THE MISS UNIVERSE CONTEST leaves the North American mainland for the first time and heads for the Theater of Herod Atticus in Athens. Corinna Tsopei of Greece (Miss Universe 1964) greets the world-wide television audience by stating that it has always been her dream for the pageant to come to her country. The sixty-two delegates still adhere to Miami Beach tradition by filing into the theater in their national costumes for the opening number. During the Parade of Nations, Bob Barker announces the country of each delegate as she slowly descends a staircase of stone steps before introducing herself and her hometown. In the case of Miss Photogenic and the winner of the Best National Costume, Bob adds that to the credentials of Miss Philippines and Miss Spain, respectively, since these are the days before those special mentions are merely flashed on the TV screen during the frenzied Parades of Nations typical of the 1980s. At the conclusion of the promenade in native costumes, Miss Chile is nominated as Miss Unity and receives her Unity trophy on-stage.

      The twelve semifinalists are named and each of them is wearing an ensemble representing a toga from the days of classical Greece. This is the first time all of the delegates are attired in sporty outfits depicting the culture of the host country. With no on-stage translators, Bob initiates to interview the first six candidates. Miss India reads Bob's palm and when she notes that his "affairs" are most interesting, Bob quickly pulls away and exclaims, "Whatever else we do tonight, there will be no palm reading!" Miss Brazil wishes to become a plastic surgeon and Bob teases her about her measurements and quips, "As a plastic surgeon, can you make a 55 year-old lady look like you?" Miss Israel describes her first trip abroad by describing the beauty of Greece. Miss Colombia is assured by Bob in Spanish, "No temas [Don't be afraid]" on account of her learning to speak English a sparse four months ago, but manages to tell Bob that she is a member of the Colombian national women's basketball team and has participated in both the Pan-American and Caribbean Games. Miss Spain answers 'hungry, help, and boys' to Bob's quiz on her English word knowledge and he jokes, "Not necessarily in that order!" Miss Spain concludes her chat by stating in Spanish (castellano) that she used her Miss Spain prize money to make home improvements, but also saved some of it. Miss Greece welcomes everyone to the 'cradle of Western civilization' and explains the Greek custom of breaking dishes on the floor to celebrate a good dinner.

      Bob chats with the remaining six contenders. Miss Argentina lists 'love, peace, and fraternity' among the English words she knows. Miss Philippines informs Bob that she would like to invest her money in a hotel since she has learned business skills from her banker-father and "likes to count money!" At this point, Bob predicts that Miss Philippines is the future 'Onassis' of her country. Miss USA convinces Bob that she is fluent in Spanish by responding, "Hablo español perfectamente, señor" when he asks her if she indeed speaks Spanish. Miss Japan who did not speak English well still succeeds in telling us (in English) that she cut her beautiful long hair on account of it being too hot in Greece. Miss Lebanon teaches Bob some Lebanese folk dancing moves and when she raises both of her arms seductively over her head, he pleads, "Perhaps you have shown us enough!" Miss Lebanon summarily ignores this and proceeds to take Bob's arm and they both step back and forth dangerously close to the orchestra pit. With exasperated relief, Bob blurts out, "In front of Ginger Rogers no less (a judge that year), I go through that! Fred Astaire I'm not." Miss Norway reveals she was born in Africa since her parents were missionaries there and that she had the facility of playing all kinds of outdoor sports during her childhood.

      After the Catalina swimsuit and evening gown competitions, the five finalists are named to draw questions on cards held by Bob Barker. Miss Israel seemed to "bide for time" when she did not understand the question in English and requested a Hebrew translator. Bob was visibly peeved since all the other girls had to field their questions while a Hebrew interpreter was being dug up at the last minute.

      Miss Israel was proclaimed fourth runner-up, Miss Spain the third, Miss Norway the second, and Miss USA the first. Margie Moran of the Philippines swept her hands to her mouth in disbelief as Kerry Anne Wells placed the crown on her head and the Miss Universe banner on her shoulder. Handed a glittering scepter, Margie slowly and tentatively strolled the runway with a lop-sided Miss Universe crown on her head. She glided to the throne in the center and sat on it while Bob bid farewell to the audience and then bent down to congratulate the new queen.

by Juan Prado

The 12 Semi-finalists

• MARIA MARGARITA MORAN, Philippines
• AMANDA JONES, USA
• AINA WALLE, Norway
• MARIA DEL ROCIO MARTIN, Spain
• LIMOR SCHREIBMAN, Israel
• SUSANA ROMERO, Argentina
• SANDRA MARA FEREIRA, Brazil
• ANA LUCIA AGUDELO, Colombia
• VANA PAPADAKIS, Greece
• FARZANA HABIB, India
• MIYOKO SOMETANI, Japan
• MARCELLE HERRO, Lebanon

Photo courtesy of the Miss Universe Organization

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2006 CRITICAL BEAUTY. All rights reserved.