Miss Universe 1971
20th anniversary of the Miss Universe pageant
Miss Universe 1971
Georgina Rizk
Date24 July 1971
Presenters
VenueMiami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, United States
BroadcasterCBS (WTVJ)
Entrants60
Placements12
Withdrawals
  • Chile
  • Ceylon
  • Czechoslovakia
  • Denmark
  • Hong Kong
  • Paraguay
Returns
  • Thailand
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • United States Virgin Islands
WinnerGeorgina Rizk
Lebanon
CongenialityMagnolia Martinez (Peru)
Best National CostumeMaria Luisa Lopez Corzo (Mexico)
PhotogenicVida Valentina Doria (Philippines)
← 1970
1972 →

Miss Universe 1971 was the 20th Miss Universe pageant, held at the Miami Beach Auditorium in Miami Beach, Florida, United States, on 24 July 1971.

At the conclusion of the event, Marisol Malaret of Puerto Rico crowned Georgina Rizk of Lebanon as Miss Universe 1971. It is the first victory of Lebanon in the competition.[1]

Contestants from sixty countries and territories participated in this year's pageant. The pageant was hosted by Bob Barker in his fifth consecutive year, while June Lockhart provided commentary and analysis throughout the event. The Singing Lettermen performed in this edition.[2]

Background

Selection of participants

Contestants from sixty countries and territories were selected to compete in the pageant. One candidate was selected to replace the original dethroned winner, and another was selected after another national pageant was held to replace the original winner.

Replacements

Miss Virgin Islands 1971, Utha Williams, was disqualified for exceeding the age limit and was replaced by her first runner-up, Cherrie Creque. Williams was 28 years old at the time of the competition.[3]

Miss Italy 1970, Alda Balestra, was supposed to represent her country in this edition. However, Enzo Mirigliani, the organizer of Miss Italia, decided not to send her to the competition, expressing concerns that American judges often overlooked Italian contestants.[4] As a result, a separate competition was quickly arranged by Mario Pedretti to select a new representative for Miss Universe, ultimately won by Mara Palvarini.[4]

Palvarini was shocked to discover that the Miss Universe competition had a policy prohibiting married women from participating. Consequently, on her wedding day, just three days after winning the title of Miss Italia Universo, Palvarini decided to postpone her wedding to compete in Miss Universe in Miami. Her fiancé fully supported her decision to participate in the event.[5][6]

Returns and withdrawals

This edition saw the returns of Trinidad and Tobago which last competed in 1966, the United States Virgin Islands which last competed in 1968, and Thailand which last competed in 1969.

Miroslava Jancíková of Czechoslovakia withdrew after the Czechoslovak government banned beauty pageants in their country.[7][8] Marite Tomassone of Paraguay withdrew after a few days in Miami for undisclosed reasons.[9] Ceylon, Chile, Denmark, and Hong Kong after their respective organizations failed to hold a national competition or appoint a delegate.

Results

Miss Universe 1971 participating countries and territories

Placements

Placement Contestant
Miss Universe 1971
1st runner-up
  •  Australia – Toni Rayward[10]
2nd runner-up
  •  Finland – Pirjo Laitila[10]
3rd runner-up
  •  Puerto Rico – Beba Franco[10]
4th runner-up
  •  Brazil – Eliane Guimarães[10]
Top 12
  •  England – Marilyn Ward[10]
  •  France – Myriam Stocco[10]
  •  Israel – Ester Orgad[10]
  •  Japan – Shigeko Taketomi[10]
  •  Spain – Josefina Román[10]
  •  United States – Michele McDonald[10]
  •  United States Virgin Islands – Cherrie Creque[10]

