{{Short description|10th Miss Universe pageant}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox beauty pageant | photo = Marlene Schmidt Miss Universe 1961.jpg | winner = [[Marlene Schmidt]] | represented = West Germany | date = 15 July 1961 | presenters = [[Johnny Carson]] | venue = [[Miami Beach Convention Center|Miami Beach Auditorium]], [[Miami Beach, Florida|Miami Beach]], Florida, United States | broadcaster = {{Hlist|[[CBS]]}} | entrants = 48 | placements = 15 | debuts = {{Hlist|Ireland|Jamaica|Madagascar|Republic of China|Rhodesia and Nyasaland|Scotland|United States Virgin Islands|Wales}} | withdraws = {{Hlist|Costa Rica|Hong Kong|Jordan|New Zealand|Portugal|Suriname|Tunisia}} | returns = {{Hlist|Ceylon|Guatemala|Puerto Rico|Turkey}} | congeniality = Eleftheria Deloutsi (Greece) | photogenic = [[Sharon Brown (Miss USA)|Sharon Brown]] (United States) | before = [[Miss Universe 1960|1960]] | next = [[Miss Universe 1962|1962]] | caption = Marlene Schmidt }}
'''Miss Universe 1961''' was the 10th [[Miss Universe]] pageant, held at the Miami Beach Auditorium in [[Miami Beach, Florida|Miami Beach]], Florida, on 15 July 1961.
At the conclusion of the event, [[Linda Bement]] of the United States crowned [[Marlene Schmidt]] of the West Germany as Miss Universe 1961. Schmidt was the first representative of the West Germany to win the contest.<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 17, 1961|title=German engineer starting plush Miss Universe year|language=en|pages=1|work=[[The Spokesman-Review]]|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=22wpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZOcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4873%2C697696|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref>
Contestants from forty-eight countries and territories competed in this year's pageant. The pageant was hosted by [[Johnny Carson]].
== Background == === Selection of participants === Contestants from forty-eight countries and territories were selected to compete in the pageant. Two candidates were appointed to replace the original winner.
==== Replacements ==== Both, Ana Griselda Vegas of Venezuela and Pilar Ramos of Spain replaced Gloria Lilue and María del Carmen Cervera, respectively, as the latter chose to compete at Miss International 1961.<ref>{{Cite web|last=De los Rios|first=Elena|date=21 June 2021|title=Miss España a los 18, viuda a los 30, madre soltera a los 37 y baronesa Thyssen a los 42: así pasó Carmen Cervera de los concursos de belleza a convertirse en la mujer más poderosa (y rica) del arte en España|trans-title=Miss Spain at 18, widowed at 30, single mother at 37, and Baroness Thyssen at 42: this is how Carmen Cervera went from beauty pageants to becoming the most powerful (and richest) woman in the arts in Spain.|url=https://www.mujerhoy.com/celebrities/202102/03/carmen-cervera-baronesa-thyssen-tragedia-muerte-marido-madre-soltera-coleccion-arte-polemica-museo-20210202205830.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426234225/https://www.mujerhoy.com/celebrities/202102/03/carmen-cervera-baronesa-thyssen-tragedia-muerte-marido-madre-soltera-coleccion-arte-polemica-museo-20210202205830.html|archive-date=26 April 2024|access-date=30 September 2025|website=Mujer Hoy|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=10 July 1961|title=What's next? Caribbean crises worry contest|language=en|pages=17|work=St. Petersburg Times|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PmBSAAAAIBAJ&dq=Miss+Universe&pg=PA17|access-date=30 September 2025|via=Google Books}}</ref>
==== Debuts, returns, and withdrawals ==== This edition saw the debuts of Ireland, Jamaica, Madagascar, the Republic of China, Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Scotland, the United States Virgin Islands, and Wales, and the returns of Ceylon, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and Turkey.<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 7, 1961|title="Miss V.I." off to Miami Beach|language=en|pages=1|work=[[The Virgin Islands Daily News]]|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iBpOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wa0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5275%2C180415|access-date=February 8, 2024}}</ref> Ceylon and Puerto Rico last competed in [[Miss Universe 1957|1957]], while the others last competed in [[Miss Universe 1959|1959]]. Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Jordan, New Zealand, Portugal, Suriname, and Tunisia withdrew after their respective organizations failed to hold a national competition or appoint a delegate.
