# Miss World 1961

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Beauty pageant edition

Miss World 1961 Date 9 November 1961 Presenters Peter West Michael Aspel Venue Lyceum Ballroom, London, United Kingdom Broadcaster BBC Entrants 37 Placements 15 Debuts Republic of China Suriname Withdrawals Australia Burma Canada French Polynesia Jordan Kenya Norway Tanganyika Returns Austria Ceylon New Zealand Venezuela Winner Rosemarie Frankland United Kingdom ← 1960 1962 →

**Miss World 1961** was the 11th [Miss World](/source/Miss_World) pageant, held at the [Lyceum Ballroom](/source/Lyceum_Theatre%2C_London), [London](/source/London), United Kingdom, on 9 November 1961. Thirty-seven candidates competed in that pageant. The winner was [Rosemarie Frankland](/source/Rosemarie_Frankland), representing the United Kingdom.[1][2][3][4]

## Selection of participants

Contestants from thirty-seven countries and territories were selected to participate in the competition. Two contestants were appointed to represent their countries/territories after being runners-up in their national competitions or were selected through a casting process.

### Replacements

Miss France 1961, Luce Auger, was initially supposed to represent her country. However, she was dethroned due to already having a child. Auger was replaced by her first runner-up, Michèle Wargnier.[5][6][7] Additionally, the third runner-up of Miss Holland 1961, Rita van Zuiden, was appointed to represent Holland because Miss Holland 1961, Anne Marie Brink, had already participated in another international beauty pageant, and one of the runners-up, [Stanny van Baer](/source/Stanny_van_Baer), became [Miss International](/source/Miss_International) 1961.[8][9]

### Debuts, returns, and withdrawals

This edition marked the debut of the Republic of China and Suriname, and the return of Austria, Ceylon, New Zealand, and Venezuela. Ceylon last competed in [1955](/source/Miss_World_1955), New Zealand in [1956](/source/Miss_World_1956), Venezuela in [1958](/source/Miss_World_1958), and Austria in [1959](/source/Miss_World_1959). Australia, Burma, French Polynesia, Canada, Jordan, Kenya, Norway, and Tanganyika withdrew from the competition due to their national organizations failed to hold a national competition or appoint a delegate.[10]

Chriss Leon of Jamaica was originally supposed to participate. However, her boyfriend did not allow her to go to participate. Leon would instead participate the next year, in which she made into the top 15.[11][12]

## Results

Placement Contestant Miss World 1961 United Kingdom – Rosemarie Frankland[13] 1st runner-up Republic of China – Grace Li[13] 2nd runner-up Spain – Carmen Cervera[13] 3rd runner-up France – Michèle Wargnier[13] 4th runner-up Denmark – Inge Jörgensen[13] Top 7 New Zealand – Leone Main[13] United States – Jo Ann Odum[13] Top 15 Argentina – Susana Pardal Austria – Hella Wolfsgrubej Finland – Ritva Wächter Ireland – Olive White Japan – Chie Murakami South Africa – Yvonne Hulley Turkey – Güler Samuray West Germany – Romy März

## Competition

### Format

Several changes were implemented in this edition. The number of semi-finalists was reduced to fifteen from eighteen in the previous edition. The fifteen semi-finalists were selected through a preliminary competition held on the day of the final event, which consisted of a swimsuit and evening gown competition. The fifteen semi-finalists were interviewed by [Peter West](/source/Peter_West), and from them, seven finalists were chosen to proceed to the final interview.[14]

### Selection Committee

- [Denis Butler](/source/Denis_Butler%2C_9th_Earl_of_Lanesborough) – 9th [Earl of Lanesborough](/source/Earl_of_Lanesborough)[15]

- [Norman Hartnell](/source/Norman_Hartnell) – English designer for [Queen Elizabeth II](/source/Queen_Elizabeth_II)[15]

- La Countess Ethel Beatty – Member of the [English aristocracy](/source/English_aristocracy)[15]

- [Bob Hope](/source/Bob_Hope) – English-American actor and comedian[16]

- [Frances Manners](/source/Frances_Manners%2C_Duchess_of_Rutland) – [Duchess of Rutland](/source/Duchess_of_Rutland)[15]

- [Bernard Delfont](/source/Bernard_Delfont) – English impresario[15]

- [Billy Butlin](/source/Billy_Butlin) – English businessman

- [Richard Todd](/source/Richard_Todd) – English-Irish actor[15]

