“Miss N.Z.” Stole Show In Beauty Contest

Press, Volume C, Issue 29671, 15 November 1961, Page 2

“Miss N.Z.” Stole Show In Beauty Contest

[From our London Correspondent] LONDON, November 9. New Zealanders had every reason to be enormously proud of Leone Main this evening. Tall, graceful, exquisitely gowned in her evening dress, superb of carriage and of figure in her all-white swimsuit, the young Aucklander won her way into the final seven in the “Miss World 1961” beauty contest at the Lyceum.

From the original 37 contestants she first won her way into the semi-finals, the 15 selected being, in addition to “Miss New Zealand,” the representatives of Argentina, Austria, Free China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Several times the announcer called “Miss New Zealand,” and it was only after he had said: “I think she’s lost . . . perhaps she didn’t think she would get in the last 15, but she did,” that Miss Main insinuated herself beautifully through the curtainings to the accompaniment of considerable applause from an audience that had earlier been whimsically described as “distinguished and cosmopolitan.” Then the semi-finalists were briefly interviewed. “Miss New Zealand” confirmed “Miss South Africa’s” view that London was a wonderful place and then launched off into a comment about a cousin of hers. But the announcer then, with great good humour, interrupted the flow to enable the others to speak. It would, indeed, have been a tragedy had shortage of time prevented the delicious “Miss Finland” from making the evening’s classic remark: “I am too exciting to say anything." With the first part of the comment the distinguished and the cosmopolitan entirely concurred. The next incident involving “Miss New Zealand” was wholly attributable to confusion involving judges, messengers, and the announcer. One list of the seven finalists went backstage to the contestants; another to the announcer. He called them in this order: “Miss Free China,” “Miss Denmark,” “Miss France,” “Miss Japan,” “Miss Spain,” “Miss United Kingdom,” “Miss United States.” Six appeared on stage, but there was no "Miss Japan.”

After several calls from the announcer, with no response from “Miss Japan,” “Miss New Zealand” appeared. The announcer, with, perhaps just a touch of understandable irritation, remarked: “Have I been handed the wrong list?” Anyway, there was no doubt about it—“ Miss New Zealand” had won the distinction of becoming a finalist. Bob Hope "Offended” As each finalist was interviewed by a famous television compere, Peter West, she was asked: “Who is your favourite film star?" And, of course, each one replied "Bob Hope”—this comedian was one of the panel of judges. But “Miss New Zealand,” when the question was put to her about her favourite actor, replied with painful distinctness: “Bing Crosby.” Bob Hope arose, and with great dignity departed the scene, as the compere jocularly told Miss Main: “You’ve got no chance now.” Later, after Hope had kissed the “Miss World 1961” (the United Kingdom entrant,

Rosemarie Franklandl and was preparing to place the crown on her head, he asked: “You weren’t the one who said Bing Crosby was her favourite film star, were you? You weren’t? Then (placing the crown on her head) you can have this.” Five Trophies Of the seven finalists, only the leading five won trophies, although a sixth-place award of £5O went to “Miss U.S.A.” The major cash awards were £2500 (first*, £5OO (second), £250 (third), £l5O (fourth), and £lOO (fifth). “Miss New Zealand” was the only finalist who did not receive an award, but, in many respects, she stole the show.

Bob Hope described “Miss World” as "one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen.” And, indeed, she was beautiful. But a purely personal view is that had the “cosmopolitans” only comprised the panel of judges then “Miss Free China” might have won. And it is interesting, though, of course, quite idle to speculate on what might have happened had the competition been “expanded” to embrace the panel of judges amongst the contestants. The title of “Miss World, 1961” in such unusual circumstances might have gone not to Bob Hope, not to Richard Todd, not to John Spencer Churchill, not to Billy Butlin, not to Norman Hartnell, not to the Earl of Lanesborough, but to the young Duchess of Rutland.