Miss Universe 1975
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Miss Universe 1975 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | 19 July 1975 |
| Presenters | Bob Barker |
| Venue | National Gymnasium, San Salvador, El Salvador |
| Broadcaster | |
| Entrants | 71 |
| Placements | 12 |
| Debuts |
|
| Withdrawals |
|
| Returns |
|
| Winner | Anne Marie Pohtamo Finland |
| Congeniality | Christine Mary Jackson (Trinidad and Tobago) |
| Best National Costume | Emy Elivia Abascal (Guatemala) |
| Photogenic | Martha Echeverry (Colombia) Summer Bartholomew (United States) |
Miss Universe 1975 was the 24th Miss Universe pageant, held at the National Gymnasium in San Salvador, El Salvador, on 19 July 1975.
At the conclusion of the event, Miss Universe 1972, Kerry Anne Wells of Australia crowned Anne Pohtamo of Finland as Miss Universe 1975. The previous winner, Amparo Muñoz of Spain, did not attend the pageant after she resigned the previous year.
Contestants from seventy-one countries and territories participated in this year's pageant. The pageant was hosted by Bob Barker in his ninth consecutive year, while Helen O'Connell provided commentary and analysis throughout the event.[1]
Location and date
On 3 August 1971, the Miss Universe Organization and the Government Economic Development Administrator of Puerto Rico signed a contract to bring Miss Universe and Miss USA to San Juan from 1972 to 1976.[2] However, the Puerto Rican government canceled the agreement in February 1973 because, according to Puerto Rican government officials, the agreement was allegedly illegal.[3] On 31 December 1974, Miss Universe Inc. president Harold Glasser announced that the Miss Universe 1975 pageant would be held in San Salvador, El Salvador on 19 July 1975.[4]
On the day of the competition, several groups of armed soldiers with submachine guns surrounded the competition site to stop student demonstrations protesting the El Salvadoran government's spending of $1 million on the competition.[5] Hours before the competition, a bomb exploded in the center of San Salvador in protest against the Miss Universe pageant, injuring a civilian, and damaging the National Tourist Office of El Salvador, which organized the pageant.[6]
A week after the competition, protests broke out in the cities of Santa Ana and San Salvador, resulting in the 1975 Salvadoran student massacre. According to the military government of El Salvador, one person was killed, five were injured, and eleven were imprisoned, while according to students who participated in the protests, approximately twelve people were killed, twenty were injured, and forty were imprisoned.[7]
Selection of participants
Contestants from seventy-one countries and territories were selected to compete in the pageant. Two candidates were selected to replace the original dethroned winner.
Replacements
Miss Spain 1974 first runner-up, Consuelo Martin, was appointed as the candidate of Spain after Miss Spain 1974, Natividad Rodriguez, relinquished her title after joining Miss World. Miss Thailand Universe 1975 third runner-up, Wanlaya Thonawanik, was appointed as the representative of Thailand after Miss Thailand Universe 1975, Sirikwan Nantasiri, chose to pursue her film career.[8]
Debuts, returns, and, withdrawals
This edition saw the debuts of American Samoa, Belize, Mauritius, and Micronesia, and the returns of Guatemala which last competed in 1961; Morocco which last competed in 1966; Haiti and South Africa which last competed in 1968; Ecuador and Peru which last competed in 1972;[9] and Denmark which last competed in 1973.
Mavis Slengard of Suriname withdrew because she was ill.[10] Cyprus, Honduras, Portugal, and Senegal withdrew after their respective organizations failed to hold a national competition or appoint a delegate. Eva Arni of Papua New Guinea withdrew after winning an international pageant. Arni competed in the following year.[11]
Results
Placements
| Placement | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss Universe 1975 | |
| 1st runner-up | |
| 2nd runner-up | |
| 3rd runner-up | |
| 4th runner-up |
|
| Top 12[12] |
|
Special awards
| Award | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss Photogenic |
|
| Miss Congeniality |
|
| Best National Costume |
Pageant
Format
Same with 1971, twelve semi-finalists were chosen at the preliminary competition that consists of the swimsuit and evening gown competition. The twelve semi-finalists participated in the casual interview, swimsuit, and evening gown competitions. From twelve, five finalists were shortlisted to advance to the final interview.[12]
Selection committee
- Maribel Arrieta – Miss El Salvador 1955, first runner-up at Miss Universe 1955[15]
- Ernest Borgnine – American actor[16]
- Aline Griffith, Countess of Romanones – American-born Spanish aristocrat and socialite
- Kiyoshi Hara – President of the Asahi Broadcasting Corporation in Japan[17]
- Jean Claude Killy – French alpine skier[17]
- Peter Lawford – British actor[16]
- Max Lerner – American journalist and educator
- Susan Strasberg – American actress and author
- Leon Uris – American author
- Sarah Vaughan – American jazz singer and pianist[18]
- Luz Marina Zuluaga – Miss Universe 1958 from Colombia[15]
Contestants
Seventy-one contestants competed for the title.
