# Miss World 1978

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Beauty pageant edition

Miss World 1978 Silvana Suárez Date 16 November 1978 Presenters Paul Burnett Sacha Distel Venue Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom Broadcaster BBC Entrants 68 Placements 15 Debuts Dominica Saint Vincent Withdrawals Bolivia Lebanon Luxembourg Nicaragua Panama Papua New Guinea South Africa Returns India Italy Jamaica Malaysia Mauritius Nigeria Philippines Singapore Swaziland Tunisia United States Virgin Islands Winner Silvana Suárez Argentina ← 1977 1979 →

**Miss World 1978** was the 28th edition of the [Miss World](/source/Miss_World) pageant, held at the [Royal Albert Hall](/source/Royal_Albert_Hall) in [London](/source/London), United Kingdom on 16 November 1978.

At the conclusion of the event, [Mary Stävin](/source/Mary_St%C3%A4vin) of Sweden crowned [Silvana Suárez](/source/Silvana_Su%C3%A1rez) of Argentina as the new Miss World, this was the second time Argentina has won Miss World.[1]

Contestants from sixty-eight countries and territories competed in this year's pageant. The pageant was hosted by [Paul Burnett](/source/Paul_Burnett) and [Sascha Distel](/source/Sacha_Distel). Distel also performed in this year's pageant.

## Background

Royal Albert Hall, the location of Miss World 1978

### Selection of participants

Contestants from sixty-eight countries and territories were selected to compete in the pageant. Two candidates were appointed to their position to replace the original dethroned winner.

#### Replacements

[Silvana Suárez](/source/Silvana_Su%C3%A1rez), the first runner-up of Miss Argentina 1978, was appointed to represent her country at Miss World after the original winner, Margarita Susana Heindrycks, was disqualified for being underage.**[2]** Pascale Taurua was originally crowned Miss France 1978 and was to compete internationally. However, she decided to return to homeland rather than taking the title, and the title was given to Brigitte Konjovic, the first runner-up.[3][4] Due to personal reasons, Konjovic was dethroned as Miss France, and the title of Miss France 1978 was given to the second runner-up Kelly Hoarau.[5]

Malek Nemlaghi of Tunisia was initially disqualified after refusing to remove her [yashmak](/source/Yashmak) and wear boxer shorts for the official photo-call.[6] However, she was reinstated back into the competition after she agreed to remove her yashmak at the dress rehearsal.[7][8]

#### Debuts, returns, and withdrawals

The 1978 edition saw the debuts of Dominica and Saint Vincent and the return of India, Italy, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Philippines, Singapore, Swaziland, Tunisia, and the Virgin Islands.[9] Nigeria , which last competed in [1970](/source/Miss_World_1970), India, Malaysia, Mauritius, the Philippines, Swaziland, and Tunisia last competed in [1975](/source/Miss_World_1975), While, Italy, Jamaica, Singapore and the United States Virgin Islands[a] last competed in [1976](/source/Miss_World_1976).

Bolivia, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Nicaragua, Panama, Papua New Guinea, and South Africa withdrew in this edition. Angelyn Tukana of Papua New Guinea withdrew due to lack of funding.[10] Yolanda Kloppers of South Africa did not compete after the Miss World Organization decided to ban the country from competing due to its [apartheid policy](/source/Apartheid_policy).[11]

## Results

### Placements

Placement Contestant Miss World 1978 Argentina – Silvana Suárez[12] 1st runner-up Sweden – Ossie Carlsson [12] 2nd runner-up Australia – Denise Ellen Coward[12] 3rd runner-up Mexico – Martha Eugenia Ortíz[12] 4th runner-up Spain – Gloria Valenciano[12] Top 7 Switzerland – Jeanette Keller United Kingdom – Ann Jones Top 15 Austria – Doris Anwander Costa Rica – Maribel Guardia Finland – Eija Laaksonen India – Kalpana Iyer Puerto Rico – María Jesús Cañizares Sri Lanka – Manohori Vanigasooriya United States – Debra Jean Freeze Venezuela – Patricia Tóffoli

### Special awards

Award Winner Miss Photogenic Mexico – Martha Eugenia Ortíz[13] Miss Talent Philippines – Louvette Hammond[14]

## Contestants

Countries and territories which sent delegates and results[1][12]

Sixty-eight contestants competed for the tile.

