3 1 1 0 0 6 11

8 Britain
2 2 0 0 0 6 10

9 Germany
2 1 0 1 0 12 16

10 Norway
2 1 0 0 0 9 12

11 Costa Rica
2 0 0 0 0 2 4

12 Brazil
1 3 1 1 2 14 22

13 Finland
1 2 4 0 1 10 18

14 France
1 1 1 0 0 7 10

15 Iceland
1 0 2 0 1 8 12



Miss International Trivia



• Miss International remains the only one of the Grand Slam Pageants or Big Four Pageants with no winner resigned or dethroned.
• Almost all first winners of all the major beauty pageants are of Scandinavian descent: Finland won the Miss Universe 1952, Sweden captured the Miss World 1951, and Denmark gained the Miss Earth 2001. Miss International was the exception wherein Colombia won the Miss International crown in 1960.
• Five Miss Universe delegates placed as runner-up or semi-finalist in that pageant and later won the Miss International title. They were: Stella Marquez Zawadsky- semi-finalist, Colombia 1960; Julieta Urrutia Chang - semi-finalist, Guatemala 1984; Laurie Simpson Rivera - fourth runner-up, Puerto Rico 1987; Lia Victoria Borrero - finalist, Panama 1997; Priscila Perales - finalist, Mexico 2006.
• One Miss Universe and Miss World delegate unplaced and later won the Miss International title. She was: Sophie Perin, France 1975.
• One Miss World delegate placed as finalist in that pageant and later won the Miss International title. She was: Goizeder Azua Barrios - quarter-finalist, Venezuela 2002.
• One Miss World delegate unplaced and later won the Miss International title. She was: Anne Lena Hansen, Norway 1994.
• Two Miss International delegates placed as runner-ups in that pageant and later won the Miss World title. They were: Catharina Johanna Lodders - third runner-up, Holland 1962; Aneta-Beata Kreglicka - first runner-up, Poland 1989.
• Since the 1966 Miss International was cancelled, 1965 winner Ingrid Finger's reign was the longest among titleholders, totaling 624 days (more than 20 months). For a one-year reign, the longest belonged to her successor, Miss International 1967 Mirta Teresita Massa who held the title for 529 days (more than 17 months). The shortest reign was that of 1975 Ladija Vera Manic, which spanned just 242 days (less than eight months).
• Venezuela has won a record of five Miss International titles. Four of those came in cycles of three years starting in 1997 (1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006). The country's first victory came in 1985. This also happened to United States, three titles came in cycles of four years starting 1974.
• Colombia is the first Latin and South American country to win the Miss International title. On the other hand, Netherlands is the first European country to win the Miss International title.
• No African country has ever gone to win the Miss International title since 1960, the nearest was in 1996, when Tunisia placed 1st runner-up.
• Miss International 1961, Stam van Baer of the Netherlands became the first Caucasian winner of the pageant.
• Miss International 1964, Gemma Teresa Cruz of the Philippines is the first Asian to win the Miss International title.
• Miss International 1979, Melanie Marquez of the Philippines is the youngest Miss International in history. She was 15 when she won the title.
• Miss International 2002, Christina Sawaya of Lebanon is the first Middle Eastern to win the title .
• Miss International 2004, Jeymmy Paola Vargas Gomez of Colombia is the only black winner since the pageant began in 1960.
• Miss International 2005, Precious Lara Quigaman of the Philippines is the shortest Miss International, standing at 5'6 feet.
• The largest gap in between winning Miss International (at present) is from Colombia wherein Stella Marquez Zawadsky won the title in 1960, and 39 years later, Paulina Galvez Pineda became the second recipient afterwards.
• According to some references and survey, Miss International 1979, Miss Philippines Melanie Marquez is the most beautiful Miss International ever produced.
• The shortest gap is only two years later (by this day, no country has won twice in a row, the shortest gap was made by Poland won in 1991 and 1993).
• At present, Stella Marquez Zawadsky-Araneta is the organizer of the Binibining Pilipinas.




Source : Wikipedia