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Miss Universe 1966

Miss Universe 1966
Margareta Arvidsson
Date16 July 1966
Presenters
VenueMiami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, United States
BroadcasterCBS
Entrants58
Placements15
DebutsGuam
Withdrawals
  • Australia
  • Hong Kong
  • Mexico
  • Portugal
  • Tunisia
  • Uruguay
Returns
  • Argentina
  • Chile
  • Lebanon
  • Morocco
  • Singapore
  • Suriname
  • Trinidad and Tobago
WinnerMargareta Arvidsson
Sweden
CongenialityElizabeth Sanchez (Curaçao)
Paquita Torres (Spain)[1]
Best National CostumeAviva Israeli (Israel)
PhotogenicMargareta Arvidsson (Sweden)
← 1965
1967 →

Miss Universe 1966 was the 15th Miss Universe pageant, held at the Miami Beach Auditorium in Miami Beach, Florida, United States on 16 July 1966.

At the conclusion of the event, Apasra Hongsakula of Thailand crowned Margareta Arvidsson of Sweden as Miss Universe 1966. It is the second victory of Sweden in the history of the pageant.

Contestants from fifty-eight countries and territories competed in this edition. The pageant was hosted by Jack Linkletter, while Pat Boone and June Lockhart served as backstage correspondents.[2] This edition of Miss Universe is the first to be broadcast in color.[3]

Background

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Selection of participants

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Contestants from fifty-eight countries and territories were selected to compete in the pageant. One candidate was appointed to represent her country to replace the original dethroned winner.

Replacements

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Miss Dominion of Canada 1966, Diane Coulter, withdrew for health concerns and was replaced by her first runner-up, Marjorie Schofield.[4]

Debuts, returns, and withdrawals

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This edition saw the debut of Guam, and the returns of Lebanon and Singapore which last competed in 1962; Morocco which last competed in 1963; and Argentina, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago which last competed in 1964.[5][6]

Moomba Queen 1966, Erica McMillan, was scheduled to compete as the Australian representative but tragically passed away in a car accident. No one was sent as a replacement, forcing the country to withdraw.[7][8] Miss Tunisia, Zeineb Lamine, and Miss Uruguay, Susana Regeden, both withdrew for undisclosed reasons. Hong Kong, Mexico, and Portugal withdrew after their respective organizations failed to hold a national competition or appoint a delegate.

Miss Honduras 1966, Danira Miralda Buines, and Miss Saint Vincent 1966, Anna Ellis, both withdrew for undisclosed reasons.[9][10]

Results

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Placements

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Placement Contestant
Miss Universe 1966
1st runner-up
  •  Finland – Satu Charlotta Östring[1]
2nd runner-up
3rd runner-up
4th runner-up
  •  Israel – Aviva Israeli[1]
Top 15
  •  Colombia – Edna Margarita Rudd[12]
  •  Denmark – Gitte Fleinert[12]
  •  England – Janice Whiteman[12]
  •  Holland – Margo Domen[12]
  •  Norway – Siri Gro Nilsson[12]
  •  Peru – Madeline Hartog-Bel[12]
  •  Philippines – Maria Clarinda Soriano[12]
  •  Spain – Paquita Torres[12]
  •  United States – Maria Remenyi[1]
  •  West Germany – Marion Heinrich[12]

Special awards

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Award Contestant
Miss Amity
  •  Curaçao – Elizabeth Sanchez[1]
  • Spain Spain – Paquita Torres[1]
Miss Photogenic
Best National Costume
  •  Israel – Aviva Israeli[13]

Pageant

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Format

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Miss Universe has made several changes to the competition format. Starting with this edition, instead of revealing the 15 semifinalists during the preliminary competition, they were called one by one at the final competition, in no particular order.[12] After announcing their countries, the semifinalists were individually interviewed by Jack Linkletter. Following the interviews, the 15 semifinalists participated in the swimsuit and evening gown competitions. From fifteen, five contestants were shortlisted to advance to the final interview.[12]

Selection committee

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Contestants

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Miss Universe 1966 participating countries and territories

Fifty-eight contestants competed for the title.