Helen Tan of Malaya and Julie Koh of Singapore were supposed to compete in the pageant. However, they chose to compete at Miss International in Long Beach, California instead.<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 4, 1961|title=Beauties on way to US get warm welcome during stop in Manila|language=en|pages=7|work=The Singapore Free Press|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/freepress19610704-1.2.69?ST=1&AT=search&SortBy=Oldest&K=Miss+Universe&P=49&Display=0&filterS=0&QT=miss,universe&oref=article|access-date=November 11, 2022|via=National Library Board}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=May 11, 1961|title=K.L. girl wins the Miss Malaya title|language=en|pages=16|work=[[The Straits Times]]|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19610511-1.2.124|access-date=December 9, 2022|via=National Library Board}}</ref> Koh eventually competed at Miss Universe the following year.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 20, 1961|title=Miss Singapore flies to California next month|language=en|pages=9|work=[[The Straits Times]]|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19610520-1.2.101?ST=1&AT=search&SortBy=Oldest&K=Miss+Universe&P=49&Display=0&filterS=0&QT=miss,universe&oref=article|access-date=November 11, 2022|via=National Library Board}}</ref>
==Results== [[File:Miss Universe 1961 Map.PNG|thumb|250px|Miss Universe 1961 participating countries and territories]]
=== Placements === {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;" |- ! Placement !! Contestant |- | Miss Universe 1961 | * {{flagu|West Germany}} – [[Marlene Schmidt]]<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|date=July 15, 1961|title=Miss Germany wins contest|language=en|pages=1–2A|work=[[Daytona Beach Morning Journal]]|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7OkoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kNEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3811%2C2411415|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref> |- | 1st Runner-Up | * {{flagu|Wales}} – [[Rosemarie Frankland]]<ref name=":5" /> |- | 2nd Runner-Up | * {{flagicon image|Flag of Argentina (1818–1819, 1820–1829, 1861–2010).svg}} Argentina – Adriana Gardiazábal<ref name=":5" /> |- | 3rd Runner-Up | * {{flagu|England}} – Arlette Dobson<ref name=":5" /> |- | 4th Runner-Up | * {{flagu|United States}} – [[Sharon Brown (Miss USA)|Sharon Brown]]<ref name=":5" /> |- | Top 15<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|date=July 15, 1961|title=15 girls reach final beauty test|language=en|pages=3|work=[[Youngstown Vindicator]]|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2oBKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sIYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=706%2C3374763|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref> | * {{flagu|Chile}} – Gloria Silva * {{flagu|France}} – Simone Darot * {{flagu|Iceland}} – Kristjana Magnúsdóttir * {{flagu|Israel}} – Atida Pisanti * {{flagu|Peru}} – Carmela Stein * {{flagu|Republic of China}} – Li-Ling Wang * {{flagu|Scotland}} – Susan Jones * {{flagu|South Korea|1949}} – Yang-hee Seo * {{flagu|Sweden}} – [[Gunilla Knutsson]] * {{flagu|Switzerland}} – Liliane Burnier |}
=== Special awards === {| class="wikitable sortable unsortable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Award !! Contestant |- | Miss Congeniality | * {{flagicon image|Hellenic Kingdom Flag 1935.svg}} Greece – Eleftheria Deloutsi<ref name=":5" /> |- | Miss Photogenic | * {{flagu|United States}} – [[Sharon Brown (Miss USA)|Sharon Brown]]<ref name=":5" /> |}
== Pageant == === Format === Same with [[Miss Universe 1955|1955]], fifteen semi-finalists were chosen at the preliminary competition that consists of the swimsuit and evening gown competition.<ref name=":6" /> Each of the fifteen semi-finalists gave a short speech during the final telecast using their native languages. Afterwards, the fifteen semi-finalists paraded again in their swimsuits and evening gowns, and the five finalists were eventually chosen.<ref name=":5" />