- [John Spencer-Churchill](/source/11th_Duke_of_Marlborough) – [11th Duke of Marlborough](/source/11th_Duke_of_Marlborough) and nephew of [Winston Churchill](/source/Winston_Churchill)[15]

## Contestants

Thirty-seven contestants competed for the title.[17][18]

Country Contestant Age[a] Hometown Argentina Susana Pardal 22 Buenos Aires Austria Hella Wolfsgrubej 18 Salzburg Belgium Jacqueline Oroi[19] 20 Brussels Bolivia Nancy Justiniano 19 Santa Cruz Brazil Alda Coutinho[20] 23 Guanabara Ceylon Sushila Perera[21] 19 Colombo Cyprus Andreava Polydorou 21 - Denmark Inge Jörgensen 19 Odense Ecuador Magdalena Dávila[22] - Pichincha Finland Ritva Wächter[23] 20 Helsinki France Michèle Wargnier[24] 19 Paris Greece Efstathia Karaiskaki[25] 22 Athens Holland Ria van Zuiden[26] 21 - Iceland Jóhanna Kolbrún Kristjánsdóttir - Reykjavík India Veronica Torcato[27] 25 Maharashtra Ireland Olive White[28] 17 Dublin Israel Er'ela Hod 18 - Italy Franca Cattaneo[29] 20 Genova Japan Chie Murakami[30] 19 Osaka Lebanon Leila Antaki 22 Beirut Luxembourg Vicky Schoos 18 Luxembourg City Madagascar Jeanne Rakatomahanina 20 Diego-Suárez New Zealand Leone Main[31] 20 Auckland Nicaragua Thelma Arana 22 Granada Republic of China Grace Li[32] 19 Taipei Rhodesia and Nyasaland Angela Moorcroft[33] 19 Salisbury South Africa Yvonne Hulley 19 Overberg South Korea[b] Hyun Chang-ae[34] 19 Seoul Spain Carmen Cervera[35] 18 Barcelona Suriname Kitty Essed[36] 18 Paramaribo Sweden Ingrid Lundquist 21 - Turkey Güler Samuray[37] 20 Istanbul United Kingdom Rosemarie Frankland[38] 18 Lancashire United States Jo Ann Odum[39] 19 Huntington Uruguay Roma Spadaccini Aguerre 25 Montevideo Venezuela Bexy Romero 18 Caracas West Germany Romy März[40] 20 Munich

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Ages at the time in the pageant

