PICTURE OF THE WEEK

"Vive La France"

The Miss Europe Pageant celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, we present a recent picture of Miss Europe 1948, France's Jacqueline Donny.

Miss Donny is as elegant and stunning today as she was when she won the title. She lives in Paris, and her neighbors continue to refer to her as "La Miss."

While the Miss Europe pageant actually began in the late 1920's, it was the post-World War II contest in 1948 that resumed the tradition and is the year the contest organizers, Mondial Events Organisation, officially count as the first annual.

In the photo, we see Miss Donny surrounded by her pageant memorabilia. Notice the two pictures she is holding? Who is the woman putting the sash on Miss Donny in the photo on the right?

It is Miss America 1946, Marilyn Buferd, who served as a judge at the pageant, held in Enghein-les-Bains, just outside Paris. Miss America's comment on France's victory? "Miss France won by a navel," she said, referring to the bikini Miss Donny wore for the swimsuit competition.