Miss Universe 1974 Marks Her Golden Crowning Anniversary

The first Miss Universe edition to be held in the Far East marks its 50th anniversary. 

What better way to showcase the beauty and splendor of the Philippines than the Miss Universe pageant where the reigning queen Margarita Moran will also pass on her crown to her successor and witnessed by her countrymen.

Former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos made it happen when she singlehandedly oversaw the preparations with flair and excitement.

Amparo Muñoz y Quesada from Spain was crowned the most beautiful girl of the universe for 1974 on the morning of July 21 at the Folk Arts Theater. 

Rounding out the top five were 1st RU Miss Wales Helen Morgan, 2nd RU Miss Finland Johanna Raunio 3rd RU Miss Colombia Ella Cecilia Escandon and 4th RU Miss Aruba Maureen Ava Viera

It was however a tumultuous reign for the señorita with the fiery Spanish temperament whose reign came to a head when she threw out her crown from a hotel window. 

Despite not completing her reign, she was never dethroned and she is still acknowledged as the 1974 titleholder. She went on to carve a successful yet controversial showbiz career in Spain. 

Miss Universe 1972 Kerry Ann Wells of Australia crowned the 1975 Miss Universe 

She passed away on February 27, 2011 from a lingering ailment. She was 56 years old. She would always be fondly remembered not only by Filipino fans as the first Miss Universe to be crowned in the Philippines but also by the entire world as one of the most beautiful Miss Universe winners ever.

Farewell Queen

Part 2: The Tragic Story of Amparo Munoz

Amparo Muñoz Quesada was born on June 21, 1954 in a family of six children in Vélez Málaga, Andalusia, Spain. She had light to reddish brown hair and green eyes and even at an early age, had already shown a hint of the promising beauty that would win for her country its first and only Miss Universe crown.  

Amparo Munoz

Because of their family’s limited financial resources and humble surroundings, it was her childless godparents who raised her and send her to elementary school. Old- timers reminisce how Amparo as a young girl was very shy and withdrawn and seemed to be oblivious or unaware of her beauty. Despite the simple clothes she wore, everyone would turn to look at her every time she walked along the streets. 

During those innocent times, she already had the allure & the fiery temperament of the Spanish senorita that proved to be irresistible for most men. It was the exact beauty that would earn for her fame and fortune and later on cause her downward spiral and heartbreaking endbut that’s getting ahead of the story. 

At 17, she earned her first salary as saleswoman in a department store in Mérida. Then she was employed at a French boutique and passed models in malls of Andalusia.

Prior to winning many beauty pageants, she was preparing herself for a career in the entertainment industry. After college where she enrolled in shorthand and typing courses for possible employment as a secretary, she moved to Madrid where she studied acting, modeled, and appeared on television commercials. 

She eventually worked as a secretary in an advertising company which became her link to fulfilling a destiny in the world of pageantry. As she was submitting the advertisements and press releases at Sur de Malaga newspaper, the editor saw her and struck with her beauty & charm, he encouraged her to compete in the Senorita Costa Del Sol regional pageant whose winner goes to compete in Senorita Espana.   

Amparo Munoz is Miss Espana 1973

The reluctant beauty followed his advice, submitted her application form and much to her surprise & disbelief, she won and earned the right to compete for the Senorita Espana title. 

COMING UP: Part 3

Part 1: The Tragic Story of Amparo Munoz

 no fairy tale ending

SPAIN CONQUERED THE PHILIPPINES AGAIN. Whenever discussions and debates center on who is considered as the most beautiful Miss Universe ever, the name Amparo Munoz would always be mentioned.

Amparo was the lovely Spanish senorita who was crowned the most beautiful woman of the universe in 1974 and mesmerized an entire generation of Filipinos who witnessed her crowning when the pageant was held in Manila. 

Amparo became the darling of beauty-contest-crazy Filipinos. After relinquishing her crown, Amparo agreed to star in the movie Hayop sa Ganda with our very own Miss Universe (1969), Gloria Diaz.

THE CURSE OF BEING BEAUTIFUL

After the beauty pageant, she left the country to begin what was supposed to be an exciting and memorable year as Miss Universe but sadly, it wasn’t meant to be.

 Amparo as Miss Universe 1974

Amparo Muñoz's life is probably the saddest story you've had of any international beauty queen. Her sheer beauty already made it clear that she was destined for something extraordinary when she grew up but the very same beauty that was her passport to instant fame and fortune was also the root cause of what became of her later on in life.

Everyone would think that winning a beauty contest is a great achievement and a great opportunity but to Amparo, that victory would mark the end of her happiness and her family. Initially ecstatic with her triumph as the first Spaniard to become Miss Universe, Amparo felt stifled and manipulated  halfway through her reign as she had to fulfill her duties with her every move being watched and monitored by chaperones. 

Her sole reason for joining Miss Universe then was to have a bigger and better profile in the movie industry (she was already a movie starlet before she became Miss Universe)

CLICK the link to:  1974 Miss Universe Pageant in Manila

 Miss Universe 1974 & Runners Up

One of the most beautiful Top Five ever

Everything came to a head when her crown was broken into pieces after she hurled it through a window.  Amparo, the fiery and temperamental Spanish beauty, decided not to continue being Miss Universe and resigned in January 1975 but she was never officially dethroned and the title was not offered to any of the other runners up. 

(Her 1^st runner up Helen Morgan of Wales was crowned Miss World later that year but was dethroned a few days later. Read the story HERE)  

The 1974 Miss Universe title then became vacant for six months and it was Miss Universe 1972 Kerry Ann Wells who crowned the 1975 Miss Universe.

       PLEASE CLICK:  PART 2: THE AMPARO MUNOZ STORY