Country/Territory Contestant Age[b] Hometown Argentina Silvana Suárez[2] 20 Córdoba Aruba Rose-Anne Lejuez[15] 18 Oranjestad Australia Denise Coward[16] 23 Parkdale Austria Doris Anwander[17] 18 Bregenz Bahamas Donna Marie McCook 23 Nassau Belgium Françoise Moens 18 Brussels Bermuda Madeline Francine Joell 19 Smith's Parish Brazil Laura Angélica Viana Pereira 20 Salvador Canada Brigitte June Hofmann 18 Hamilton Cayman Islands Wendy Lorraine Daykin 18 George Town Chile Trinidad Sepúlveda 22 Santiago Colombia Denise de Castro Santiago 19 Barranquilla Costa Rica Maribel Guardia[18] 19 San José Curaçao Silvana Angely Trinidad 21 Willemstad Cyprus Mary Adamou 19 Nicosia Denmark Birgit Stefansen 21 Struer Dominica Mona Jno-Lewis 19 Roseau Dominican Republic Jenny Polanco[19] 20 Puerto Plata Ecuador Antonieta Campódonico[20] 18 Guayaquil El Salvador Iris Mazorra 18 San Salvador Finland Eija Laaksonen[21] 22 Tampere France Kelly Hoarau[5] 18 Le Port French Polynesia[c] Moeata Schmouker[22] 18 Puna'auia Gibraltar Rosanna Bonfante 17 Gibraltar Greece Ariana Dimitropoulou 23 Athens Guam Elizabeth Clara Tenorio 22 Asan Holland Ans van Haaster 22 Amsterdam Honduras María Elena Bobadilla 21 San Pedro Sula Hong Kong Faustina Lin 22 Hong Kong Island Iceland Ásdís Loftsdóttir 20 Vestmannaeyjar India Kalpana Iyer 22 Amroha Ireland Lorraine O'Connor[23] 24 Cork Isle of Man Carole Ann Kneale 20 Douglas Israel Sari Alon[24] 19 Tiberias Italy Loren Cristina Mai 17 Mantua Jamaica Joan McDonald[25] 22 Kingston Japan Yuko Yamaguchi 21 Tokyo Jersey Chantal Gosselin 21 Saint Helier Malaysia Kartina Osir 22 Sandakan Malta Mary Cumbo 18 Birkirkara Mauritius Genevieve Chanea 19 Curepipe Mexico Martha Eugenia Ortíz[18] 18 Mexico City New Zealand Lorian Tangney[26] 20 Hamilton Nigeria Irene Omagbemi 20 Lagos Norway Elisabet Klaeboe 17 Oslo Paraguay Susana Galli 19 Asunción Peru Karen Noeth 18 Lima Philippines Louvette Monzon Hammond[27][28] 17 Quezon City Puerto Rico María Jesús Cañizares 21 San Juan Saint Vincent June de Nobriga[29] 23 Kingstown Singapore Rosie Tan[30] 21 Singapore South Korea[d] Je Eun-jin 19 Seoul Spain Gloria Valenciano 23 Tenerife Sri Lanka Manohori Vanigasooriya 20 Colombo Swaziland Nyamalele Nilovu 21 Mbabane Sweden Ossie Carlsson 21 Stockholm Switzerland Jeannette Keller[31] 20 Zürich Thailand Orasa Panichapan 20 Bangkok Trinidad and Tobago Kathleen Thomas 21 Port of Spain Tunisia Malek Nemlaghi[7] 19 Tunis Turkey Sevil Özgültekin[32] 18 Istanbul United Kingdom Elizabeth Ann Jones 20 Welshpool United States Debra Jean Freeze 20 Mooresville United States Virgin Islands Enid Francis 18 Saint Croix Uruguay Mabel Rúa 21 Montevideo Venezuela Patricia Tóffoli 18 Coro West Germany Monika Greis 23 Heidelberg Western Samoa Rosalina Sapolu 23 Apia

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Competed as Virgin Islands

1. **[^](#cite_ref-A_16-0)** Ages at the time of the pageant

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Competed as Tahiti in the pageant

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** Competed as Korea in the pageant