1. **[^](#cite_ref-35)** Competed as Korea in the pageant

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["British beauty is new 'Miss World'"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40787214/simpsons-leader-times/). *Simpson's Leader-Times*. 10 November 1961. p. 2. Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Miss U.K. wins title in Miss World contest"](http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/freepress19611110-1.2.3). *The Singapore Free Press*. 10 November 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via National Library Board.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Miss United Kingdom is winner of Miss World title"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/279746/10nov1961thedailynewspennsylvania/). *The Daily News*. 10 November 1961. p. 2. Retrieved 11 March 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["She's chosen, feathers fly"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121159997/press-and-sun-bulletin/). *Press and Sun-Bulletin*. 10 November 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 11 March 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Davies, Lizzy (15 February 2009). ["Miss France's iron lady goes to court over winner's allegations of 'topless exploitation'"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/feb/15/miss-france-legal-battle). *The Observer*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0029-7712](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0029-7712). Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via [The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Mathieu, Clement (4 December 2022). ["Miss France 1961 : "Son bébé lui a coûté sa couronne""](https://www.parismatch.com/People/Luce-Auger-Miss-France-1961-Son-bebe-lui-a-coute-sa-couronne-1099025). *Paris Match* (in French). Retrieved 11 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["FRANKRIJK heeft een nieuwe schoonheidskoningin 1961"](https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ABCDDD:010839157:mpeg21:p005) [FRANCE had to choose a new beauty queen in 1961]. *Het Parool* (in Dutch). 8 February 1961. p. 5. Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via Delpher.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Oud-leerlinge AKI Enschede werd miss-Holland 1961 Anne Marie Brink leest graag"](https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMHCO02:163788015:mpeg21:p00027) [Former student AKI Enschede became Miss Holland 1961 Anne Marie Brink likes to read]. *Twentsch dagblad Tubantia* (in Dutch). 18 May 1961. p. 27. Retrieved 11 March 2025 – via Delpher.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Nederlandse schone naar Miss World verkiezing"](https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010371383:mpeg21:p005) [Dutch beauty to Miss World pageant]. *De waarheid* (in Dutch). 3 November 1961. p. 39. Retrieved 24 March 2025 – via Delpher.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["60 ans de Miss Tahiti : (re)découvrez toutes les lauréates du concours"](https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/polynesie/60-ans-de-miss-tahiti-re-decouvrez-toutes-les-laureates-du-concours-994630.html). *Polynésie la 1ère* (in French). 27 April 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Romance Rankles Chaperone; Sends Beauty Home"](https://books.google.com/books?id=pbMDAAAAMBAJ&dq=chriss+leon+miss+world&pg=PA15). *Jet*. Chicago, Illinois: Johnson Publishing Co. Inc. 16 November 1961. Retrieved 11 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Thomas, Marcia (7 January 2020). ["Jamaica at Miss World: A 60-year success story"](https://www.pressreader.com/jamaica/jamaica-gleaner/20200107/281668256907513). *The Gleaner*. Retrieved 11 March 2025 – via PressReader.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_13-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_13-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_13-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:1_13-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:1_13-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-:1_13-6) ["Miss World"](https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010501524:mpeg21:p004). *"Nieuw Suriname* (in Dutch). 10 November 1961. p. 4. Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via Delpher.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Lacrime e litigi fra le "superbelle per la scelta di "Miss Mondo 1961"](http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,3/articleid,1573_02_1961_0267_0003_22024449/) [Tears and quarrels between the "super-beauties" for the choice of "Miss World 1961]. *La Stampa* (in Italian). 10 November 1961. p. 3. Retrieved 1 May 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_15-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:2_15-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:2_15-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:2_15-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:2_15-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-:2_15-6) ["Stasera nel salone del "Lyceum", il comico Bob Hope incorona la prescelta"](http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,4/articleid,1573_02_1961_0266_0004_22024116/) [Tonight in the Lyceum hall, comedian Bob Hope crowns the chosen one]. *La Stampa* (in Italian). 9 November 1961. p. 4. Retrieved 24 April 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["«Miss Mondo» è un'inglese di 18 anni fa l'indossatrice ed aspira al cinema"](http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,3/articleid,0083_01_1961_0267_0003_17204143/) ["Miss World" is an 18-year-old Englishwoman, works as a model and aspires to a film career]. *La Stampa* (in Italian). 10 November 1961. p. 3. Retrieved 1 May 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["37 beauties prepare for Miss World contest"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40785187/the-daily-news/). *The Daily News*. 9 November 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["In Knokke is Nicole Ksinozenicki uit Sint Gillis (Brussel) tot miss België uitgeroepen"](https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010615939:mpeg21:p003) [In Knokke, Nicole Ksinozenicki from Sint Gillis (Brussels) was proclaimed Miss Belgium.]. *Leeuwarder courant* (in Dutch). 25 May 1961. p. 3. Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via Delpher.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Erelijst Miss België"](https://www.demorgen.be/tv-cultuur/erelijst-miss-belgie~b5723d4d/). *De Morgen* (in Dutch). 11 January 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** [""Miss" Minas Gerais e a nova "Miss" Brasil"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oSMjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6966%2C2933303). *Jornal do Brasil* (in Portuguese). 19 June 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 11 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["La chioma di Miss Ceylon"](http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,3/articleid,1573_02_1961_0265_0003_22023910/) [Miss Ceylon's hair]. *La Stampa* (in Italian). 