Country/Territory Contestant Age[a] Hometown
Argentina Argentina Elba Beatriz Baso[5] 20 Buenos Aires
Netherlands Antilles Aruba Sandra Fang[17] – Oranjestad
Austria Austria Renate Polacek 21 Vienna
The Bahamas Bahamas Sandra Zoe Jarrett[18] 19 Nassau
Belgium Belgium Mireille De Man[19] 18 Brussels
Bermuda Bermuda Marie Clarissa Trott[20] 20 Hamilton
Bolivia Bolivia María Elena Borda[21] – Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Brazil Brazil Ana Cristina Ridzi[22] 19 Rio de Janeiro
Canada Canada Marjorie Anne Schofield[23] 18 Burlington
Dominion of Ceylon Ceylon Lorraine Roosmalecocq 20 Colombo
Chile Chile Stella Dunnage 20 Bíobío
Colombia Colombia Edna Margarita Rudd[24] 19 Bogotá
Costa Rica Costa Rica María Virginia Oreamuno[25] – Cartago
Cuba Cuba Lesbia Murrieta[26] 20 Miami, Florida
Netherlands Antilles Curaçao Elizabeth Sanchez[27] 18 Willemstad
Denmark Denmark Gitte Fleinert[28] 18 Copenhagen
Ecuador Ecuador Martha Cecilia Andrade – Quito
England England Janice Whiteman[29] 21 Southampton
Finland Finland Satu Charlotta Ostring[30] 19 Tampere
France France Michèle Boule[31] 19 Cannes
Kingdom of Greece Greece Katia Balafouta 21 Athens
Guam Guam Barbara Jean Perez 20 Agana
Guyana (1966–1970) Guyana Umblita Van Sluytman[32] 20 Georgetown
Netherlands Holland Margo Domen[33] 18 The Hague
Iceland Iceland Erla Traustadóttir[34] 22 Garðabær
India India Yasmin Daji[35] 19 Kanpur
Republic of Ireland Ireland Gladys Anne Waller 21 Dublin
Israel Israel Aviva Israeli[36] 18 Tel Aviv
Italy Italy Paola Bossalino[37] 20 Rome
Jamaica Jamaica Beverly Savory – Kingston
Japan Japan Atsumi Ikeno[38] 18 Yao
Lebanon Lebanon Yolla Harb[39] 18 Beirut
Luxembourg Luxembourg Gigi Antinori 19 Luxembourg City
Malaysia Malaysia Helen Lee[40] 18 Ipoh
Morocco Morocco Joelle Lesage[41] – Rabat
New Zealand New Zealand Heather Gettings[42] 20 Auckland
Norway Norway Siri Gro Nilsen[43] 21 Oslo
Okinawa Yoneko Kiyan[44] 24 Okinawa
Panama Panama Dionisia Broce[45] 19 Panama City
Paraguay Paraguay Mirtha Martínez[46] 18 Alto Paraguay
Peru Peru Madeleine Hartog-Bel[47] 20 Piura
Philippines Philippines Maria Clarinda Soriano[48] 20 Bacoor
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Carol Barajadas[49] 18 Santurce
Scotland Scotland Linda Ann Lees 20 Glasgow
Singapore Singapore Margaret Van Meel[50] 19 Singapore
South Africa South Africa Lynn De Jager[51] 19 Pretoria
South Korea South Korea Yoon Gui-young – Seoul
Spain Spain Paquita Torres[52] 18 Málaga
Suriname (Kingdom of the Netherlands) Suriname Joyce Leysner 22 Paramaribo
Sweden Sweden Margareta Arvidsson[53] 18 Gothenburg
Switzerland Switzerland Hedy Frick 18 Schwyz
Thailand Thailand Cheranand Savetanand[54] 24 Surat Thani
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Kathleen Hares[6] 20 Port of Spain
Turkey Turkey Nilgun Arslaner 18 Istanbul
United States United States Maria Remenyi[55] 20 El Cerrito
Venezuela Venezuela Magally Castro 18 Calabozo
Wales Wales Christine Heller 22 Cardiff
West Germany West Germany Marion Heinrich[56] 19 Mönchengladbach

