Miss Universe 1994

Miss Universe 1994
Sushmita Sen, Miss Universe 1994
Date21 May 1994[a]
Presenters
Entertainment
VenuePlenary Hall, Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Broadcaster
Entrants77
Placements10
Debuts
  • Russia
  • Slovakia
  • Zimbabwe
Withdrawals
  • Austria
  • Belize
  • Czech Republic
  • Ghana
  • Lebanon
  • Nicaragua
  • Suriname
  • United States Virgin Islands
Returns
  • Cook Islands
  • Egypt
  • Republic of China
WinnerSushmita Sen
India
CongenialityBarbara Kahatjipara (Namibia)
Best National CostumeCharlene Gonzales (Philippines)
PhotogenicMinorka Mercado (Venezuela)

Miss Universe 1994 was the 43rd Miss Universe pageant, held at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Philippines, on 21 May 1994. Seventy-seven contestants competed during this year.

At the conclusion of the event, Dayanara Torres of Puerto Rico crowned Sushmita Sen of India as Miss Universe 1994, marking the first time India won Miss Universe, which they would later win again in 2000 and in 2021.

Background

Location and date

Manila was announced as host city for the pageant in October 1993.[1] It was the second time the pageant was held in the Philippines, after it was staged at the nearby Folk Arts Theater in 1974.[1] The country expected to make ₱10 million (US$357,000) profit out of the pageant, as well as the accompanying media exposure.[2] The ₱150 million ($5.3 million) spent on hosting the pageant was funded from the private sectors, with sponsors such as Nestlé, Kodak and Hertz.[2] Some of the expected sponsorship money did not materialize, leading the shortfall to be covered by the government.[3] In the midst of power shortages around the time of the pageant, the Philippine government promised to ensure that the weekend of the pageant's coronation night would be "blackout-free".[4] By mid May, as the contestants were already in Manila, organizers confirmed that they were short of money and were unsure whether a profit would be made from the event.[5] There was also a probe by the Commission on Human Rights during May as to whether a police round-up of street children was intended to improve Manila's international image during the pageant events.[6] This was also criticised by Miss Thailand, Areeya Chumsai, even though the same incident occurred in Thailand in the Miss Universe 1992 pageant.[7]

During rehearsal on the day prior to the pageant, a small homemade bomb exploded outside the pageant venue where the contestants had earlier been rehearsing, though it caused minimal damage and there were no injuries.[8] As a result, more than 3000 Filipino police officers were involved in protecting the delegates, as well as dozens of policewomen assigned as personal or group bodyguards.[9]

The pageant came under public attack from the Nationalist Movement of New Women, a branch of the National Democratic Front, which claimed that it was being used to promote sex tourism.[10] The cost of the event was also criticized by the Philippine Congress, despite it being endorsed by President Fidel V. Ramos.[10] A social function attended by the delegates held prior to the final broadcast was picketed by the women's group, who opposed the nature of the pageant and the lavish spending.[11]

Controversies

Miss Malaysia, Liza Koh, made a public apology on behalf of her country about the arrest of 1200 Filipina domestic helpers in Kuala Lumpur.[12] As a result, the Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi admonished her not to make any further political remarks.[13]

Miss Philippines, Charlene Gonzales, gained criticism for winning the Best National Costume award, as the judges were also criticized for allegedly favouring the host nation's delegate. Miss British Virgin Islands, Delia Jon Baptiste, publicly declared that Gonzales won the award, because of Filipino favouritism, and that the other delegates disagreed with the choice. Miss Venezuela Minorka Mercado, won the Philippine costume Terno award, followed by Slovakia, who was also celebrating her birthday, and Miss Mexico by their respective placements.[14]

Results

Placements

Placement Contestant
Miss Universe 1994
1st Runner-Up
2nd Runner-Up
  •  Venezuela – Minorka Mercado
Top 6
Top 10
  •  Greece – Rea Toutounzi
  •  Italy – Arianna David
  •  Sweden – Domenique Forsberg
  •   Switzerland – Patricia Fässler

Special awards

Award Winner
Best National Costume
Miss Congeniality
  •  Namibia - Barbara Kahatjipara
Miss Photogenic
  •  Venezuela - Minorka Mercado

Pageant

Format

Prior to the final telecast, all contestants competed in pre-pageant shows including the national costume and opening show held at the Araneta Coliseum, and swimsuit and evening gown during the preliminary competition held at its main venue, the Philippine International Convention Center. They also participated in interviews with the judges.

During the final competition, the ten semifinalists competed in the swimsuit, evening gown and interview. The top six contestants participated in a final round of on-stage interviews, and cut to the final top three before the runners-up were announced and the new Miss Universe named.