8 November 1961. p. 3. Retrieved 11 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Candidale ai massimi titoli di bellezza"](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/) [Nominee for top beauty titles]. *La Stampa* (in Italian). 1 July 1961. p. 5. Retrieved 11 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Lehtikanto, Katariina (29 December 2020). ["Kun kuvankaunis Ritva pyrki lentoemännäksi vuonna 1963, raati mietti pitkään, kelpaako hän työhön"](https://www.iltalehti.fi/viihdeuutiset/a/133f1a2e-71b1-4009-bc28-bb910a0b8954). *Iltalehti* (in Finnish). Retrieved 11 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["Qui a falsifié l'acte de candidature de Mlle Auger au titre de miss France 1961 ?"](https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1967/03/18/qui-a-falsifie-l-acte-de-candidature-de-mlle-auger-au-titre-de-miss-france-1961_2616492_1819218.html). *Le Monde* (in French). 18 March 1967. Retrieved 11 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["Preoccupati gli organizzatori del concorso per "Miss Mondo"](http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,11/articleid,1573_02_1961_0263A_0011_23587707/) [The organizers of the contest for "Miss World" are concerned]. *La Stampa* (in Italian). 6 November 1961. p. 11. Retrieved 11 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** ["Miss Holland nummer vier, Rita van Zuiden, is gisteravond van Schip- hol naar Londen vertrokken voor de verkiezing van Miss World"](https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010616078:mpeg21:p001) [Miss Holland number four, Rita van Zuiden, left Schiphol for London last night for the Miss World pageant.]. *Leeuwarder courant* (in Dutch). 4 November 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via Delpher.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** ["... Tomorrow the World"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61481047/miss-world-1961-india-usa/). *Daily News*. 9 November 1961. p. 684. Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** ["Model Olive White Marries"](https://www.rte.ie//archives/2019/0117/1023874-model-olive-white-marries/). *RTÉ Archives*. Retrieved 11 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** Balzarotti, Leda (7 September 2016). ["Miss Italia: tutte le reginette dal 1939 a oggi"](https://www.iodonna.it/eventi-e-mostre/gallery/miss-italia-una-storia-scritta-da-73-reginette-2/). *IO Donna* (in Italian). Retrieved 11 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** ["Queenly trio"](https://books.google.com/books?id=EU8_AAAAIBAJ&dq=Chie+Murakami&pg=PA39&article_id=5917,4088642). *The Windsor Star*. 26 June 1961. p. 39. Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via Google Books.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** ["General News: "Miss N.Z." Leaves"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/press/1961/06/09/12). *[The Press](/source/The_Press)*. [Christchurch](/source/Christchurch), New Zealand. 9 June 1961. p. 12. Retrieved 1 January 2026 – via [Papers Past](/source/National_Library_of_New_Zealand#Papers_Past).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** ["Grace takes No. 2 place"](http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Page/straitstimes19611111-1.1.3). *The Straits Times*. 11 November 1961. p. 3. Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via National Library Board.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** ["On This Day In Photos – Rhodesia In Crisis: Ian Smith Issues A Unilateral Declaration of Independence |"](http://flashbak.com/on-this-day-in-photos-rhodesia-in-crisis-ian-smith-issues-a-unilateral-declaration-of-independence-9557/). *Flashbak*. Retrieved 12 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-36)** ["Three hope to be Miss World"](http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Page/straitstimes19611107-1.1.20). *The Straits Times*. 7 November 1961. p. 20. Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via National Library Board.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-37)** De los Rios, Elena (21 June 2021). ["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"](https://www.mujerhoy.com/celebrities/202102/03/carmen-cervera-baronesa-thyssen-tragedia-muerte-marido-madre-soltera-coleccion-arte-polemica-museo-20210202205830.html). *Mujer Hoy* (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-38)** ["Ook Surinaamse naar Miss World-verkiezing"](https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010616077:mpeg21:p015) [Also Surinamese to Miss World pageant]. *Leeuwarder courant* (in Dutch). 3 November 1961. p. 15. Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via Delpher.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-39)** Tarihi, Güncelleme (4 May 2020). ["Güzeller canlı yayında buluştu"](https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/galeri-1929dan-gunumuze-turkiye-guzelleri-41508916) [Beauties met on live broadcast]. *[Hürriyet](/source/H%C3%BCrriyet)* (in Turkish). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230102125519/https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/galeri-1929dan-gunumuze-turkiye-guzelleri-41508916) from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-40)** ["Untitled"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83668173/miss-uk-1960/). *The Vancouver Sun*. 22 September 1961. p. 16. Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-41)** ["Miss U.S.A. is Southern Brunette, 19"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BjVWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=D-gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7053%2C4353142). *The Spokesman-Review*. 28 August 1961. p. 3. Retrieved 11 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-42)** [""Miss Mondo" sarà eletta domani"](http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,5/articleid,0083_01_1961_0265_0005_17196240/) ["Miss World" will be elected tomorrow]. *La Stampa* (in Italian). 8 November 1961. p. 5. Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via Delpher.

## External links

- [Miss World official website](http://www.missworld.com)

v t e Miss World Editions 1950s 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960s 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970s 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990s 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010s 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020s 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Related Titleholders Runners-up and finalists Editions Countries Beauty with a Purpose

v t e Miss World 1961 national titleholders Carmen Cervera Rosemarie Frankland

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Miss World 1961](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_World_1961) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_World_1961?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.