Notes

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  1. ^ Ages at the time of the pageant

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Bruning, Fred (18 Jul 1966). "Reluctant Miss Sweden Is Crowned Earthly Beauty of Earthly Universe". The Miami Herald. p. 97. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  2. ^ Lavietes, Stuart (21 December 2007). "Jack Linkletter, Second-Generation TV Host, Dies at 70". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  3. ^ "To host". The Star Press. 15 July 1966. p. 18. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Miss Dominion of Canada 1966". The Montreal Gazette. 5 July 1966. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ a b "La mas fotogenica...?". El Tiempo (in Spanish). 13 July 1966. p. 10. Retrieved 1 May 2025 – via Google News Archive.
  6. ^ a b "Srta. Trinidad" [Miss Trinidad]. El Diario la Prensa (in Spanish). 12 July 1966. p. 20. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Google News Archive.
  7. ^ "Erica McMillan, a 19 year-old private secretary who became a model a month ago, is the Moomba Queen, 1966". The Canberra Times. 7 March 1966. p. 3. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Trove.
  8. ^ "Moomba Queen dies in smash". The Canberra Times. 2 May 1966. p. 9. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Trove.
  9. ^ Gámez, Sabino (25 April 2008). "El Miss Honduras, una historia que contar". La Prensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  10. ^ "A history of pageantry in SVG 1951 to 2019". One News St.Vincent. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  11. ^ "Miss Sweden Named Miss Universe". The New York Times. 17 July 1966. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Walsh, John F. (24 July 1966). "The Walsh Line". Reading Eagle. p. 14. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ a b Bartlett, Kay (17 Jul 1966). "Sweden Girl is Crowned Miss Universe". The La Crosse Tribune. Associated Press. p. 1. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  14. ^ "It happened last night". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 21 July 1966. p. 30. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Google Books.
  15. ^ "Leukemia unit sponsors Miss Universe contest". St. Petersburg Times. 15 April 1966. p. 18. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Google Books.
  16. ^ Wilson, Earl (19 July 1966). "Airline strike caused Miss Universe problems". St. Joseph Gazette. p. 4. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ "Charming Miss Sandra". Aruba Esso News. 15 July 1966. p. 5. Retrieved 1 May 2025 – via Digital Library of the Caribbean.
  18. ^ "German gal gets Bahamas crown". The Journal Herald. 28 November 1966. p. 2. Retrieved 1 May 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Erelijst Miss België". De Morgen (in Dutch). 11 January 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  20. ^ "Miss Bermuda leaves for Miami". The Bermuda Recorder. 8 July 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 1 May 2025 – via Bermuda National Library.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ Silveira, Daniel (10 January 2015). "Morre em Petrópolis Ana Cristina Ridzi, eleita Miss Brasil em 1966". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  23. ^ "Reinas de belleza". El Diario la Prensa (in Spanish). 12 July 1966. p. 20. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  24. ^ "Tolima gano el Reinado" [Tolima won the crown]. El Tiempo (in Spanish). 22 November 1965. pp. 1–6. Retrieved 17 October 2023 – via Google News Archive.
  25. ^ "Manana se sabra que belleza ha ganado el titulo de Miss Universo". El Diario la Prensa (in Spanish). 15 July 1966. p. 33. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  26. ^ "¿Tiene Cuba representante para Miss Universo 2015?" [Cuba has a representative for Miss Universe 2015?]. Univision (in Spanish). 9 September 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  27. ^ "Miss Curacao 1966". Amigoe di Curacao (in Dutch). 25 June 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Delpher.
  28. ^ "Miss Denmark: If I win, I'll give the crown away". The Straits Times. 17 July 1966. p. 9. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via National Library Board.
