Twenty Five thousand people crowded the Maracanazinho Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, and they all agreed that one candidate had to be chosen as their queen: Miss Rio Grande do Sul. For the first time in 10 years, judges, audience and contestants shared the same opinion, and at the end Ieda Maria Vargas, as it had to be, was crowned by Maria Olivia Reboucas as the new Miss Brazil.
It was also agreed that all finalists never looked so good before: Miss Parana, Tania Maria Franco, was second and went on to compete for the Miss International crown, in Long Beach; Rio's own, Miss Guanabara Vera Lucia Maia, finished in third and represented her country in London. The other finalists were Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Para, and Amazonas.
Ieda not only showed beauty and elegance, but also great personality and an impressive self-control. She broke down in tears only when, already in the back stage, her father ran to her crying: "My daughter, you are the most beautiful girl in the entire country!". Her first words after being crowned were: "I consider the dream of becoming Miss Brazil a beautiful one, however, it is an ilusion that lasts for one year. Right now I would not think twice to give it up for the certainty of being happy in the future".
* Miss Rio Grande do Sul won 10 out of 11 votes for first place. One judge voted for Miss Parana; Ieda's favorites were Parana, Bahia, and Sao Paulo;
* Tania Maria Franco, Miss Parana, who had been selected as Miss Photogenic by the press, was upset when she found out she was second. Then someone screemed from the audience: "Tania, don't cry! You won a car and, besides, you are going to Long Beach!!!"; the girl opened a big smile...
* Ieda Maria Vargas descends from two very traditional political families: the Vargas and Flores da Cunha. "Don't be misled by my serenity; I can be as brave and corageous as they are!", said the new Miss Brazil;
* Misses Pernambuco and Brasilia accused Miss Rio Grande do Norte of having fake teeth: "Can you imagine that??? How disgusting!!", they said;
* Miss Espirito Santo spent most of her spare time praying: "Dear God, please, make me accept whatever I achieve tonight with humility and love". She was not a finalist.