=== Selection committee === * Peter Demaerel – Director of the Belgian-American Tourist Office in the United States * [[Gustavo Lorca Rojas]] – Former mayor of [[Viña del Mar]] * Raul Manteola – Argentinian painter * [[Russell Patterson]] – American cartoonist * [[Michel Tapié]] – French painter * [[Earl Wilson (columnist)|Earl Wilson]] – American journalist and columnist<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wilson|first=Earl|date=13 July 1961|title=It happened last night|language=en|pages=34|work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kLscAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Earl+Wilson%22+Miss+Universe&pg=PA34|access-date=30 September 2025|via=Google Books}}</ref> * Miyoko Yanagita – Japanese fashion designer
== Contestants == Forty-eight contestants competed for the title. {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Country/Territory !! Contestant !! Age{{efn|Ages at the time of the pageant}} !! Hometown |- | {{flagicon image|Flag of Argentina (1818–1819, 1820–1829, 1861–2010).svg}} Argentina || {{sortname|Adriana|Gardiazábal|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 15, 1961|title=Loveliest girl in the world to become "Miss Universe"|language=en|pages=1|work=[[Simpson's Leader-Times]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11984893/simpsons-leader-times/|access-date=November 28, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> || 18 || [[Buenos Aires]] |- | {{flagdeco|AUT}} Austria || {{sortname|Ingrid|Bayer|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 6, 1961|title=Beauties at the White House|language=en|pages=13|work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jbscAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RWUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5574%2C936727|access-date=December 3, 2022}}</ref> || 20 || [[Vorarlberg]] |- | {{flagdeco|BEL}} Belgium || {{sortname|Nicole|Ksinozenicki|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 25, 1961|title=In Knokke is Nicole Ksinozenicki uit Sint Gillis (Brussel) tot miss België uitgeroepen.|language=nl|trans-title=In Knokke, Nicole Ksinozenicki from Sint Gillis (Brussels) was proclaimed Miss Belgium.|pages=3|work=Leeuwarder courant|url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010615939:mpeg21:p003|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Delpher]]}}</ref> || 18 || [[Saint-Gilles, Belgium|Saint-Gilles]] |- | {{flagdeco|BOL}} Bolivia || {{sortname|Gloria|Soruco|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2017 |title=El título les dio alegrías, trabajo y fama que aún saborean |trans-title=The title gave them joy, work and fame that they still savor. |url=https://eldeber.com.bo/sociales/el-titulo-les-dio-alegrias-trabajo-y-fama-que-aun-saborean_32650 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |website=El Deber |language=es-ES |archive-date=October 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023090330/https://eldeber.com.bo/sociales/el-titulo-les-dio-alegrias-trabajo-y-fama-que-aun-saborean_32650 |url-status=dead }}</ref> || 19 || [[Santa Cruz de la Sierra]] |- | {{flagdeco|BRA|1960}} Brazil || {{sortname|Staël|Abelha|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 11, 2022|title=Stael Abelha, primeira mineira eleita Miss Brasil, é vítima de Alzheimer|url=https://www.em.com.br/app/colunistas/helvecio-carlos/2022/01/11/interna_helvecio_carlos,1336712/stael-abelha-primeira-mineira-eleita-miss-brasil-e-vitima-de-alzheimer.shtml|access-date=November 12, 2022|website=Estado de Minas|language=pt-BR}}</ref> || 19 || [[Caratinga]] |- | {{flagdeco|BIR|1948}} [[Miss Burma (1947–1962)|Burma]] || {{sortname|Khin|Myint Myint}}<ref name="MT">{{cite news |last1=Htwe |first1=Nien Ei Ei |date=September 28, 2009 |title=Former 'Miss Burma' winner passes away |work=[[The Myanmar Times]] |url=https://www.mmtimes.com/national-news/6057-former-miss-burma-winner-passes-away.html |access-date=November 11, 2017}}</ref> || 18 || [[Daik-U]] |- | {{flagdeco|CAN|1957}} Canada || {{sortname|Wilda|Reynolds|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 11, 1962|title=Former 'Miss Canada' weds army man here|language=en|pages=12|work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114320701/pittsburgh-post-gazette/|access-date=December 9, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> || 19 || [[Toronto]] |- | {{flagdeco|CEY}} Ceylon || {{sortname|Ranjini|Jayatilleke|nolink=1}}<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|date=July 13, 1961|title=Universal beauty displayed at Miami|language=en|pages=1|work=Herald-Journal|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1XYsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DMwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=850%2C1491804|access-date=December 5, 2022}}</ref> || 19 || [[Colombo]] |- | {{flagdeco|CHL}} Chile || {{sortname|Gloria|Silva|nolink=1}}<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|date=July 7, 1961|title=Latin beauties in native costume|language=en|pages=18|work=Herald-Journal|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zHYsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DMwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=805%2C835384|access-date=December 6, 2022}}</ref> || 22 || [[Santiago]] |- | {{flagdeco|COL}} [[Miss Colombia|Colombia]] || {{sortname|Patricia|Whitman|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 11, 1961|title=Sensación en Miami por Trajes Típicos de Srta. Colombia|language=es|pages=1; 21|work=[[El Tiempo (Colombia)|El Tiempo]]|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pSshAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CmkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=827%2C1646128|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref> || 21 || [[Medellín]] |- | {{flagdeco|CUB}} Cuba || {{sortname|Martha García|Vieta|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 September 2024|title=History of Cuba in Miss Universe: from its beginnings in 1927 to its return in 2024|url=https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2024-09-27-u102582-e102582-s27065-nid289157-historia-cuba-miss-universo-sus-inicios-1927|access-date=19 March 2025|website=CiberCuba |language=es}}</ref> || 25 || [[Miami]] |- | {{flagdeco|DNK}} Denmark || {{sortname|Jette|Nielsen|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=June 29, 1961|title=Untitled|language=kl|pages=28|work=Atuagagdliutit|url=https://timarit.is/page/3782321|access-date=December 6, 2022|via=[[Tímarit.is]]}}</ref> || 18 || [[Copenhagen]] |- | {{flagdeco|ECU|1900}} Ecuador || {{sortname|Yolanda|Palacios|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 1, 1961|title=Candidale ai massimi titoli di bellezza|language=it|trans-title=Nominee for top beauty titles|pages=5|work=La Stampa|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,5/articleid,1572_02_1961_0156_0005_22009795/|access-date=April 24, 2023}}</ref> || 18 || [[Guayaquil]] |- | {{flagdeco|ENG}} England || {{sortname|Arlette|Dobson|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 17, 1961|title=MISS UNIVERSE WINNERS|language=en|pages=1|work=[[The Daily Republic]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-republic-miss-universe-arlet/126162842/|access-date=March 19, 2025|via=[[newspapers]]}}</ref> || 18 || [[Surrey]] |- | {{flagdeco|FIN}} Finland || {{sortname|Ritva|Wächter|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite web|last=Himberg|first=Petra|date=November 18, 2009|title=Miss Suomi 1961 Ritva Wächter|url=http://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2009/11/18/miss-suomi-1961-ritva-wachter|access-date=February 19, 2024|website=Yle|language=fi-FI}}</ref> || 20 || [[Naantali]] |- | {{flagdeco|FRA}} France || {{sortname|Simone|Darot|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lo|first=Ricky|date=February 1, 2017|title=France 1st grand slam winner in world beauty pageants|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2017/02/01/1667464/france-1st-grand-slam-winner-world-beauty-pageants|access-date=February 19, 2024|website=[[Philippine Star]]|language=en}}</ref> || 19 || [[Paris]] |- | {{flagicon image|Hellenic Kingdom Flag 1935.svg}} Greece || {{sortname|Eleftheria|Deloutsi|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 15, 1961|title=Downfall of Greece|language=en|pages=3|work=Philadelphia Daily News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21361182/death/|access-date=February 19, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> || 18 || [[Athens]] |- | {{flagdeco|GTM}} Guatemala || {{sortname|Anabelle|Sáenz|nolink=1}} || 19 || [[Guatemala City]] |- | {{flagdeco|NLD}} Holland || {{sortname|Gita|Kamman|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 12, 1961|title=Ene miss Holland is voor ons in Florida|language=nl|pages=1|work=Het Parool|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=%22Gita+Kamman%22&coll=ddd&page=1&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C20e_eeuw%7C1960-1969%7C1961%7C&identifier=ABCDDD:010840811:mpeg21:a0131&resultsidentifier=ABCDDD:010840811:mpeg21:a0131&rowid=1|access-date=February 19, 2024|via=Delpher}}</ref> || 22 || [[Amsterdam]] |- | {{flagdeco|ISL}} Iceland || {{sortname|Kristjana|Magnúsdóttir|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=June 14, 1961|title=Íslensk fegurð '61|language=is|pages=18–20|work=Fálkinn|url=https://timarit.is/page/4376474?iabr=on|access-date=February 19, 2024|via=Tímarit.is}}</ref> || 21 || [[Reykjanesbær]] |- | {{flagdeco|IRL}} Ireland || {{sortname|Jean|Russell|nolink=1}} || 21 || [[Lisburn]] |- | {{flagdeco|ISR}} Israel || {{sortname|Atida|Pisanti|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 21, 1961|title=Untitled|language=en|pages=11|work=The American Jewish World|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/amjwld/1961/07/21/01/article/52|access-date=February 19, 2024|via=National Library of Israel}}</ref> || 19 || [[Haifa]] |- | {{flagicon image|Flag of Italy (1946–2003).svg}} Italy || {{sortname|Vivianne|Romano|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=12 July 1961|title=Everybody in|language=en|pages=48|work=The Windsor Star|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vyo_AAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Viviana+Romano%22&pg=PA48|access-date=30 September 2025|via=Google Books}}</ref> || 21 || [[Lazio]] |- | {{flagdeco|JAM|1957}} Jamaica || {{sortname|Marguerite|LeWars}}<ref>{{Cite web|last=Johnson|first=Richard|date=1 November 2020|title=He was a gentleman|url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/he-was-a-gentleman/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130214110/https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2020/10/31/he-was-a-gentleman/|archive-date=30 November 2024|access-date=30 September 2025|website=Jamaica Observer|language=en-US}}</ref> || 20 || [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]] |- | {{flagdeco|JPN|1870}} Japan || {{sortname|Akemi|Toyama|nolink=1}} || 20 || [[Tokyo]] |- | {{flagdeco|LBN|1943}} Lebanon || {{sortname|Leila|Antaki|nolink=1}}<ref name=":3" /> || 22 || [[Beirut]] |- | {{flagdeco|LUX}} Luxembourg || {{sortname|Vicky|Schoos|nolink=1}} || 18 || [[Luxembourg City]] |- | {{flagdeco|MDG}} Madagascar || {{sortname|Jacqueline|Robertson|nolink=1}} || 22 || [[Antananarivo]] |- | {{flagdeco|MAR}} Morocco || {{sortname|Irene|Gorsse|nolink=1}} || – || [[Rabat]] |- | {{flagdeco|NOR}} Norway || {{sortname|Rigmor|Trengereid|nolink=1}} || 19 || [[Bergen]] |- | {{flagdeco|PRY|1954}} Paraguay || {{sortname|María Cristina|Osnaghi|nolink=1}} || 18 || [[Asunción]] |- | {{flagdeco|PER}} [[Miss Peru|Peru]] || {{sortname|Carmela|Stein|nolink=1}} || 20 || [[Lima]] |- | {{flagdeco|PRI}} Puerto Rico || {{sortname|Enid|del Valle|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reinas de Puerto Rico |url=http://www.arecibo.inter.edu/wp-content/uploads/biblioteca/reinas/reinas_belleza_pr_1932_1970.pdf|access-date=19 March 2025|language=es}}</ref> || 20 || [[Aguadilla, Puerto Rico|Aguadilla]] |- | {{flagdeco|TWN}} Republic of China || {{sortname|Li-Ling|Wang|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=15 July 1961|title=15 girls to compete in finals of Miss Universe pageant|language=en|pages=23|work=The Bridgeport Post|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11984963/the-bridgeport-post/|access-date=30 April 2025|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> || 19 || [[Taipei]] |- | {{flagdeco|Rhodesia and Nyasaland}} [[Miss Rhodesia|Rhodesia and Nyasaland]] || {{sortname|Jonee|Sierra|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite web|last=Makombe|first=Leonard|date=28 November 2002|title=Zimbabwe: Blanchfield Possessed Rare Qualities|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/200211300221.