Special awards

Award Contestant(s)
Miss Amity
  •  Peru – Magnolia Martínez
Miss Photogenic
  •  Philippines – Vida Doria[11]
Best National Costume
  •  Mexico – María Luisa López[12]
Top 10 Best in Swimsuit
  •  Australia – Toni Rayward[13]
  •  Brazil – Eliane Guimarães[13]
  •  England – Marilyn Ward[13]
  •  Finland – Pirjo Laitila[13]
  •  Israel – Ester Orgad[13]
  •  Japan – Shigeko Taketomi[13]
  •  Lebanon – Georgina Rizk[13]
  •  Puerto Rico – Beba Franco[13]
  •  United States – Michele McDonald[13]
  •  United States Virgin Islands – Cherrie Creque[13]

Pageant

Format

Several changes were implemented in this edition. The number of semi-finalists was reduced to twelve compared to fifteen in previous years. The results of the preliminary competition and the closed-door interview determined the twelve semi-finalists selected. The twelve semi-finalists participated in the casual interview, swimsuit, and evening gown competitions.[10] From twelve, five finalists were shortlisted to advance to the final interview.[14][15]

Selection committee

  • Margareta Arvidsson – Miss Universe 1966 from Sweden[16]
  • Eileen Ford – American model and founder of Ford Models[16]
  • George Fowler – American lawyer; former New York State Commissioner for Human Rights[16]
  • Yousuf Karsh – Armenian-Canadian photographer[16]
  • Jean-Louis Lindekens – Belgian columnist[16]
  • Dong Kingman – Chinese-American painter[16]
  • Line Renaud – French actress and singer[16]
  • Edilson Cid Varela – Brazilian journalist[16]
  • Itsuro Watanabe – President of the Japan-America Association[16]
  • Earl Wilson – American columnist and journalist[16]

Contestants

Sixty contestants competed for the title.

Country/Territory Contestant Age[a] Hometown
Argentina Argentina María del Carmen Vidal[17] 21 Santa Fe
Netherlands Antilles Aruba Vallita Maduro[18] 19 Santa Cruz
Australia Australia Toni Rayward[19] 19 Sydney
Austria Austria Edeltraud Neubauer[20] 18 Vienna
The Bahamas Bahamas Muriel Rahming[21] 24 Nassau
Belgium Belgium Martine De Hert[22] 18 Antwerp
Bermuda Bermuda Rene Furbert 20 Paget Parish
Bolivia Bolivia Ana María Landívar[23] 18 Sucre
Brazil Brazil Eliane Guimarães[24] 21 Mariana
Canada Canada Lana Drouillard[25] 20 Ancaster
Colombia Colombia Piedad Mejía[26] 23 Manizales
Democratic Republic of the Congo Congo-Kinshasa Martine Mualuke[27] 19 Kinshasa
Costa Rica Costa Rica Rosa María Rivera[28] 18 San José
