First Miss Universe crowned in the Philippines

On July 21, 1974, exactly a year after from when Margie Moran was crowned Miss Universe 1973, the Philippines was all eyes on the Miss Universe pageant held in Manila, Philippines.

Four Miss Universes graced the event; Armi Kuusela of Finland who during her reign and  duties as the Miss Universe (1952) in the Philippines met and married a Filipino tycoon Virgilio Hilario, Silvia Hitchcock (1967), Philippines first Miss Universe Gloria Diaz (1969), and the beautiful and poised Margie Moran waiting for the next lucky girl who would continue the legacy of being Miss Universe.

 A total of sixty-five (65) candidates from different counties and territories vied for the crown including Philippines' very own Guada Sanchez. She made it to the magic 12 but apparently lacked showmanship and regal bearing to catch the judges fancy.

At the end of the event, Spain's Amparo Muñoz was announced the winner making her the first Miss Universe to be crowned in the Philippines. If only on that note, she could have been declared the third Filipina Miss Universe.

The Search for the third Filipina Miss Universe

On July 21, 1973,just four years and two days after from when Gloria Diaz was adjudged Miss Universe 1969, another Filipina, Margarita Moran got another crown to bag for her country, making the Philippines the third country -- next to United States and Brazil -- to win the title twice since its inception in 1952.

Aside from the double Miss Universe titles, Philippines, by that time also held the record for the most number of Miss International crowns, putting Philippines as one of beauty-pageant powerhouse countries alongside United States and Brazil.

On that note, the Philippine government with no less than the first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos herself made it a point to host the pageant the next year in Manila.

The whole country was excited, thinking that the third Filipina Miss Universe gets to be crowned in Miss Universe 1974 in Manila.

And so the search started for the third Filipina Miss Universe.

#3rdFilipinaMissUniverse