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-google.com_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-google.com_1-1) ["Argentinian picked Miss World"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=19781117&id=TuAzAAAAIBAJ&pg=4696,1942136&hl=en). *[Lodi News-Sentinel](/source/Lodi_News-Sentinel)*. 17 November 1978. Retrieved 26 January 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) ["Argentine girl is Miss World"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-20november1978thedail/396776/). *The Daily News*. [Huntingdon, Pennsylvania](/source/Huntingdon%2C_Pennsylvania). 20 November 1978. p. 17. Retrieved 12 May 2023 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Mitote, Pascal (8 March 2015). ["Pascale Taurua, Miss France 1978"](https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/polynesie/tahiti/pascale-taurua-miss-france-1978-236573.html). *Polynésie la 1ère* (in French). Retrieved 17 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Gnipate, Steeven (5 March 2015). ["Que devient la Calédonienne Pascale Taurua, Miss France 1978?"](https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/2015/03/05/que-devient-pascal-taurua-la-caledonienne-miss-france-1978-235719.html) [What happens to Caledonian Pascale Taurua, Miss France 1978?]. *Outre-mer la 1ère* (in French). Retrieved 17 May 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_5-1) Lazaar, Liane (11 December 2021). ["Miss France : Une reine de beauté est la mère d'un comédien de Scènes de ménages !"](https://www.purepeople.com/article/miss-france-une-reine-de-beaute-est-la-mere-d-un-comedien-de-scenes-de-menages_a467338/1) [Miss France: A beauty queen is the mother of a Scènes de Ménages actor!]. *[Purepeople](/source/Purepeople)* (in French). Retrieved 17 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Miss World"](https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110923125?searchTerm=%22Miss%20World%22). *[The Canberra Times](/source/The_Canberra_Times)*. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. [Reuters](/source/Reuters). 14 November 1978. p. 5. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via [Trove](/source/Trove).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:3_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:3_7-1) ["Face fuss"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paris-news/49769773/). *The Paris News*. Paris, Texas. 26 November 1978. p. 7. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Miss World"](https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110923423?searchTerm=%22Miss%20World%22). *The Canberra Times*. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. 15 November 1978. p. 7. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via [Trove](/source/Trove).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Miss South Africa out, so S'pore to take part"](http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19780825-1.2.49). *[The Straits Times](/source/The_Straits_Times)*. 25 August 1978. p. 9. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via [National Library Board](/source/National_Library_Board).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Angelyn shapes up nicely..."](https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/250344589?searchTerm=%22Miss%20World%22) *Papua New Guinea Post-Courier*. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. 28 April 1978. p. 1. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via [Trove](/source/Trove).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Evans, MJ (2014). *Broadcasting the End of Apartheid*. I.B.Tauris. p. 59. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-85772-417-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-85772-417-5). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [1006045407](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1006045407).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-google.com1_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-google.com1_13-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-google.com1_13-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-google.com1_13-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-google.com1_13-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-google.com1_13-5) ["Argentine beauty named 'Miss World'"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1916&dat=19781117&id=QOogAAAAIBAJ&pg=3099,4174203&hl=en). *The Hour*. 17 November 1978. Retrieved 26 January 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["People in the news"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salina-journal/49768474/). *[The Salina Journal](/source/The_Salina_Journal)*. Salina, Kansas. 16 November 1978. p. 2. Retrieved 12 May 2023 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Burton-Titular, Joyce (1 October 2013). ["From Vivien to Megan: The PH in Miss World history"](https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/pageants/40304-philippines-miss-world-history/). *[Rappler](/source/Rappler)*. Retrieved 13 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Untitled"](https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010639428:mpeg21:p005). *Amigoe* (in Dutch). [Curaçao](/source/Cura%C3%A7ao). 18 October 1978. p. 5. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via [Delpher](/source/Delpher).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Denise heads for stardom"](https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/52259867?searchTerm=%22Denise%20Coward%22). *[The Australian Women's Weekly](/source/The_Australian_Women's_Weekly)*. 