Netherlands Antilles Curaçao Maria Vonhogen[29] 19 Willemstad
Dominican Republic Dominican Republic Sagrario Reyes[30] 20 El Seibo
Ecuador Ecuador Ximena Moreno[9] 18 Quito
England England Marilyn Ann Ward[31] 21 Hampshire
Finland Finland Pirjo Laitila[32] 20 Helsinki
France France Myriam Stocco[33] 20 Languedoc-Roussillon
Greece Greece Angela Carayanni[34] 18 Athens
Guam Guam Linda Avila[35] 18 Mangilao
Netherlands Holland Laura Mulder-Snid[36] 18 Amsterdam
Honduras Honduras Dunia Ortega[37] 19 Santa Bárbara
Iceland Iceland Guðrún Valgarðsdóttir[38] 18 Skagafjörður
India India Raj Gill[39] 21 Dhule
Republic of Ireland Ireland Marie Hughes[40] 22 Dublin
Israel Israel Ester Orgod[41] 19 Eilat
Italy Italy Mara Palvarini[42] 20 Mantua
Jamaica Jamaica Suzette Wright 19 Clarendon
Japan Japan Shigeko Taketomi[43] 21 Tokyo
Lebanon Lebanon Georgina Rizk[44] 18 Beirut
Luxembourg Luxembourg Mariette Francoise Fay 18 Mersch
Malaysia Malaysia Yvette Maria Bateman[45] 21 Terengganu
Malta Malta Felicity Carbott 19 Valletta
Mexico Mexico María Luisa López[46] 21 Mexico City
New Zealand New Zealand Linda Ritchie[47] 21 Auckland
Nicaragua Nicaragua Xiomara Paguaga 20 Managua
Norway Norway Ruby Reitan[48] 23 Oslo
Panama Panama Gladys Isaza[49] 18 Panama City
Peru Peru Magnolia Martínez[50] 24 Lima
Philippines Philippines Vida Doria[51] 20 Binmaley
Portugal Portugal Maria Celmira Bauleth[52] 18 Portuguese Angola
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Beba Franco[53] 24 San Juan
Scotland Scotland Elizabeth Montgomery[54] 18 Ayr
Singapore Singapore Jenny Wong[55] 23 Singapore
South Korea South Korea Mi-ae Noh 19 Seoul
Spain Spain Josefina Román[56] 24 Cádiz
Suriname (Kingdom of the Netherlands) Suriname Marcelle Darou[57] 19 Paramaribo
Sweden Sweden Vivian Oihanen[58] 20 Vaxholm
 Switzerland Anita Andrini[59] 19 Ticino
Thailand Thailand Warunee Sangsirinavin[60] 19 Bangkok
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Sally Karamath[61] 22 San Fernando
Tunisia Tunisia Aida Mzali[62] 18 Tunis
Turkey Turkey Filiz Vural[63] 18 Istanbul
United States United States Michele McDonald[64] 19 Butler
United States Virgin Islands United States Virgin Islands Cherrie Creque[65] 20 Saint Croix
Uruguay Uruguay Alba Techira[9] 19 Montevideo
Venezuela Venezuela Jeannette Donzella[9] 18 Monagas
Wales Wales Dawn Cater[66] 19 Cardiff
West Germany West Germany Vera Kirst 22 Bavaria

