1981 Irene Saez Conde VENEZUELA

New York City, USA

1st runner-up     Dominique Dufour   CANADA 2nd runner-up     Eva Lena Lundgren   SWEDEN 3rd runner-up     Adriana Alves de Oliveira BRAZIL 4th runner-up     Dominique van Eeckhoudt BELGIUM SEMI-FINALISTS Lucia Isabel Vinueza Urgueyez   ECUADOR Marion Kurz   GERMANY Ingrid Johanna Maria Schouten   HOLLAND Donella Elizabeth Thomsen   NEW ZEALAND Mona Olsen   NORWAY Tatiana Teraiamano   TAHITI Kim Seelbrede   USA

Irene Saez in national costume on Pageant night

This year, trhe favorites for the crown were  Venezuela’s Irene Saez, the eventual winner, Miss USA, Kim Seelbreede and Miss Brazil, Adriana Oliveira. The audience cheered wildly for Miss Colombia (Eddy Cano), Dominican Republic (Lucia Pena) and Puerto Rico (Carmen Lotti), in addition to those named above.  The host Bob Barker was criticized for his sarcasm during the top 12 interviews which was said to have been the cause for some delegates dropping out from top position in the preliminaries to no position in the finals Among the 12 semifinalists, USA’s Kim . Kim dropped from 2nd place in the preliminary standings, not making the top five. On the other hand, Canada’s Dominique Dufour had the surprise jump of the evening. Barely squeaking into the semifinals in 12th place, she ended up first runner-up, just behind Miss Venezuela, who ran away with the title leading in scores the entire competition.

Irene's official photograph as Miss Universe 1981

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