60th Crowning Anniversary of the First Miss Universe from Asia

The honor of being the first Asian to be crowned Miss Universe belongs to a lovely Japanese named Akiko Kojima.  

The 22 year old model who stood at 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) and measured 37–23–38 inches was the last Miss Universe to be crowned in Long Beach, California since the pageant moved to Miami Beach, Florida in 1960.

Akiko bested a field of 34 beauty delegates including frontrunners from South America and Europe. Her runners up were Miss Norway – Jorunn Kristjansen 1^st RU, Miss USA- Terry Lynn Huntingdon 2^nd RU, Miss England – Pamela Anne Searle and Miss Brazil – Vera Regina Ribeiro 4th RU. 

Rounding out the Top 15 were the ladies from Belgium, Colombia, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Korea, Poland and Sweden.

Akiko was a professional model in Tokyo, the second among four children. She said that she really wanted a simple life. ‘To be a lovely wife and to raise a big family.’

Akiko's Asian Allure

Miss Universe Akiko Kojima and Cadet 2-C Kenneth Gifford

at the 1959 Miss Universe  Coronation Ball 

Akiko Kojima in her national costume

This year, Akiko marks the 60^th anniversary of her crowning as the most beautiful girl of the universe. Akiko’s crowning paved the way for Asian beauty to be finally recognized as universally appealing.