Selection committee

Final telecast

Contestants

Miss Universe 1994 participating countries and territories

Seventy-seven contestants competed for the title.

Country/Territory Contestant Age[b] Hometown
 Argentina Solange Magnano 22 Santa Fe
 Aruba Alexandra Ochoa[16] 18 Oranjestad
 Australia Michelle van Eimeren[17] 22 Brisbane
 Bahamas Meka Knowles 18 Nassau
 Belgium Christelle Roelandts[18] 19 Waremme
 Bolivia Cecilia O'Connor-d'Arlach[19] 23 La Paz
 Brazil Valéria Melo Peris[20] 23 Conchal
 British Virgin Islands Delia Jon Baptiste[21] 18 Road Town
 Bulgaria Nevena Marinova 20 Sofia
 Canada Susanne Rothfos[22] 18 Dawson Creek
Cayman Islands Audrey Ebanks 20 Grand Cayman
 Chile Constanza Barbieri 18 Santiago
 Colombia Carolina Gómez[23] 19 Bogotá
 Cook Islands Leilani Brown[24] 18 Rarotonga
 Costa Rica Yasmin Camacho[25] 23 San José
 Curaçao Jasmin Clifton[26] 26 Willemstad
Cyprus Maria Vasiliou 19 Nicosia
 Denmark Gitte Andersen[27] 25 Copenhagen
 Dominican Republic Vielka Valenzuela 21 Concepción de la Vega
Ecuador Mafalda Arboleda[28] 18 Guayaquil
 Egypt Ghada El-Salem[29] 20 Cairo
 El Salvador Claudia Méndez[30] 22 San Salvador
 Estonia Eva-Maria Laan[31] 19 Tallinn
 Finland Henna Meriläinen[32] 19 Tohmajärvi
 France Valerie Claisse[33] 21 Saint-Nazaire
 Germany Tanja Wild 21 Baden-Württemberg
Great Britain Michaela Pyke[29] 22 Kent
 Greece Rea Toutounzi 20 Athens
 Guam Christina Perez 20 Agana
 Guatemala Katya Schoenstedt 20 Guatemala City
Honduras Jem Haylock 23 Guanaja
Hong Kong Mok Hoi-Yan 24 Hong Kong
 Hungary Szilvia Forian 21 Karcag
 Iceland Svala Björk Arnardóttir 18 Reykjavík
 India Sushmita Sen[34] 18 New Delhi
 Ireland Pamela Flood 22 Dublin
 Israel Ravit Yarkoni 21 Givatayim
 Italy Arianna David 20 Rome
 Jamaica Angelie Martin 19 Saint James
Japan Chiaki Kawahito 21 Tokyo
 Luxembourg Sandy Wagner[35] 20 Luxembourg City
 Malaysia Liza Koh[36] 20 Kuala Lumpur
Malta Paola Camilleri 19 Fleur-de-Lys
 Mauritius Viveka Babajee[37] 20 Port Louis
 Mexico Fabiola Pérez 18 Chihuahua
 Namibia Barbara Kahatjipara 21 Windhoek
 Netherlands Irene van de Laar[38] 25 Leiden
 New Zealand Nicola Brighty[29] 21 Auckland
 Nigeria Suzan Hart 18 Benue
 Northern Mariana Islands Elizabeth Tomokane[39] 21 Saipan
 Norway Caroline Saetre[40] 18 Møre og Romsdal
 Panama María Sofía Velásquez 23 Panama City
Paraguay Liliana González 23 Asunción
 Peru Karina Calmet 24 La Molina
Philippines Charlene Gonzales[41] 20 Quezon City
 Poland Joanna Brykczynska 21 Western Pomerania
 Portugal Mónica Pereira 20 Lisbon
Puerto Rico Brenda Robles[42] 18 Isabela
 Republic of China Joanne Wu 25 Taipei
 Romania Mihaela Ciolacu 20 Bucharest
 Russia Inna Zobova 20 Khimki
 Singapore Alien Sun[43] 21 Singapore
 Slovakia Silvia Lakatošová 20 Bratislava
South Korea Goong Sun-young 21 Seoul
 Spain Raquel Rodríguez 20 Córdoba
 Sri Lanka Nushara Pramali 19 Colombo
Swaziland Nicola Smith 20 Mbabane
 Sweden Domenique Forsberg 25 Kiruna
 Switzerland Patricia Fässler 19 Zürich
Thailand Thailand Areeya Chumsai[44] 22 Bangkok
 Trinidad and Tobago Lorca Gatcliffe 24 Port of Spain
 Turkey Banu Usluer 19 Istanbul
Turks and Caicos Islands Eulease Walkin 23 Providenciales
 United States Lu Parker[45] 26 Charleston
 Uruguay Leonora Dibueno[27] 27 Montevideo
Venezuela Minorka Mercado 22 Caracas
 Zimbabwe Yvette D'Almeida-Chakras[46] 22 Harare

Contestants Notes

Debuts

Returns

Last competed in 1992:

  •  Cook Islands
  •  Egypt
  •  Republic of China — Joanne Wu was allowed to wear Republic of China sash while she was off-staged. There were two sashes for her, one was written (Taiwan) R.O.C., and the other was written Republic of China as stated above.

