Aurora Pijuan, Miss International 1970
The Philippines
doesn’t have a Miss World winner (but could have had one in 1973 but first
runner-up Evangeline Pascual refused to take over after USA’s Marjorie Wallace
was dethroned), although it has two Misses Universe (Gloria Diaz in 1969 and
Margie Moran in 1973).
But did you know that the Philippines is the only Asian country with not just
one but four Misses International in the pageant’s 50-year history (first
winner was Stella Marquez of Colombia, now Mrs. Jorge Araneta)? Which means
that the Philippines is a suki of the contest which will hold its 50th edition
on Nov. 7 at the Sichuan Province Gymnasium in Chengdu, China, just like how
Venezuela is positioned in the Miss U pageant in which it has several winners.
Reigning Miss International is Mexico’s Anagabriela Espinosa Marroquin.
Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas made a list of how the
Philippines and other Asian countries have fared so far in the Miss
International contest as a nod to the contest’s current search.
• Philippines, four winners: Gemma Cruz (1964), Aurora Pijuan (1970), Melanie
Marquez (1979, also Best National Costume) and Precious Lara Quigaman (2005).
Runners-up: Evelyn Camus, second (1971); Yogi Dominguez, second (1972, also
Best National Costume); and Marilen Ojeda, fourth (1973).
Semi-finalists (18): Edita Vital (1960), Monina Yllana (1963), Nini Ramos
(1968), Binky Montinola (1969), Jaye Murphy (1975), Dolly Ascalon (1976, also
Best National Costume), Dianne Jeanne Chiong (1980), Peachy Sacasas (1981),
Alice Dixson (1986), Patti Betita (1991), Alma Concepcion (1994, also Miss
Friendship), Gladys Dueñas (1995), Yedda Marie Mendoza (1996), Susan Jane
Ritter (1997), Colette Centeno (1998), Maan Bayot (2004), Patricia Fernandez
(2008) and Melody Adelheid Gersbach (2009).
Special Awards: Cynthia Ugalde, Miss Photogenic fourth runner-up (1962); and
Lia Andanar, Miss Friendship (1989).
• India, Runners-up: Iona Pinto, first (1960); Indira Maria Bredemeyer, second
(1975); Nafisa Ali, second (1976); Diya Abraham, first (1997); Shvetha
Jaishankar, second (1998); and Shonali Nograni, first (2003).
Semi-finalists: Sumita Sen (1968), Patricia D’Souza (1970), Nalanda Ravindra Bhandari
(1984), Erika Maria de Souza (1987), Preeti Mankotia (1991), Pooja Batra
(1993), Gayatri Anilkumar Joshi (2000), Kanwal Toor (2001), Mihika Varma (2004)
and Sonali Sehgal (2006).
• Korea, Runners-up: Choi Yoo-Mi, fourth (1963); Yeum Jung-ah, second (1992);
Tae-young Shon, first (2000, also Miss Photogenic); Jang Yoon-seo, second
(2006); and Seo Eun-mi, first (2009, also Miss Photogenic).
Semi-finalists: Lee Hye-jin (1964), Kim Min-jin (1965), Kim Hee-ja (1968), Kang
Young-sook (1974), Lee Hyang-mok (1975), Chung Young-soon (1983, also Best
National Costume), Yoon Hee-lee (1988), Kim Hee-jung (1989, also Best National
Costume), Kwon Jung-joo (1991), Chang Eun-Young (1993), Sung Hyun-ah (1994,
also Miss Photogenic), Lee Yoo-ree (1995), Kim Jung-hwa (1996, also Miss
Photogenic), Kim Ryang-hee (1997), Cho Hye-young (1998), Myong-hee Baek (2001,
also Best National Costume), Yoon-joo Gi (2002, also Best National Costume), Ji
–Soo Shin (2003), In-ha Kim (2004) and Park Ga-won (2007).
• Japan, Runners-up: Toshie Suda, third (1970); Kumei Nakamura, fourth (1976);
Hideko Haba, fourth (1979); and Hana Urushima, second (2002).
