| "> | | | | that they had been invited for the sake of formality |
| On July 19, 1957, Miss Peru, Gladys Zender Urbina, was | | | | only. |
| elected Miss Universe 1957. Site: Long Beach, California | | | | There was some sort of uneasiness in the region |
| (USA).She was the first Latin American woman to win | | | | since two Latin beauties had failed to win in two |
| the Miss Universe. Gladys Zender studied art and | | | | consecutive finals. In 1954, the Brazilian Maria Martha |
| languages, and at one point she wanted to be an | | | | "Marilu" Hacker Rocha was adjudged as very beautiful, |
| aviator. During her early teenage years, her beauty | | | | but her hips were two inches wider than the ideal |
| and personality drew positive comments especially | | | | measurement and thus lost to the American Miriam |
| when she won the Reinado de Primavera (Spring | | | | Stevenson. |
| Pageant) in her Santa Ursula school, and years later, | | | | In 1955, the huge favourite Miss El Salvador -who |
| the Reinado de los Carnavales (Carnival Pageant) of | | | | resembled Marilyn Monroe- lost by two points to Hillevi |
| Miraflores. Before being crowned Miss Peru 1957, the | | | | Rombin of Sweden. |
| representative of Max Factor company, Roman | | | | Gladys Zender's victory in Miss Universe pageant had |
| Toporow, while visiting Lima, was impressed by the | | | | taken the Peruvian and the rest of Latin America by |
| style and the very Latin features of the young Gladys | | | | surprise.According to the American press, the traits |
| and affirmed that she "was a perfect beauty". In the | | | | that made Gladys deserve the title were these: "her |
| beginning, her family was opposed to her joining the | | | | captivating personality and her aristocratic bearing" and |
| national pageant, but later they supported her by | | | | that "she had been educated in the traditional system |
| traveling with her to Long Beach. | | | | of Latin American women" In the end, it was her |
| During the sixth edition of the Miss Universe pageant, | | | | whistlebait figure that won her the crown and beat the |
| there were all sorts surprises. It was rumoured that the | | | | beauties from Brazil, England, Cuba and Germany. |
| pageant preferred candidates from countries that | | | | During her homecoming on August 10, 1957, a million of |
| were experiencing political crisis.However,Miss Greece, | | | | her compatriots lined up along the streets to welcome |
| Lygia Karavias, did not qualified for the semi-finals. | | | | her.When Gladys appeared, the crowd never tired of |
| Experts predicted that two favourites -Misses | | | | shouting, "Viva Gladys!". "I cried with joy. I never |
| Germany and England- would win and keep the crown | | | | imagined this welcome," remarked the beauty queen |
| in Western Europe. Miss Germany, Gerti Daud, was | | | | during an interview. |
| crowned Miss Photogenic Universe. | | | | In 1982 when the Miss Universe pageant was held in |
| Some observers believed that the delegates from | | | | Lima, the Miss Universe Organization presented Gladys |
| Brazil (Teresinha Goncalves Morango), | | | | with a special trophy to honor her 25th coronation |
| Argentina(Monica Lamas), Peru(Gladys Zender), | | | | anniversary. |
| Canada (Gloria Noakes), Italy (Valeria Fabrizzi) and | | | | Today, Gladys Zender de Meir is a Latin beauty |
| Martinica (Ginette Cidalise-Montaise) would enter the | | | | icon...an example of Miss Universe. |
| finals. Many of the girls from Latin America thought | | | | |