Replacements

  •  El Salvador - Eleonora Carrillo, Miss El Salvador 1994 couldn't take part due she was underage before February 1.[47] Her 1st—Runner up, Claudia Méndez was sent for the event, although Carrillo competed the following year at the Miss Universe 1995 finishing in the Top 10.[30]

Withdrawals

Did not compete

Observations

  •  Indonesia - Venna Melinda was not allowed to compete in the pageant because of her country's conservative Islamic prejudice towards the swimsuit competition, though she eventually traveled to Manila to watch the pageant instead.[49]

Notes

  1. ^ The event was held at 8:00 am Philippine Standard Time (UTC+08:00); for the Americas, this was May 20 in their local times.
  2. ^ Ages at the time of the pageant

References

  1. ^ a b "Philippines to host Miss Universe pageant". Reuters. 24 October 1993.
  2. ^ a b "Philippines expects to profit from Miss Universe". Agence France-Press. 16 March 1994.
  3. ^ Gosh, Nirmal (27 April 1994). "Row in Manila over cost of Miss Universe pageant". Straits Times.
  4. ^ "Manila says no blackouts for Miss Universe pageant". Agence France-Presse. 5 April 1994.
  5. ^ "Miss Universe organisers short of cash - official". Reuters. 17 May 1994.
  6. ^ "Police roundup of Manila street children under probe". Straits Times. 2 May 1994.
  7. ^ "Miss Thailand : Don't hide street kids". Straits Times. 12 May 1994.
  8. ^ "Miss Universe pageant site bombed". Agence France-Press. 20 May 1994.
  9. ^ "Manila deploys 3,000 policemen for beauties". Reuters. 26 April 1994.
  10. ^ a b "Communist insurgents say Miss Universe promotes sex tourism". Agence France-Press. 29 April 1994.
  11. ^ "Feminists picket Miss Universe social function". Agence France-Press. 1 May 1994.
  12. ^ "Hi, I am sorry". Straits Times. 28 April 1994.
  13. ^ "Miss Malaysia told not to make political remarks". Straits Times. 29 April 1994.
  14. ^ "Ms Universe pageant slammed for hometown verdict". Reuters. 9 May 1994.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g "Miss Universe 1994 judges announced - UPI Archives". UPI.
  16. ^ "Voorbereiding miss--verkiezing" [Miss pageant preparation]. Amigoe (in Dutch). 19 April 1994. p. 5. Retrieved 14 November 2023 – via Delpher.
  17. ^ "Michelle Van Eimeren in Miss Universe 1994". GMA Network. 19 February 2020 [28 Enero 2017]. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  18. ^ Sampayan, Anj (2 August 2016). "Miss Belgium, Miss Colombia, and other Miss Universe 1994 beauties: where are they now?". PEP.ph. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  19. ^ "El título les dio alegrías, trabajo y fama que aún saborean" [The title gave them joy, work and fame that they still savor.]. El Deber (in European Spanish). 29 July 2017. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  20. ^ "Miss Valéria Péris casa-se em Campinas" [Miss Valéria Péris gets married in Campinas]. Revista CARAS (in Brazilian Portuguese). 20 August 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  21. ^ Hull, Kareem-Nelson (2018). The Virgin Islands Dictionary: A Collection of Words and Phrases so You Could Say It Like We. Bloomington, Indiana: AuthorHouse. ISBN 9781546226109.
  22. ^ "People & places". Herald-Journal. 6 May 1994. pp. A2. Retrieved 14 November 2023 – via Google News Archive.
  23. ^ Gonzalez, Daniela (2 March 2023). "Carolina Gómez: Así se veía la mujer cuando fue señorita en Miss Universo" [Carolina Gómez: This is what the woman looked like when she was a miss in Miss Universe]. Revista ALO (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  24. ^ "'Not even a little picture of me in the papers'". The Straits Times. 21 May 1994. p. 6. Retrieved 14 November 2023 – via National Library Board.
  25. ^ "Habla la ex Miss Costa Rica que acusa al ex presidente Óscar Arias de abuso sexual" [The former Miss Costa Rica speaks who accuses former president Óscar Arias of sexual abuse]. El Comercio (in Spanish). 10 February 2019. ISSN 1605-3052. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  26. ^ "Jasmin Clifton wint sobere miss-verkiezing" [Jasmin Clifton wins sober miss pageant]. Amigoe (in Dutch). 18 October 1993. p. 3. Retrieved 14 November 2023 – via Delpher.