Semi-finalists: Michiko Tagaki (1960), Kaoru Iwasaki (1962), Naoko Matsui
(1964), Hiroko Sasaki (1967, also Miss Photogenic), Yoko Sunami (1968), Akemi
Okamoto (1969), Reiko Yoneyama (1971), Yoko Tameshisa (1972), Miki Yaita
(1973), Hideko Shigekawa (1974), Sumiko Kumagai (1975), Mayumi Kanbara (1980,
also Miss Friendship), Rita Moriwaki (1981), Akemi Fujita (1983), Junko Oeno
(1984), Makiko Matsumoto (1985), Rika Kobayashi (1986, also Miss Friendship),
Yayoi Morita (1987), Yuki Egami (1988), Hiroko Ohnishi (1990), Miho Takata
(1991), Masayo Shibasaki (1993), Tomomi Hanamura (1994), Yuka Kondo (1995, also
Miss Friendship), Akiko Sugano (1996), Sayuri Seki (1997), Megumi Taira (1998),
Kana Onada (1999), Kanako Shibata (2000), Hanako Suzuki (2001), Saeko Matsumi
(2003, also Miss Friendship), Tamiko Kawahara (2004), Naomi Ishizaka (2005),
Mami Sakurai (2006), Hisako Shirata (2007, also Miss Photogenic), Kyoko
Sugiyama (2008) and Yuka Nakayama (2009).
Special Award: Tomoko Nishiki, Miss Friendship (1992).
• Thailand, Runners-up: Rhungtip Pinyo, fourth (1968, also Miss Photogenic);
Usanee Phenphimol, fourth (1969); and Supuk Likitkul, first (1971).
Semi-finalists: Panarat Pisutthisak (1970), Jintana Te-chamaneewat (1973),
Seenuan Attasara (1981), Kanda Thae-chaprateep (1982), Piyanuch Khamboon
(2002), Pawina Bamrungrot (2003) and Vasana Wongbuntree (2006, also Miss
Photogenic).
Special Award: Passorn Boonyakiat, Miss Photogenic (1988).
• Hong Kong: Runner-up: Gisella Ma Ka-wai, fourth (1967).
Semi-finalists: Ellen Wong Ai-Lane (1985, also 21st Century Fashion winner) and
Grace Wong Kwan-Hing (2007, also Miss Friendship).
Special Awards: Debora Carol Moore, Miss Friendship (1981); Lam Wing-Han, Miss
Photogenic (1987); Cathy Wu Kar-Wai, Miss Friendship (2002); Fu Sze-Sze, Miss
Friendship (2004); Queenie Chu Wai-Man, Miss Friendship (2005); and Koni Liu
Wai-Yee, Miss Friendship (2006).
• China, Runner-up: Liu Changwei, third (2008).
Semi-finalists: Wang Chan (2003, also Best Natio
nal Costume), Sun Yue (2004,
also Best National Costume) and Chen Qian (2006).
Special Awards: Amy Yan Wei, Miss Photogenic (2002); Yang Li, Miss Photogenic
(2005); and Wang Qian, Miss Friendship (2009).
• Indonesia, Runner-up: Indri Hapsari Soeharto, second (1977).
Semi-finalist: Rahma Landhi (2007).
• Sri Lanka, Semi-finalists: Kamala Athauda (1961), Kathleen Antoinette
Foenander (1964) and Aruni Madusha Rajapakse (2007).
Special Award: Yvonne Eileen Gunawardene, Best National Costume (1960,
preliminary).
• Malaysia, Semi-finalists: Helen Tan Hong Lean (1961, also Best National
Costume, preliminary) and Linda Lim Hong Eng (1965).
Special Award: Jennifer Foong Sim Yong, Miss Friendship (1984).
• Mongolia, Semi-finalists: Sansaramaa Luvsandoo (2001) and Sodtuya Chadraabal
(2004, also Miss Photogenic).
• Taiwan, Semi-finalists: Dolly Ma (1961) and Anne Yui Fang (1962, also Best
National Costume, preliminary).
• Vietnam: Truong Quynh Mai, semi-finalist (1995, also Best National Costume).
• Singapore: Chriztl D’Cruz, semi-finalist (1960).
