Miss World 1960 was the 10th edition of the Miss World pageant, held at the Lyceum Ballroom, London, United Kingdom, on 8 November 1960.
At the conclusion of the event, racing driver Stirling Moss, one of the judges, crowned Norma Cappagli of Argentina as Miss World 1960. This is the first victory of Argentina in the history of the pageant.
Contestants from thirty-nine countries and territories participated in this year's pageant. The pageant was hosted by Bob Hope, while Peter West provided commentary all throughout the competition.
Background
Selection of participants Thirty-nine contestants were selected to compete in the pageant. Three contestants were appointed to represent their countries after being a runner-up in their national pageants.
Replacements Diane Medina was appointed to represent France after Yolanda Biecosai withdrew from the competition for undisclosed reasons. The first runner-up of Miss United States 1960, Judith Ann Achter, was appointed to represent her country, after it was discovered that Annette Driggers, the original winner, was married and only fifteen years old. The third runner-up of Miss Holland 1960, Carina Verbeek, was appointed to represent her country, as Miss Holland 1960, Ans Schoon, was abroad when the registration forms arrived.
Debuts, returns and withdrawals This edition marked the debut of Bolivia, Burma, Cyprus, Ecuador, French Polynesia, Kenya, Lebanon, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Spain, and Tanganyika, and the return of Australia, which last competed in 1957 and Turkey, last competed in 1958.
Luise Kammermair of Austria chose not to participate in the competition after becoming a runner-up at Miss Europe 1960. Comfort Kwamena of Ghana withdrew after choosing to make her flight to London in August 1960 instead of November of the same year. Judith Willoughby of Jamaica, Lena Woo of Hong Kong, Mercedes Ruggia of Paraguay, Maricruz Gómez of Peru, and Maria Josebate Silva Santos of Portugal withdrew for undisclosed reasons. Gibraltar and Puerto Rico withdrew after their respective organizations failed to hold a national competition or appoint a delegate.
Marinka Polhammer of Chile, Marilyne Escobar of Morocco, Lorraine Nawa Jones of New Zealand, and Elaine Maurath of Switzerland were all set compete in this edition, but all withdrew for undisclosed reasons.
Results
Placements PlacementContestantMiss World 1960 – Norma Cappagli1st runner-up – Gila Golan2nd runner-up – Denise Muir3rd runner-up – Ingrun Helgard Moeckel4th runner-up – Judith Ann AchterTop 10 – Maria Edilene Torreão – Irene Ruth Kane – Layla Rigazzi – Lee Young-hee – Hilda FaircloughTop 18 – Danica d'Hondt – Mary Mavropoulos – Lise Bodin – Iona Pinto – Jasmine Batty – Grethe Solhoy – Jenny Lee Scott – Barbro Olsson
Pageant
Format The number of placements in this edition has been increased to eighteen from eleven in the previous edition. The eighteen semi-finalists were selected through a preliminary competition held on the day of the final competition, consisting of a swimsuit and evening gown competition. The eighteen semifinalists competed in the swimsuit competition, and ten semi-finalists were eventually selected. The ten semi-finalists were interviewed by Bob Russell and paraded in front of the judges, and the five finalists were eventually selected to compete in the final interview.
Selection committee Rajah Gunsekard – Ceylon diplomat Oliver Messel – British artist Lady F. Asafu-Adjaye – Wife of the Ambassador of Ghana to Great Britain Stafford Somerfield – British newspaper editor Fredericka Ann "Bobo" Sigrist – Wife of British film producer Kevin McClory Stirling Moss – English Formula One racer Bernard Delfont – Russian-born British theatrical impresario
Contestants Thirty-nine contestants competed for the title. CountryContestantAgeHometownNorma Cappagli21Buenos AiresMargaret Nott19Victoria HarborHuberte Bax19BrusselsDalia Monasteros20La PazMaria Edilene Torreão18São José do EgitoMa Sen Aye24YangonDanica d'Hondt21VancouverMary Mavropoulos20LimassolLise Bodin19CopenhagenToty Rodríguez23GuayaquilMargaretha Schauman18HelsinkiDiane Medina19ParisTeura Bouwens27Teahupo'oKalliopi Geralexi–AthensCarina Verbeek19The HagueKristín Þorvaldsdóttir18ReykjavíkIona Pinto24BombayIrene Ruth Kane18LondonderryGila Golan20Tel AvivLayla Rigazzi18MilanEiko Murai24NiigataEriny Emile Sebella22AmmanJasmine Batty21NairobiGiséle Naser21BeirutLiliane Müller18Luxembourg CityRajaobelina Bedovoahangy24AntananarivoCarmen Isabel Recalde18LeónGrethe Solhoy20OsloJenny Lee Scott18KwekweDenise Muir19JohannesburgLee Young-hee20BusanConcepción Molinera23BarcelonaBarbro Olsson20UmeåCarmen Lesley Woodcock18Dar es SalaamNebahat Çehre17SamsunHilda Fairclough23LancashireJudith Ann Achter18St. LouisBeatriz Benítez20MontevideoIngrun Helgard Moeckel18Düsseldorf
Notes
References
External links Miss World official website