  27. ^ a b Caparas, Celso de Guzman (30 May 2004). "My fond memories of the 1994 Miss Universe Pageant". Philippine Star. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  28. ^ "Así recordó Gabriela Pazmiño su participación en Miss Ecuador" [This is how Gabriela Pazmiño remembered her participation in Miss Ecuador]. Metro Ecuador (in Spanish). 7 October 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  29. ^ a b c Lo, Ricky (31 January 2017). "And the winner is… Steve Harvey!". Philippine Star. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  30. ^ a b Monge, Osmín (27 January 2023). "Eleonora Carrillo recordó su clasificación en Miss Universo" [Eleonora Carrillo recalled her classification in Miss Universe 1995]. El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  31. ^ Veidemann-Makko, Anna-Maria (23 May 2023). "Sõnasõda: Kibe kõõm ja maakast rasvarull?! Miss Estonia Eva Maria Laan kohtusaagast ekskaasaga: "Olen aastaid kestnud kannatamisest juba tuimaks muutunud!"" [War of words: Bitter scabbing and early fat roll?! Miss Estonia Eva Maria Laan from the legal saga with her ex-husband: "I have already become numb from years of suffering!"]. Õhtuleht (in Estonian). Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  32. ^ Pudas, Mari (7 May 2020). "Vuonna 1994 missiltä kuultiin toinenkin sammakko – voittajalta lipsahti härski toivotus suorassa lähetyksessä" [In 1994, another frog was heard from the pageant - the winner missed a rude greeting during the live broadcast]. Iltalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  33. ^ Mathieu, Clement (16 December 2022). "Miss France 1994 : Valérie Claisse, la vocation d'une reine de beauté" [Miss France 1994: Valérie Claisse, the vocation of a beauty queen]. Paris Match (in French). Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  34. ^ "Did you know Sushmita Sen's gown for Miss India was made out of curtain cloth?". The Times of India. 6 August 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  35. ^ Michels, Danièle (5–11 October 1994). "Sandy Wagner, Miss Luxembourg '94: Phototermin mit einer Schönheitskönigin" [Sandy Wagner, Miss Luxembourg ’94: Photoshoot with a beauty queen]. Revue (in German). Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. pp. 32–38 – via National Library of Luxembourg.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  36. ^ Yap, Peter (26 January 1994). "Moment of glory for new Miss Malaysia". New Straits Times. p. 6. Retrieved 14 November 2023 – via Google Books.
  37. ^ Lo, Ricky (29 June 2010). "Miss Mauritius: I'm also a victim". Philippine Star. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  38. ^ "Irene de mooiste van Nederland" [Irene the most beautiful in the Netherlands]. De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 30 March 1994. p. 1. Retrieved 14 November 2023 – via Delpher.
  39. ^ De la Torre, Ferdie (29 March 1994). "Tomokane off to RP in May for Miss Universe". Marianas Variety. p. 3. Retrieved 14 November 2023 – via eVols.
  40. ^ Stave, Amanda (24 June 2023). "(+) Ein sykkylving i kulissene: – Eg har levd litt i mi eiga verd". Nyss.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  41. ^ Villano, Alexa (17 March 2018). "12 Bb Pilipinas titleholders who entered showbiz". Rappler. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  42. ^ Lopez, Ana Enid (17 March 2016). "Brenda Robles aclara el escándalo de su reinado" [Brenda Robles clarifies the scandal of her reign]. Primera Hora (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  43. ^ "Rojak helped Paulyn win title". The Straits Times. 22 March 1994. p. 26. Retrieved 14 November 2023 – via National Library Board.
  44. ^ "15 ดาราสาวเคยประกวดนางงาม ความสวยเจิดจรัสจนคว้ามงมาครองสำเร็จ" [15 actresses who have competed in beauty contests and were so beautiful that they successfully won the crown.]. Sanook (in Thai). 9 August 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  45. ^ Lemieux, Josh (12 February 1994). "S.C.'s Parker crowned Miss USA". Anderson Independent-Mail. p. 2. Retrieved 14 November 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ "Zimbabwe returns to Miss Universe pageant". The Herald. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023 – via PressReader.
  47. ^ Eleonora Carrillo, la Miss El Salvador que imparte justicia en España
  48. ^ "The Beauty Pageants Thread - IX". Archived from the original on 3 February 2016.
  49. ^ "Miss Indonesia to watch but not take part". Straits Times. 19 May 1994.
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