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

Miss Universe Crowning Fiasco in Photos

Philippine pride Pia Wurtzbach who brought home our third Miss Universe crown has finally come home for her victory parade and thanksgiving.

 Pia Wurtzbach's official Miss Universe 2015 glamshot 

Later today, Pia will face the press to fill them in on her new life as Miss Universe and answer questions that are related to her responsibilities as spokesperson for the Miss Universe Org. Tomorrow,   Pia will be onboard her float for the ticker tape parade that will start at 9 am from Quezon City then City of Manila and finally to Makati City.

As Pia basks in the limelight and offers her victory to an adoring Philippines, let’s take a look back at the crowning moments of Miss Universe 2015 where first- time pageant host Steve Harvey wrongly announced Miss Colombia as the winner.

""It’s better to have been crowned and lost

Than not being crowned at all""

 from 80 to the final five

 the Top Three

 the lights continue to shine for Pia & Ariadna

 the last two girls standing

 it's Miss Colombia! 

 Ariadna cries for joy while Pia is led to her spot

it's a back- to- back for Colombia

 Ariadna proudly waves the Colombian flag

 a forlorn- looking Steve Harvey goes back 

 Steve Harvey apologizes to the crowd & to Ariadna

 a surprised Pia is patted on the back by Olivia 

 a bewildered & unbelieving Pia goes to centerstage 

 awkward & confusing moment

 Paulina's shining moment as reigning Miss Universe

 the Vanquished & the Victor

 Ariadna bravely smiles through the ordeal

 the gracious & well- bred ladies who congratulated Pia

 Pia  was the epitome of grace & humility during those
tense moments and came out the big winner

On hindsight, when I reviewed the Final Look segment in Miss Universe where pop supertar Seal serenades Pia with his hit song “Crazy”, I realized that the title of the song has unwittingly become the defining word for what the pageant has undergone last year from transfer of ownership to the crowning fiasco and the ensuing aftermath.

But one thing is for sure though; there is no sign that the Philippines’ crazy fascination with the Miss Universe pageant will show signs of abating. 

Long live Pia!

Miss Universe 1st Runner Up Admits She Is A Lesbian

The pageant world has been thrown into a tizzy after Patricia Yurena Rodriguez, the Spanish senorita who placed as 1^st Runner Up to Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler of Venezuela finally came out in the open and declared that she is a lesbian.

Miss Universe Last Two Standing 

Patricia declared her sexuality indirectly by posting in her Instagram account a picture of her and her lover Vanesa Cortés, better known by her alter ego Vanessa Klein, a popular singer in her own right.

 

Patricia's Lover is a Senorita

The beautiful Patricia who first won as Miss Espana 2008 wasn’t able to represent her country in the Miss Universe 2008 pageant because of age eligibility. She took part instead in the Miss World tilt where she landed in the Top 15. 

She competed again and won the Miss Espana title and finally represented her country in the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant held in Moscow, Russia where she became good friends with roommate & eventual winner Miss Venezuela. Miss Philippines Ariella Arida was also one of her closest friends.

Miss Venezuela, Miss Philippines & Miss Spain were the last three to enter the Top Five

Had Patricia been crowned Miss Universe instead of Gabriela, it would have been a publicity stunt that Donald Trump would surely milk for all its worth.

Patricia would always be remembered as one of the most stunning candidates to ever grace the Miss Universe stage. 

Good luck and cheers!

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