4 October 1978. p. 15. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via [Trove](/source/Trove).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Kniggetrainerin: Job mit Takt"](https://www.vol.at/kniggetrainerin-job-mit-takt/2194012) [Etiquette trainer: Job with tact]. *Vorarlberg Online* (in German). 5 February 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_20-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_20-1) Flores, Mariana (27 May 2022). ["Respira profundo al ver a Maribel Guardia y la esposa de José María Napoleón en un concurso de belleza: FOTO"](https://heraldodemexico.com.mx/espectaculos/2022/5/27/respira-profundo-al-ver-maribel-guardia-la-esposa-de-jose-maria-napoleon-en-un-concurso-de-belleza-foto-408328.html) [Take a deep breath when you see Maribel Guardia and the wife of José María Napoleón in a beauty contest: PHOTO]. *El Heraldo de México* (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Pujols, Daniela (24 March 2020). ["El día en que la diseñadora Jenny Polanco participó en Miss Mundo"](https://www.diariolibre.com/revista/video-el-dia-en-que-la-disenadora-jenny-polanco-participo-en-miss-mundo-IP17909313) [The day designer Jenny Polanco participated in Miss World]. *[Diario Libre](/source/Diario_Libre)* (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Cita solidaria de reinas ecuatorianas"](https://www.eluniverso.com/vida-estilo/2016/07/11/nota/5684568/cita-solidaria-reinas-ecuatorianas) [Solidarity appointment of Ecuadorian queens]. *El Universo* (in Spanish). 11 July 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Lindfors, Jukka (28 October 2009). ["Seija Paakkola, Miss Suomi 1978"](http://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2009/10/28/seija-paakkola-miss-suomi-1978). *[Yle](/source/Yle)* (in Finnish). Retrieved 17 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["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) [60 years of Miss Tahiti: (re)discover all the winners of the competition]. *Polynésie la 1ère* (in French). 31 May 2022 [27 April 2021]. Retrieved 17 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Collins, Liam (19 October 1978). ["Bubbling over last night - the champagne beauties: It was like a cattle mart!: But Lorraine is happy to be Miss Ireland"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-herald-it-was-like-a-cattle-mart/172085814/). *[Evening Herald](/source/The_Herald_(Ireland))*. p. 6. Retrieved 17 March 2026 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** ["Beauty queens all"](https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/263309329?searchTerm=%22Miss%20World%22). *[The Australian Jewish Times](/source/The_Australian_Jewish_Times)*. Sydney, New South Wales. 15 June 1978. p. 1. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via [Trove](/source/Trove).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** ["Former Miss Jamaica World now wellness ambassador"](https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20201228/former-miss-jamaica-world-now-wellness-ambassador). *[The Gleaner](/source/The_Gleaner)*. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** ["Miss N.Z. title goes north"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/press/1978/05/18/1). *[The Press](/source/The_Press)*. [Christchurch](/source/Christchurch), New Zealand. 18 May 1978. p. 1. Retrieved 3 January 2026 – via [Papers Past](/source/National_Library_of_New_Zealand#Papers_Past).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** Villano, Alexa (22 April 2016). ["8 fun facts: Bb Pilipinas Intercontinental 2016 Jennifer Hammond"](https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/pageants/130395-bb-pilipinas-intercontinental-2016-jennifer-hammond-trivia-fun-facts/). *[Rappler](/source/Rappler)*. Retrieved 17 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** Burton-Titular, Joyce (1 October 2013). ["From Vivien to Megan: The PH in Miss World history"](https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/pageants/40304-philippines-miss-world-history/). *[Rappler](/source/Rappler)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240724212547/https://onedio.com/haber/hepsi-zirveye-cikti-ancak-hepsi-orada-kalamadi-turkiye-nin-son-25-yildaki-turkiye-guzelleri-simdi-ne-yapiyor-860708) from the original on 24 July 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** ["A history of pageantry in SVG 1951 to 2019"](https://onenewsstvincent.com/2022/10/09/one-news-svg-pageant-corner-a-history-of-pageantry-in-svg-1951-to-2019/). *One News St.Vincent*. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** ["Rosie: My 'mission' was to promote S'pore"](http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/newnation19781118-1.2.17). *New Nation*. 18 November 1978. p. 2. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via [National Library Board](/source/National_Library_Board).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-35)** ["Miss Schweiz Archiv"](https://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/miss-schweiz-archiv) [Miss Switzerland Archive]. *[Schweizer Illustrierte](/source/Schweizer_Illustrierte)* (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 17 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-36)** 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.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.missworld.com)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Miss World 1978](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_World_1978) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_World_1978?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.