Notes

  1. ^ Ages at the time of the pageant

References

  1. ^ "New Miss Universe knew she'd won– she peaked". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. 26 July 1971. p. 2. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Miss Universe to light up picture". The Los Angeles Times. 18 July 1971. p. 433. Retrieved 7 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Black girl has new hope for Miss Universe". Fort Lauderdale News. 20 July 1971. p. 32. Retrieved 7 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "A tale of two beauties". The Palm Beach Post. 7 July 1971. p. 16. Retrieved 7 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Miss Italy and Mario say 'I don't'". Life. 23 July 1971. p. 61. Retrieved 7 October 2025 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "No title". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). 12 July 1971. p. 8. Retrieved 7 October 2025 – via Delpher.
  7. ^ "Doesn't want to go home". The Pensacola News. 4 August 1970. p. 2. Retrieved 7 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Red-Bloc 'babes' may miss contest". Florida Today. 16 July 1971. pp. 8–B. Retrieved 7 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c d "Miami, Florida". La Nacion (in Spanish). 17 July 1971. p. 12. Retrieved 7 October 2025 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Title no surprise to beauty". The Palm Beach Post. 26 July 1971. p. 20. Retrieved 9 November 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Most photogenic". Ocala Star-Banner. 22 July 1971. pp. 1–B. Retrieved 7 October 2025 – via Google News Archive.
  12. ^ "Winning national costume". Ocala Star-Banner. 22 July 1971. pp. 12–A. Retrieved 7 October 2025 – via Google News Archive.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Best in swimsuits". News-Press. 23 July 1971. p. 13. Retrieved 7 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Beauty isn't all, but helps". Fort Lauderdale News. 26 July 1971. p. 30. Retrieved 7 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Brunette Miss Lebanon most beautiful in world". The Orlando Sentinel. 25 July 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 7 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Beauties plagued with the jitters". The Palm Beach Post. 25 July 1971. p. 194. Retrieved 7 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Maria del Carmen I." El Litoral (in Spanish). 4 June 1971. p. 2. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Vallita Maduro wins Miss Aruba title at Divi Divi Hotel July 3". Aruba Esso News. 16 July 1971. p. 7. Retrieved 9 November 2023 – via Digital Library of the Caribbean.
  19. ^ "A wardrobe fit for a beauty queen". The Australian Women's Weekly. 14 July 1971. p. 28. Retrieved 9 November 2023 – via Trove.
  20. ^ "Wachten op de grote dag" [Waiting for the big day]. Het Parool (in Dutch). 20 July 1971. p. 5. Retrieved 9 November 2023 – via Delpher.
  21. ^ "Tourist attraction". Youngstown Vindicator. 1 December 1971. p. 21. Retrieved 9 November 2023 – via Google News Archive.
  22. ^ "Miss België, achter de schermen". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 23 October 2002. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  23. ^ "El título les dio alegrías, trabajo y fama que aún saborean" [The title gave them joy, work and fame that they still savor.]. El Deber (in European Spanish). 29 July 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  24. ^ "Conheça a história do Miss Brasil" [Discover the history of Miss Brazil]. Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). 29 September 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  25. ^ Beneteau, Ann (10 July 1971). "Secret was to be herself". The Windsor Star. p. 8. Retrieved 9 November 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Caldas gano reinado" [Caldas wins reign]. El Tiempo (in Spanish). pp. 1, 13. Retrieved 9 November 2023 – via Google News Archive.
  27. ^ "61 concursantes figuran en el certamen anual 'Miss Universo'" [61 contestants compete in the annual Miss Universe pageant]. Google Books (in Spanish). 23 July 1971. p. 4. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  28. ^ "Elegida la Miss Costa Rica que ira a Miami" [Elected the Miss Costa Rica who will go to Miami]. La Nacion (in Spanish). 10 May 1971. p. 60. Retrieved 9 November 2023 – via Google News Archive.
  29. ^ "Willemstad - De charmante Miss Curacao 1971, Maria Vonhögen zal vandaag naar Miami vertrekken om mee te doen aan de verkiezing van Miss Universe, die morgen begint". Amigoe di Curacao (in Dutch). 16 July 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 9 November 2023 – via Delpher.
  30. ^ "Beauties name Nixon "world's greatest"". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. 22 July 1971. p. 11. Retrieved 7 October 2025 – via Google Books.
  31. ^ "Businesswoman Miss Universe entrant". The Palm Beach Post. 18 July 1971. p. 2. Retrieved 9 November 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Urheilumissi Pirjo Laitila" [Miss Sports Pirjo Laitila]. Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 4 February 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  33. ^ "Miss France 1971 : cette année de règne qui a changé la vie de la Gardoise Myriam Stocco" [Miss France 1971: this year of reign that changed the life of Gardoise Myriam Stocco]. Midi Libre (in French). 19 December 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  34. ^ "Nobody ever sees Jackie, Ari dance". Pensacola News Journal. 21 July 1971. p. 2. Retrieved 4 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "Bellezas en Miami" [Beauties in Miami]. La Nacion (in Spanish). 23 July 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 4 October 2025 – via Google News Archive.
