Beauty on show

Press, 15 July 1976, Page 15

Beauty on show

When Anne Marie Poh- | tamo, of Finland, was i named Miss Universe at the 24th annual Miss Universe Pageant on July 19, 1975, an estimated 200 million people around the world were viewing the telecast via live satellite transmission. In addition, videotape and film coverage was given to 19 countries unable to see the pageant live. The number of people who saw’ the show was unprecendented in the history of the pageant which began in 1952 in Long Beach, California. This year new records will again be set. That initial pageant, which featured 39 contestants from the United States and 29 from other countries, was seen only by the local audience present at the event, less than 1,000 people. That year the event was recorded by a handful of local newspaper reporters and photographers. In recent years, thousands of lines of copy have been' filed by the hundreds of reporters assembled from around the globe to cover the event. Today’s Miss Universe is chosen from representatives of approximately 70 countries, who in turn have been chosen from 250,000 girls in national, state, country, and district competitions. The fortunate winner receives a $lO,OOO cash award, a $lO,OOO service contract and many exciting gifts. She is also provided with luxury accommodation and appropriate apparel for her reigning vear as Miss Universe, during which she is scheduled to travel to more than 40 countries on a goodwill tour. In New Zealand we will see a recording of the show in Hong Hong, at 6.30 p.m. next Wednesday from TV2. For the tenth consecutive year American television personality Bob Barker will serve as master of ceremonies, and singer Helen O’Connell will be the pageants’ hostess. Judging will be divided into four categories — national costume, evening gown, swimsuit and personality. A committee of wellknown personalities representing cultures from around the world will interview each contestant before coming to a final decision. The judges for the 25th pageant will be the actress, Florinda Bolkan; the actress Britt Ekland; the dancer, Dame Margot Fonteyn; the fashion designer, Dr Aldo Gucci; Prince Henri d’Orleans of France; the artist, Doug Kingman; a company director, David Newbigging; the actress, Merle Oberon; the film director, Roman Polanski; the film producer, Run Run Shaw of Hong Kong; Miss Universe of 1966. Margaret ha Arviddson Stupikoff; the actor and former professional football player Fred Williamson; and a newspaper columnist, Earl Wilson. The executive producers of the broadcast are Harold L. Glasser and Bob Finkel. Ed Pierce is the producer and the director is Sid Smith.