1979 Maritza Sayalero VENEZUELA

Perth, Australia

1st runner-up     Gina Swainson   BERMUDA 2nd runner-up     Carolyn Seaward   ENGLAND 3rd runner-up     Marta da Costa   BRAZIL 4th runner-up     Anette Ekstrom   SWEDEN SEMI-FINALISTS Adriana Virginia Alvarez   ARGENTINA Sarita Diana Acosta   BELIZE Andrea Hontschik   GERMANY Lorraine Davidson   SCOTLAND Veronika Wilson   SOUTH AFRICA Mary Therese Friel   USA Janet Beverly Hobson   WALES

Barely a few minutes into her reign as Miss Universe, Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela heard hysterical screams around her. The back of the stage designed to hold 75 people collapsed after a surge of 200 reporters and photographers onstage.  Part of the stage collapsed, bringing along beauty queens and  reporters down a 6-foot deep hole.  Among those who fell were Miss Malta (Dain Borg Bartolo), Miss Turkey (Fusan Tahire Demirtan), Miss Philippines (Criselda Cecilio), second runner-up Miss England (Carolyn Seaward) and third runner-up Miss Brazil (Marta da Costa). On the lighter side, runner-up Gina Swainson of Bermuda went on to win the Miss World crown later that year.

Maritza's official  photograph as Miss Universe 1979

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