Grand Slam Ranking and Country of the Year 1954
Remaining Countries and Territories: 11- England / UK; 12- Switzerland; 13- Hawaii; 14- Brazil; 15- Denmark; 16- Japan; 17- South Africa; 18- Ceylon; 19- Italy and Norway; 21- Peru and Panama; 23- Australia; 24- Canada, Philippines, and Turkey; 27- Chile; 28- Argentina, Austria, and Costa Rica; 31- Netherlands and Belgium; 33- Israel, Alaska, and Puerto Rico; 36- Venezuela, Cuba, and Ireland; 39- India, Korea, El Salvador, Honduras, Singapore, New Zealand, West Indies, Monaco, and Thailand.
IN 1954 FRANCE REMAINED ON TOP
A Miss Universe Top 16 semi-finalist and a 4th place in Miss World by the two French delegates, were enough to keep France on top of the Grand Slam Ranking. The USA, the best performer of the year, went one important notch up, going from 4th to 3rd place. Egypt´s Miss World victory granted the African nation a place among the 10 “powerhouses”, going from 12th to 5th place. Uruguay was the other newcomer in the Top 10, in 10th place, just a few points behind Mexico (9th), the best ranked Latin American country.
Miss World Ranking in 1954 - 1) Sweden; 2) France; 3) Egypt; 4) Greece; 5) United States; 6) Germany; 7) UK; 8) Switzerland; 9) Finland; 10) Ceylon.
Miss Universe Ranking in 1954 - 1) USA; 2) Finland; 3) France; 4) Germany; 5) Hong Kong; 6) Greece; 7) Mexico; 8) Uruguay; 9) Sweden; 10) Hawaii.
COUNTRY OF THE YEAR 1954: THE USA EMERGES AS A PAGEANT POWERHOUSE
The year is 1954, and the United States starts to establish itself as a major powerhouse in pageantry, something that would not change in the upcoming decades. After stopping in the Top 10 of Miss America the year before, Miriam Stevenson of South Carolina went on to win the Miss USA and Miss Universe 1954 titles. In Miss World, the US nearly took it as well, with Karin Hultman being named 1st runner-up in London, only behind Egypt's Antigone Costanda. Egypt was, therefore, the 2nd most successful country in 1954, and Germany came 3rd, with Top 5 finishers in both Miss Universe (4th place) and Miss World (5th).
Go, USA!