Miss Universe 1977 - Interesting Facts!

">celebration for TT: Miss Commissiong also won the
Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicMiss Photogenic title. Her colleagues found her to be
Latin Americacooperative and friendly. She has become an icon for
Did you know- Six out of the twelve semi-finalists atthe country. Miss Austria, Eva Maria Duringer had been
the event were from Latin America -Trinidad &considered one of the three possible successors to
Tobago (Janelle Commissiong), Colombia (Aura MariaRina Messinger, MU 1976.
Mojica), Argentina (Maritza Jurado), Nicaragua (BeatrizPedro Morales Troncoso
Lacayo Obregon), Venezuela (Cristal Montañez)Did you know- Due to his contacts with the Miss
and the Dominican Republic (Blanca AuroraUniverse Organization and many delegates, Pedro
Sardiñas ) -- the other six came from EuropeMorales Troncoso, Minister of Tourism, was the "most
(Austria, Germany, Holland, Scotland, Spain) and Northenvy man in the Dominican Republic" in 1977. During the
America (USA). Curiously Peru's representative Isabelevent, Mr Morales Troncoso gave the welcome to all
Frias Zavala had won the title of Miss Beaches ofthe delegates.
Latin America in Arica (Chile) in the mid-1970s. ButHost Country
despite all of this, Miss Peru Universe 1977 did not evenDid you know- English is the official language of Miss
make the semi-finals in Santo Domingo. Subsequently,Universe. There are some interesting stories about it.
in the course of the year, she competed at the 1977Inspired by the host delegate Carmen Elena Figueroa,
Miss World, where was one of the 15 semi-finalists.a bilingual speaker, at the 23rd MU in El Salvador in the
Headquartersmid-1970s, the Island crowned to an English teacher as
Did you know- During the 1977 Miss Universe, the HotelMiss Dominican Republic. As a result, Miss Dominican
Loew's Dominicana served as the headquarters andRepublic, Blanca Aurora Sardiñas, did not need a
command center of the Miss Universe Organization.translator for their interviews with the international
Joaquin Balaguerjudges, and made history when became the first
Did you know- The nation's President Joaquin BalaguerDominican to be named semi-finalist in Miss Universe.
was a key figure behind the Dominican Republic's bidShe was the only Latin semi-finalist that was a fluent
to host the 1977 Miss Universe.speaker in English. During the event, seven judges did
Special Awardsnot speak Spanish.
Did you know- Miss South Korea surprised expertsNational Theatre
with a special award: The Best National Costume.Did you know- The Teatro Nacional (National Theatre),
Uruguay's Adriana Maria Umpierre placed second inwas the site of 25th Miss Universe. Contestants from
the Best National Costume. Throughout 1977 she also80 nations and dependencies attended the event. For
participated in Miss World.the final, many people bought tickets by $100. During
Miss Universe 1977the event, there were a handful of special guests:
Did you know- Trinidad Tobago's Janelle PennyCarlos R. Goico Morales, Vicepresident of the
Commissiong won the global title, ahead of Austria'sDominican Republic; Alejandro Orfila, Secretary of the
Eva Maria Duringer, Farrah Fawcett's look-alike, andOrganization of American States (OAS); Mario
Scotland's Sandra Bell. Trinidad & Tobago hadMoreno "Cantinflas", performer; and Guillermo Rosell,
never been to the finals. Judges and other specialMinister of Tourism of Mexico.
guests were quick with their congratulations for theSouth Africa
new MU, including Joaquin Balaguer, the DominicanDid you know- South Africa -considered an outlaw
Republic's Head of State. This victory gave thestate by the UN from 1960 to 1991-sent a
Caribbean its first Miss Universe. But it was a doublerepresentative to Santo Domingo.