Miss Universe 1953

Contestants from twenty-six countries and territories were selected to compete in the pageant. One contestant was selected after another national pageant was held to replace the original dethroned winner.

After Miss France 1953, Sylviane Carpentier chose not to participate in any international pageant in order to marry, two separate competitions were held to determine the candidates of France to Miss Universe and Miss World.^[7] The Miss Cinema 1953 contest which was responsible for sending the candidate of France to Miss Universe was won by Christiane Martel.^[8]

The 1953 edition saw the debuts of Austria and Switzerland, and the withdrawals of Chile, Cuba, Great Britain, Hong Kong, India, and Israel after their respective organizations failed to hold a national competition or designate a contestant. Singapore was also set to compete in this edition.^[9] However, the Miss Singapore contest was postponed to next year due to lack of time and preparation.^[10][11]

From ten semi-finalists in 1952, sixteen semi-finalists were chosen at the preliminary competition that consists of the swimsuit and evening gown competition. Each of the sixteen semi-finalists gave a short speech during the final telecast using their native languages. Afterwards, the sixteen semi-finalists paraded again in their swimsuits and evening gowns, and the five finalists were eventually chosen.^[12]

• Jeff Chandler – American actor^[12]
• Arlene Dahl – American actress^[12]
• Rhonda Fleming – American actress, singer^[12]
• Constance Moore – American actress, singer^[12]
• Bud Westmore – American make-up artist for film^[12]

Twenty-six contestants competed for the title.^[13][14]

Country/Territory	Contestant	Age[a]	Hometown
Alaska	Muriel Hagberg[15]	18	Fairbanks
Australia	Maxine Morgan[16]	20	Sydney
Austria	Lore Felger[17]	18	Vienna
Belgium	Elayne Cortois[18]	23	Brussels
Canada	Thelma Brewis[19]	21	Ontario
Denmark	Jytte Olsen[20]	18	Gilleleje
Finland	Teija Sopanen[21]	20	Tampere
France	Christiane Martel[22]	18	Paris
Greece	Doreta Xirou[23]	19	Athens
Hawaii	Aileen Stone[24]	20	Honolulu
Italy	Rita Stazzi[25]	21	Milan
Japan	Kinuko Ito[26]	21	Tokyo
Mexico	Ana Bertha Lepe[27]	18	Tecolotlán
Norway	Synnøve Gulbrandsen[13]	23	Oslo
Panama	Emita Arosemena[28]	22	Panama City
Peru	Mary Ann Sarmiento[29]	22	Ucayali
Philippines	Cristina Pacheco[30]	18	Manila
Puerto Rico	Wanda Irizarry[31]	20	Rio Piedras
South Africa	Ingrid Mills[32]	20	Salisbury, Rhodesia
Sweden	Ulla Sandklef[33]	18	Gothenburg
Switzerland	Danielle Oudinet[34]	20	Lausanne
Turkey	Ayten Akyol[35][36]	21	Istanbul
United States	Myrna Hansen[37]	18	Chicago
Uruguay	Alicia Ibáñez[38]	23	Montevideo
Venezuela	Gisela Bolaños[39]	20	Carabobo
West Germany	Christel Schaack[40]	18	Berlin