Grand Slam Ranking and Country of the Year 1956
The Top 10 “powerhouses” after the conclusion of Miss Universe and Miss World 1956.
Reimaning Countries and Territories: 11-Brazil; 12-Denmark; 13-Ceylon; 14-Hong Kong; 15-Switzerland; 16-Mexico; 17-Italy; 18-Australia; 19-Israel; 20-Uruguay; 21-Cuba; 22-Norway; 23-Peru; 24-Argentina; 25-Hawaii and El Salvador; 27-Austria; 28-South Africa; 29-Belgium; 30-Canada; 31-Panama; 32-Philippines and Turkey; 34-Chile; 35-Costa Rica and Honduras; 37- Guatemala; 38-Netherlands; 39-Alaska and Puerto Rico; 41-Ireland; 42-Iceland; 43-Korea; 43-New Zealand, Ecuador, West Indies and Monaco; 48-India, Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon, Singapore, Guyana, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, and Thailand.
GRAND SLAM RANKING IN 1956: AFTER MISS UNIVERSE VICTORY, THE US IS 2ND
After a second Miss Universe in just 3 years, the United States and France have switched positions, with the US now in 2nd place, only behind Sweden. France is down one notch, now 3rd. Both Ceylon and Hong Kong have left the “Top 10”, and Japan, now 9th, is a newcomer and Asia´s new #1 pageant powerhouse. Sweden leads the Miss World Ranking as well, while the US is 1st among Miss Universe participant nations.
Miss World Ranking in 1956 (Top 10): 1-Sweden; 2-France; 3-Germany; 4-USA; 5-Egypt; 6-Greece; 7-Venezuela; 8-Switzerland; 9-Denmark; 10-UK.
Miss Universe Ranking in 1956 (Top 10): 1-USA; 2-Sweden; 3-Germany; 4-France; 5-Finland; 6-Brazil; 7-Hong Kong; 8-Greece and Mexico; 10-Japan.
1956: WE HAVE A TIE! GERMANY AND THE USA ARE NAMED COUNTRIES OF THE YEAR
The best-performing nations in Grand Slam pageants in 1956 were Germany and the United States, both with the same number of points. Miss USA, Carol Morris, won the second Miss Universe title for the Americans. Miss Germany, Marina Orschel, a media favorite who had been elected Miss Photogenic by press photographers in Long Beach, was the first runner-up.
In Miss World 1956 things happened exactly the other way around: the winner was Miss Germany, Petra Schürmann, with Miss United States, Betty Lane Cherry (what a perfect pageant-name for a Hollywood production 🎬, don't you think?), was the 1st runner-up.
The always strong Sweden came in 3rd that year, with a 3rd place in Miss Universe and the 6th place in Miss World. It was enough to keep Sweden on the lead of the Grand Slam Ranking.
One observation: up to 1990, when Germany got reunified, "Miss Germany" was, in reality, Miss West Germany. East Germany never participated in a Grand Slam pageant.
Photos, from left to right: Marina, Petra, Betty, and Carol.