 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.
Miss International 2007
61 delegates are competing in Tokyo, Japan for the 2007 edition. Priscila Perales of Mexico wins the pageant.
Statistics
The number of times each country has won:- 5 times: Venezuela.
- 4 times: Philippines.
- 3 times: Australia, Colombia, England, Poland, United States.
- 2 times: Costa Rica, Germany, Norway, Spain.
- 1 time: Argentina, Brazil, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, Lebanon, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Yugoslavia.
Trivia
- The very first Miss Universe (from Finland), the very first Miss Asia (from Taiwan), the very first Miss International (from Colombia), and the very first Miss ASEAN (from the Philippines) all married Filipinos.
- 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 and Miss Tourism Queen International were the exceptions where Colombia won the Miss International crown in 1960 and India won the Miss Tourism Queen International in 2004.
- 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).
- As 2007, the Philippines is the first and the only Far East Asian country to win the Miss International title and holds the most Miss International titles (4 times: 1964, 1970, 1979, 2005).
- 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.
- Philippines and Lebanon are the only Asian countries to win the Miss International title up to this day.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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, Mimilanie Marquez known as Melanie Marquez of the Philippines was voted as the most beautiful Miss International in 2000's.
- Miss International 2002, Christina Sawaya is a Lebanese winner of Miss International title. Lebanon becomes the first predominantly Muslim and also the first Middle Eastern country to win it.
- Miss International 2004, Jeymmy Paola Vargas Gomez of Colombia is the first and 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.
- 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).
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