  29. ^ "Our country's finest!". Daily Echo. 15 February 2010. Archived from the original on 24 January 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  30. ^ "Satu ei uskaltanut sirkukseen USA" [Satu didn't dare to go to the circus in the USA]. Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 24 July 2016. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  31. ^ Morana, Cecile (4 December 2014). "Miss France : quelle région a le plus remporté l'élection?" [Miss France: Which region won the election the most?]. Télé Star (in French). Archived from the original on 23 February 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  32. ^ "Beauty pageants – a look back". Stabroek News. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  33. ^ "Las candidatas a Miss Universo iniciaron desfiles en Miami Beach". El Tiempo (in Spanish). 12 July 1966. p. 14. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Google News Archive.
  34. ^ "Dökk á brún og brá" [Dark on the edge and startled]. Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 5 July 1966. p. 5. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Tímarit.is.
  35. ^ "From doctors to beauty queens". The Times of India. 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  36. ^ "Miss Israel: Five languages plus three great dimensions". B'nai B'rith Messenger⁩. 29 July 1966. p. 3. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via National Library of Israel.
  37. ^ "Creo Miss Peru puede ser elegida "Miss Universo"". El Diario la Prensa (in Spanish). 14 July 1966. p. 10. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Google News Archive.
  38. ^ "Night out a 'gasser' for cuties". The Miami Herald. 19 July 1966. p. 79. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "This hits the beauty spot". Youngstown Vindicator. 1 July 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Google News Archive.
  40. ^ "Miss Malaysia: A look round the world first..." The Straits Times. 27 June 1966. p. 7. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via National Library Board.
  41. ^ "Le Maroc sera représenté au concours Miss Univers prévu en Israël". Article19 (in French). 28 October 1961. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  42. ^ "Miss Universe beauties". The Tampa Tribune. 9 July 1966. p. 21. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ "Í spegli timans". Tölublað (in Icelandic). 20 July 1966. p. 3. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Tímarit.is.
  44. ^ "Oriental upset". The Tennessean. 20 July 1966. p. 5. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ "Estas son las panameñas que participaron de Miss Universo" [These are the Panamanians who participated in Miss Universe]. Telemetro (in Spanish). 7 January 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  46. ^ Coronel, Raul (15 October 2021). "Te presentamos a todas nuestras representantes en Miss Universe". Epa! (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  47. ^ "Madeleine Hartog: el día que una peruana se convirtió en Miss Mundo". Peru21 (in Spanish). 17 November 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  48. ^ Lo, Ricky (10 May 2001). "50 years with the Miss U Pageant". Philippine Star. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  49. ^ ""En Miami me siento en mi casa": Miss Puerto Rico". El Diario la Prensa (in Spanish). 13 July 1966. p. 10. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Google News Archive.
  50. ^ "Margaret wins 'most lovely' girl title". The Straits Times. 13 June 1966. p. 4. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via National Library Board.
  51. ^ Dawood, Zainul (25 May 2015). "Former model loses home in fire". Independent Online. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  52. ^ "Andalucía, la comunidad con más títulos de Miss España". Diario de Sevilla (in European Spanish). 15 July 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  53. ^ "Conoce a Margareta Arvidsson, Miss Universo 1966". Telemundo (in Spanish). 18 November 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  54. ^ "จีรนันทน์ เศวตนันทน์ "รองนางงามจักรวาล" คนแรกของไทย บนเวที Miss Universe" [Cheranand Savetanand Sewatanan, the first Thai "Miss Universe runner-up" on the Miss Universe stage]. SILPA-MAG (in Thai). 14 July 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  55. ^ "Bay Girl New Miss USA". San Francisco Examiner. United Press International. May 22, 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  56. ^ "Cool contestant". Daily News. 11 July 1966. p. 5. Retrieved 13 August 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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