As the first member of Beauty School’s pantheon, we have chosen to honor the only Miss Universe to be crowned in hot pants...Georgina Rizk (Lebanon), Miss Universe 1971. Her "evening gown" was a fantabulous and funky fashion fusion of the trendy and the traditional.

Here is how the venerable New York Times described her bold and iconoclastic fashion statement: "She wore a green outfit embroidered in gold consisting of a halter and hot pants covered by see-through harem pants." (New York Times, 7/25/71). Now that is what we here at Beauty School call one hip salute to heritage.

At the 1971 pageant, Georgina was the second of the twelve semi - finalists to be announced by host Bob Barker. On calling her name out, he said, "A young lady our audience seemed to like...Miss Lebanon!" Obviously, the judges liked her too, and not only for her fashion sense, but also for her warmth and charm. During the on-stage interview, Bob Barker asked Georgina, "You’ve had to smile so much this week, Georgina. What’s your secret? How do you smile and keep smiling and smiling?" Georgina’s reply: "Oh, because I’m happy, you know, so I’m smiling all the time."

Photo from a private collection.

We are sure Georgina continues to smile, and we know that she continues to be a trail-blazer. She has only just recently served as a judge at the very first Miss Syria pageant since the early 1960's!

The Deans would like all its students to keep in mind Georgina’s secret to success as they complete Beauty School’s hard and challenging coursework.

Footnote: It must be mentioned that Georgina Rizk was not the only evening gown iconoclast. Other daring delegates and their notable evening gowns include: Yasmin Daji’s sari (India, 1966), Eva von Ruber Staier’s billowy pants suit (Austria, 1969), Kristina Hanzalova’s fur-lined gown with cap (Czechoslovakia, 1970), Mareva Georges’ form-fitting leather gown (France, 1991) and Ariana David’s short black gown with lace shawl (Italy, 1994). And during rehearsals for the 1968 pageant, Monica Fairall (South Africa) wore a psychedelic gown covered in paisley-patterned sequins. The gown was bare-backed, cut to the hips (cut even lower than her backless bathing suit!), and open on both sides.

Acknowledgments: Beauty School is indebted to the archives of renowned pageant scholar Donald West and noted researcher Dan McEvily

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