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026151620/https://allafrica.com/stories/200211300221.html|archive-date=26 October 2022|access-date=30 September 2025|website=The Herald|language=en|via=AllAfrica}}</ref> || 19 || [[Harare|Salisbury]] |- | {{flagdeco|SCO}} Scotland || {{sortname|Susan|Jones|nolink=1}}<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 January 1994|title=The man who made Churchill beam|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12699077.the-man-who-made-churchill-beam/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130212722/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12699077.the-man-who-made-churchill-beam/|archive-date=30 November 2024|access-date=30 September 2025|website=The Herald Scotland|language=en}}</ref> || 20 || [[Aberdeen]] |- | {{flagdeco|ZAF|1928}} South Africa || {{sortname|Marina|Christelis|nolink=1}} || 20 || [[Johannesburg]] |- | {{flagdeco|KOR|1949}} South Korea<!--Do not change to "Korea." Per WP:COMMONNAME, it does not matter what the sash says, the common name of the country is South Korea.--> || {{sortname|Yang-hee|Seo|nolink=1}} || 21 || [[Seoul]] |- | {{flagdeco|ESP|1945}} Spain || {{sortname|Pilar|Ramos|nolink=1}} || 19 || [[Madrid]] |- | {{flagdeco|SWE}} Sweden || {{sortname|Gunilla|Knutsson}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=15 July 1961|title=Miss Universe judges go for European girls|language=en|pages=2|work=The Akron Beacon Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11985055/the-akron-beacon-journal/|access-date=30 April 2025|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> || 20 || [[Ystad]] |- | {{flagdeco|CHE}} Switzerland || {{sortname|Liliane|Burnier|nolink=1}} || 19 || [[Geneva]] |- | {{flagdeco|TUR}} Turkey || {{sortname|Gülseren|Uysal|nolink=1}} || 18 || [[Istanbul]] |- | {{flagdeco|USA}} [[Miss USA|United States]] || {{sortname|Sharon|Brown|link=Sharon Brown (Miss USA)}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=July 14, 1961 |title=Louisiana lass is 'Miss U.S.A.' |pages=1–2 |work=[[The Tuscaloosa News]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gfocAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JJoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3777%2C1662818 |access-date=July 22, 2023 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref> || 18 || [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] |- | {{flagdeco|VIR}} United States Virgin Islands<!--Do not change to "Virgin Islands." Per WP:COMMONNAME, it does not matter what the sash says, the common name of the country is the United States Virgin Islands.--> || {{sortname|Priscila|Bonilla|nolink=1}} || 18 || [[Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands|Charlotte Amalie]] |- | {{flagdeco|URY}} Uruguay || {{sortname|Susanna|Ferrari|nolink=1}}<ref name=":4" /> || – || [[Montevideo]] |- | {{flagdeco|VEN|1954}} [[Miss Venezuela|Venezuela]] || {{sortname|Ana Griselda|Vegas|nolink=1}} || 20 || [[Caracas]] |- | {{flagdeco|WAL}} Wales || {{sortname|Rosemarie|Frankland}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=22 September 1961|title=Miss UK 1960|language=en|pages=16|work=The Vancouver Sun|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83668173/miss-uk-1960/|access-date=30 September 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> || 18 || [[Lancashire]] |- | {{flagdeco|DEU}} West Germany || {{sortname|Marlene|Schmidt}}<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|date=July 14, 1961|title=Beauties parade for title tonight|language=en|pages=1|work=The Gadsden Times|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WZ4fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qtUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2834%2C1362751|access-date=February 19, 2024}}</ref> || 24 || [[Stuttgart]] |}
== Notes == <references group="lower-alpha" responsive="1"></references>
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.missuniverse.com/ Miss Universe official website] {{Miss Universe}} {{Miss Universe 1961 delegates}}
[[Category:Miss Universe by year|1961]] [[Category:1961 in Florida]] [[Category:1961 beauty pageants]] [[Category:Beauty pageants in the United States]] [[Category:July 1961 in the United States]] [[Category:Organized events in Miami Beach, Florida]]