Our second inductee to the Pantheon competed for the title of Miss Universe in 1968, against 64 other delegates from the around the globe.  When she was announced as one of the top 15, she became the second black contestant ever to make the semi-finals at Miss Universe.   On the wonderful evening of Saturday, July 13, 1968, Anne Marie Braafheid would go on to charm the world and the judges with her poise, sense of humor, and extraordinary beauty and become the first runner-up to Miss Universe, something no woman of color had ever done before.

Photo courtesy of Richard John Isa

From the opening moments of the 1968 pageant the television viewer was aware of the contestant from Curaçao.  Anne Marie was featured in the front row of the opening production number. And if one looked quickly, one might have thought that Diana Ross was competing for the crown!  As the parade of nations unfolded, each delegate approached the microphone and said mechanically, in one language or another "Good evening, my name is...and I am from ..."  But when Anne Marie, sporting a far-out version of the Sassoon haircut popularized by Diana Ross, came to the microphone, she greeted the world with "Hello everybody, I am Anne Marie Braafheid from Willemstad."  Just different and warm enough to catch our attention and the judges.   It was as if she was singing "Hey, Life, look at me!" from the Diana Ross and the Supremes hit from the year before, The Happening.

As one of a handful of  black contestants that year, the historical odds where not in her favor to make the semi-finals. The only  other black beauty delegate in the history of  Miss Universe to make the semi-finals prior to 1968 was Evelyn Miot of Haiti in 1962.  Bob Barker, in his second year as host, announced the 15 semi-finalists in two groups. The first ladies called forth were from Venezuela, the USA, Greece, Yugoslavia (also voted Miss Photogenic by the press corps!), Chile, Israel and Canada.  After Bob conducted the on stage interviews with the first group of semi-finalists, as was the tradition in the 1960's, he announced the second group.  The first name he called off was Miss Norway. There were only 7 names left to be called.  The next name he called was Miss Curaçao.  Into the history books Anne Marie went as she strolled center stage to join Miss Norway as a semi-finalist.

For today’s students at Beauty School, who remember the crowning of Janelle Commissiong from Trinidad & Tobago as the first black Miss Universe in 1977 and the subsequent Miss Universe victory of  Chelsi Smith (who is biracial) of the USA in 1995, it is important to put Anne Marie’s accomplishment in perspective.

The year was 1968 and the civil rights movement was still struggling in the USA.  Just a few short months earlier, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated.  The grandmother of all beauty pageants,  Miss America, was taking great flack from the press and the NAACP for its "lily white" appearance. The first black contestant in the Miss America Pageant would not appear until 1970. The Miss Black America pageant was founded in 1968 as a direct response to this situation. Therefore, it was doubly surprising and important that Anne Marie should reach the
semi-finals on American soil.

Having reached this point, she now had her next chance to impress the judges with  the on-stage interview.  Bob Barker introduced Anne Marie as being a first grade teacher who spoke  5 languages.  She was in her second year of teaching and told Bob she hoped it would be her last.  When Bob asked her how she dealt with a naughty child she responded, "I have three ways...first is the hard look," which she demonstrated to the audience by putting a stern "I’m the teacher" look in her eyes. The second way she said was "Using the voice," which she also demonstrated by talking very loudly.  Finally, Bob asked her the third way and she responded coyly, "I use these tiny little hands."  Sparkling and articulate, she charmed the audience and the judges with her candor  and sense of humor.

Photo courtesy of Richard John Isa

When Bob Barker announced the five finalists, the first name he called out was that of Miss Brazil.  Then...it happened.   The second name he called out was Miss Curaçao, and Anne Marie became the first black woman to make the finals at a Miss Universe pageant, finally breaking the color barrier.  As if he were aware of the history that was being made, Bob Barker, in his final question to her, asked Anne Marie to say "I’m happy to be among the five finalists" in Papiamento, one of several languages spoken in polyglot Curaçao.

A few minutes later, Bob Barker announced the runners-ups and the new Miss Universe.  Here is how Ebony magazine  (Sept. 1968 issue) described the way in which Anne Marie handled the tension of the final moments:

"Completely at ease,  she heard the fourth, third, and second runners up announced.  This meant that either she or her friend, Martha Vasconcellos, Miss Brazil, would be Miss Universe.  The judges final decision went to Miss Brazil and Anne Marie was the first to congratulate her."

And we congratulate Anne Marie for the unique and memorable impact she had on the world of pageants.   Diana Ross and the Supremes come to mind again.  Anne Marie’s victory that night was significant.  She paved the way for other black women to achieve success at Miss Universe,  including Gerthie David, Miss Haiti 1975 ( first runner-up that year) and of course, Janelle Commissiong, Miss Universe 1977.  It was as if Anne Marie  sang out loud and clear to Gerthie and Janelle and all women of color the refrain from The Happening: "It happened to me and it can happen to you!"  The dream was alive and well and would come true in 1977.

Today, almost 30 years later, Anne Marie still resides in her native Curaçao. She has trained two contestants from Curaçao for the Miss Universe Pageant, both of whom  made the semi-finals (1976 & 1991).  She remains beautiful and well-loved in her country.

We at Beauty School are proud to elevate Anne Marie Braafheid, Miss Curaçao 1968 and first runner-up to Miss Universe 1968, to the Pantheon.  The Universe’s strength is in its diversity, and a groovy happening in 1968 made the Universe a little stronger.