Other Miss U beauties at the Big Dome

MANILA, Philippines - If memory serves, Madame Stella Marquez-Araneta was the only Miss International (of 1962, first ever) who appeared in a grand show at the Araneta Coliseum, billed as Pageant of World Beauty Queens on April 1, 1961 (almost eight months after her coronation).

Besides Pia Wurtzbach who is starring in a homecoming show on Thursday, Jan. 28, Miss Universe beauties have appeared in the same venue, namely:

1. 1959 Miss Universe Akiko Kojima of Japan, together with a 60-member/all-Japanese troupe, including 1959 Miss Japan-World Chieko Ichinose, on Jan. 16, 1961. They performed at the Araneta Coliseum in a show, Tokyo Follies of 1961, from Jan. 23 to 29. (Trivia: Kojima was the last winner to be crowned in Long Beach, California, the birthplace of the Miss Universe pageant.)

2. 1962 Miss Universe Norma Beatriz Nolan of Argentina arrived on Jan. 28, 1963 with four other beauties namely, Josie Dwyer (1962 Miss Ireland-Universe), Carolyn Joyner (1962 Miss USA and 1962 Miss International fourth runner-up), Linda Kennon of Los Angeles (1962 World USA third runner-up) and Marilyn Tindall of California (1962 Miss USA-Universe third runner-up). They appeared in the Chubby Checker All-Star Show on Feb. 1 to 10, 1963, topbilled by Chubby Checker, the King of Twist. The show also featured 1962 Miss World Catharina Johanna Lodders of Holland (she later married Checker) and the Reycard Duet. The group left on Feb. 12, 1963. (Trivia: Nolan sat as a judge in the 1969 Miss Universe pageant, the year Gloria Diaz won.)

3. 1963 Miss Universe Ieda Maria Vargas of Brazil arrived on Jan. 16, 1964 for the Pageant of World Beauty Queens 1964 staged at the Araneta Coliseum, Jan. 17 to 26. Other international beauties in the show were Aino Korva of Denmark (1963 Miss Universe first runner-up), Choi Yoo-mi of Korea (1963 Miss International fourth runner-up), Marion Zota of Germany (1963 Miss International semi-finalist), Penny Jane McClellan (1963 Miss Utah-World), Glynda Quinn (1963 Miss Oklahama-World) and homegrown beauties Lalaine Bennett (1963 Miss Universe third runner-up), Elsa Payumo (1963 Miss Caltex) and Amelia Reyes (1964 Miss Caltex). 

4. 1964 Miss Universe Kiriaki Corinna Tsopei of Greece on Feb. 16, 1965, for the Pageant of World Beauty Queens 1965. Tsopei (pronounced “so-pay”), performed with Lana Yi Yu of Republic of China (1964 Miss Universe fourth runner-up), American beauties Barbara “Bobbi” Johnson (1964 Miss USA and 1964 Miss Universe semi-finalist) and Gail Krielow of Ohio (1964 Miss USA semi-finalist). (Trivia: Tsopei appeared in Hollywood movies and TV series such as A Man Called Horse, Daniel Boone, Lost in Space, Valley of the Dolls and A Guide for the Married Man.)

5. 1968 Miss Universe Martha Vasconcellos of Brazil in the Pageant of World Beauty Queens 1968, Dec. 20 to 22. Also in the show were Junior Wells Rhythm and Blues Band, (No. 6. 1966 Miss Universe Margareta Arvidsson of Sweden), 1964 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Myrna Panlilio, 1965 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Clarinda Soriano and 1967 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Pilar Pilapil. (Trivia: After seven months, Vasconcellos crowned Gloria Diaz as Miss Universe in Miami Beach, Florida, USA, on July 19, 1969.)

7. 1976 Miss Universe Rina Messinger of Israel arrived on May 26, 1977, with Kimberly Louise Tomes (1977 Miss USA and semi-finalist in 1977 Miss U pageant). They were met at the Manila International Airport by Margie Moran (1973 Miss Universe) and Lizbeth de Padua (1976 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe). They were special guests during the 1977 Bb. Pilipinas pageant on May 28 (won by Anna Lorraine Kier, Bb. Pilipinas-Universe; Pinky Alberto, Bb. Pilipinas-International); Dorothy Sue Bradley (Bb. Pilipinas-Young International; and Bambi Arambulo, Bb. Pilipinas-Maja). (Trivia: Pinky Alberto made headlines when she voluntarily withdrew and flew back to Manila 10 days before the 1977 Miss International finals in Tokyo due to some irregularities in some pre-pageant activities. She died in 2005 due to a lingering illness.)

8. 1993 Miss Universe Dayanara Torres was serenaded by Richard Gomez and Aga Muhlach (who became her boyfriend) during the Opening Ceremony of 1994 Miss Universe pageant on May 7, 1994, where the 77 candidates paraded their national costumes and showcased the best of Philippine terno. The Best National Costume winners were Charlene Gonzales (Philippines, now Aga’s wife), Fabiola Perez Rovirosa (Mexico) and Inna Subova (Russia).