1954 - Miss Greece, Rika Diallina, and Miss Korea, Pu Rak Hi, were denied entry into the U.S. because of their alledged Communist affiliations. Miss Greece was disqualified from obtaining a U.S. visa for allegedly illustrating a book on Communism. Miss Korea, who had fled North Korea in 1950, was denied her U.S. visa for questionable, but unconfirmed political activities before she fled to the south. Both women were replaced by their runners-up, Effie Androulakakis and Kai Sun Hai.

U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles intervened in the Greek case, allowing Miss Diallina to enter the U.S. on a “temporary permit entry.” Miss Diallina arrived just a few days before the final event, and after her runner-up, Miss Androulakakis, had won the Miss Friendship award. Miss Androulakakis was asked to remain in the competition as Miss Crete. She declined, saying Miss Diallina was “the choice the people of my country to represent them here.” Miss Diallina made top 16 at the final event.

1954 - Miss USA (Miriam Stevenson of South Carolina) “narrowly” won the title over press favorite Miss Brazil (Martha Rocha). An unprecedented triple tie vote delayed the final verdict for almost an hour. One of the judges disclosed it was Miss Brazil’s “bulging hips” that cost her the title. The judge, who remained anonymous, said the ideal feminine form should have equal measurements at the hip and bust, with the waist being 10 to 12 inches less in size.

Miss Brazil measured 36 inches at the bust, 38 at the hips, and 23 at the waist. Miss USA measured 36 at the bust and hips and 24 at the waist. “Miss Brazil’s face was the most gorgeous in the contest,” the judge said. “But we just couldn’t discount those hips.” As a consolation prize of sorts, Miss Brazil was awarded the $4,000 convertible car in the Miss Universe prize package. Miss USA had already won a car as part of the Miss USA prize package.

1954 - Christiane Martel, Miss Universe of 1953, won an uncontested divorce from Ronnie Marengo, Stockton CA, department store heir.

1955 - Roman Catholic Archbishop Francisco Berkman warned that bathing beauty contestants would commit "a special sin," forcing cancellation of plans for Panama’s participation in the Miss Universe contest.

1955 - Miss England (Margaret Rowe) was viewed by many as a non-English type, because her measurements (37-24-37) were more closer to these found in Mediterranean lands.

"We had to do something," said one of the Miss England judges. "We have never won a Miss Universe title. Typical, gentle English beauty always seems pale and uninteresting beside girls of other nations."

Miss Rowe’s face and figured proved to be very popular. She won the “Most Popular in the Parade” award and was one of the 15 semifinalists.

1956 - After the Miss Universe pageant, the "smouldering resentment of rejected Latin-American contestants flared into open revolt." None of these beauties placed among the 5 finalists, causing complaints "that the judges were biased in favour of North American and European types."

1956 - Hollywood actress Greta Thyssen (Miss Denmark of 1953) said that several youths tried to kidnap her as she was walking near her home. Her screams brought an unidentified man to the rescue, sending the youths fleeing.

1958 - Poland became the first country from behind the “Iron Curtain” to send a delegate to the contest. Upon her arrival in Long Beach, Miss Poland (Alicja Bobrowska) declared that she had a little trouble leaving Poland because of “Bureaukratsia.” She told reporters that cosmetics were hard to find in Poland and the few item available were of inferior quality. She remarked that “American women are very pretty and very well dressed” and that “American men look very virile.”

1958 - Not about to have another scandal involving an under-age Miss, contest officials disqualified Miss Costa Rica, Eugenia Maria Valverde, for being under 18.

1958 - On the day of preliminary judging to pick the 15 semifinalists, dean of pageant judges, Vincent Trotta, revealed his scoring criteria. He said, “Give me shoulders with a 20-degree slant, legs that fuse at the thigh, knees, calves, and ankles, and then put a pretty face on top of it and I’ll give you Miss Universe. We also look for personality. For without personality, a pretty girl is like a Rolls-Royce engine without gasoline.”

1958 - Tall and blonde Miss Uruguay (Irene Augustyniak) led a group of Latin American delegates, including Miss Mexicio (Elivira Risser), Miss Paraguay (Graciela Scorza), and Miss Argentina (Celina Ayala), in complaining about the judges’ selection of the 15 semifinalists. “There are three who shouldn’t be. Put me beside anyone of them and anyone would pick me,” she said. She said Uruguay had tried everything to win the Miss Universe title. “We have sent short, dark girls; we have sent tall, dark girls; we have sent me, tall and blonde like this, and still we cannot win.”

1958 - Miss Denmark (Evy Norlund) won court approval of a movie contract - the only Miss Universe contestant that year to get a film contract. Court approval was needed because she was under 21 years-old.

1959 - Miss Italy (Maria Grazia Buccella), a voluptuous (38-21½-34½) Italian blonde with a Marilyn Monroe wiggle walk, pouted when she was not included among the 15 semifinalists. "Back home, these men would wait for these girls to gain some more weight," she miffed.

1959 - A Tokyo plastic surgeon, Dr. Toshizo Matsui, claimed that he gave a bust-enlarging plastic injection to Akiko Kojima (37-23-38) before she won the Miss Japan and Miss Universe contests. This was denied by the newspaper Sankei Shimbun, sponsor of the Miss Japan contest: "There was no need for her to get bust surgery of any kind."

Sources:
• Vancouver Sun, Vancouver BC, Canada
• The Province, Vancouver BC, Canada
• New York Times, New York, NY, USA
• Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, USA
• Daily Press, Norfolk, VA, USA