  36. ^ "We hebben weer Miss Holland" [We have Miss Holland again]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). 15 May 1971. p. 2. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  37. ^ Gámez, Sabino (25 April 2008). "El Miss Honduras, una historia que contar" [Miss Honduras, a story to tell]. La Prensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  38. ^ "Ekki négu mikil rauðsokka til þess að hafna keppninni" [Not enough red socks to reject the competition]. Vísir (in Icelandic). 10 May 1971. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 4 October 2025 – via Tímarit.is.
  39. ^ "50 years of Miss India: Winners through the years". The Times of India. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  40. ^ "Three of the beauties". Williamson Daily News. 19 July 1971. Retrieved 4 October 2025 – via Google Books.
  41. ^ "Miss Israel: Sexiest soldier". Florida Today. 19 July 1971. pp. 6–B. Retrieved 4 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ "A tale of two beauties". The Palm Beach Post. 7 July 1971. p. 16. Retrieved 4 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ "Lebanese girl wins title". The Victoria Advocate. 25 July 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 4 October 2025 – via Google Books.
  44. ^ Yazbeck, Jeannine (15 December 2022). "Georgina Rizk, the First and Only Arab Miss Universe Talks Evading Fame, and Her Love for Lebanon". Vogue Arabia. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  45. ^ "Secretary who feels on top of the world". The Straits Times. 14 June 1971. p. 7. Retrieved 9 November 2023 – via National Library Board.
  46. ^ "El sabado se elige a Miss Universo". La Nacion (in Spanish). 21 July 1971. p. 57. Retrieved 9 November 2023 – via Google News Archive.
  47. ^ "Blonde winner of contest". The Press. Christchurch, New Zealand. 8 June 1971. p. 14. Retrieved 2 January 2026 – via Papers Past.
  48. ^ "Ruby Reitan". Limburgsch Dagblad (in Dutch). 24 July 1971. p. 2. Retrieved 4 October 2025 – via Delpher.
  49. ^ "Estas son las panameñas que participaron de Miss Universo". Telemetro (in Spanish). 7 January 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  50. ^ "Miss Perú: las peruanas más bellas de las últimas décadas". El Comercio (in Spanish). 12 November 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  51. ^ Alano, Ching M. (3 November 2002). "La dolce Vida". Philippine Star. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  52. ^ "Beauties and the beach". Ocala Star-Banner. 21 July 1971. pp. 1–B. Retrieved 1 May 2025 – via Google News Archive.
  53. ^ Berrios, Luis Ernesto (26 March 2023). "Beba Franco resalta cualidades de Marisol Malaret". Primera Hora (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  54. ^ "The U.S. is a mystery to her". Tallahassee Democrat. 23 July 1972. p. 47. Retrieved 4 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  55. ^ "Reluctant Jenny wins the Miss Singapore-Universe title". The Straits Times. 21 July 1971. p. 24. Retrieved 9 November 2023 – via National Library Board.
  56. ^ Mizell, Hubert (26 July 1971). "Miss Universe says beauty not enough". The Free Lance-Star. p. 7. Retrieved 4 October 2025 – via Google Books.
  57. ^ "World pageants well-versed". Florida Today. 23 July 1971. pp. 10A. Retrieved 4 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  58. ^ "Long wait". Florida Today. 19 July 1971. pp. 6–B. Retrieved 4 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  59. ^ Meier, Simone (15 October 2015). "Liebe Schweiz, es ist wieder Missen-Zeit. Da müssen wir doch gleich mal dissen" [Dear Switzerland, it's Miss season again. We have to diss right away]. Watson (in German). Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  60. ^ "สปอร์ตไลท์ส่อง นางสาวไทยคนที่ 19 ! เปีย วารุณี ภรรยาของ ตรีทิพย์ เตลาน" [Spotlight on the 19th Miss Thailand! Pia Warunee, wife of Tritip Telan]. Dodeden.com (in Thai). 15 August 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  61. ^ Organ, Jane (14 July 1971). "Trinidad girl hard at work here training for Miss Universe event". The Montreal Gazette. p. 43. Retrieved 4 October 2025 – via Google News Archive.
  62. ^ "Next to daddy, Miss Universe contestants like Nixon". The Orlando Sentinel. 22 July 1971. p. 38. Retrieved 4 October 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  63. ^ Tarihi, Güncelleme (4 May 2020). "Güzeller canlı yayında buluştu" [Beauties met on live broadcast]. Hürriyet (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  64. ^ "Miss USA Breaks Date For Prom to Win Title". The Wichita Beacon. Associated Press. May 23, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  65. ^ "Black girl has new hope for Miss Universe". Fort Lauderdale News. 20 July 1971. p. 32. Retrieved 9 November 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  66. ^ "Family affair for beauty queens". Wales Online. 5 April 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  • Official website
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Miss_Universe_1971&oldid=1330842250"