PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Doris Gil, Miss Colombia 1957, shows off her worthless crown. Why was it worthless? Well, according to the Colombian magazine CROMOS (11/9/98), instead of the diamonds, emeralds, and rubies she was promised, she got rhinestones and glass. And to add injury to insult, thieves stole the crown from her just one month later. But when they found out it was worthless, they returned it to her, leaving it in a confessional in the Cathedral of Medellin.

Maybe the episode had something to do with Doris actually stepping down as Miss Colombia some months later to get married. Doris' reluctance to reign as Miss Colombia - and participate in Miss Universe - proved to be quite serendipitous for her first runner-up...Luz Marina Zuluaga, who, as we all know, went to Long Beach, California and won the Miss Universe crown.

Doris is one of many reluctant beauty queens in the annals of pageant history. To hear about other reluctant beauty queens, please be sure to attend our lecture on All That Glitters...Is Only Rhinestone.

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