Grand Slam Ranking and Country of the Year 1952
The Top 10 nations in the Grand Slam Ranking in 1952.
Remaining countries: 11- Mexico, 12- South Africa, 13- Uruguay, 14- Denmark, 15- Netherlands, 16- Alaska, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Cuba, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Turkey, and Venezuela.
Obs: Both Alaska and Hawaii were U.S. territories, not states, until 1959.
In 1952, Miss Universe came to life, in Long Beach, California, USA, with the victory of Finland. Though Finland was the best performer of the year 1952, Sweden, with two Miss World winners, remained, by far, on top of the Grand Slam Ranking. Germany was on a solid 3rd position, followed by Greece in 4th, and Hawaii, still an American territory, not a state, came next, tied to Switzerland, in 5th place.
Miss World Ranking in 1952 (Top 10): 1) Sweden, 2) UK, 3) Switzerland, 4) Germany, 5) France, 6) Finland, 7) Denmark, Netherlands, and United States, 10) Ireland and Mexico.
Miss Universe Ranking in 1952 (Top 10): 1) Finland, 2) Hawaii, 3) Greece, 4) Hong Kong, 5) Germany, 6) Mexico, South Africa, Sweden, South Africa, and Uruguay.
FINLAND IS THE COUNTRY OF THE YEAR 1952
In 1952, the year Miss Universe was born, Helsinki, Finland, hosted the first Olympic Games after the end of World War II, and the eyes of the world were in this Nordic nation! It was then not surprising to see Armi Helena Kuusela of Finland winning the first Miss Universe title. In Miss World, Finland also did well, placing 4th with Eeva Maria Hellas. It was enough for Finland to be named COUNTRY OF THE YEAR. Sweden, even with a back-to-back Miss World victory, had to settle for 2nd, once its Miss U representative stopped in the Top 10 in Long Beach, where Miss Universe was held. Germany placed 3rd that year, with a 3rd place in Miss World, and a 5th position in Miss Universe.