Grand Slam Ranking and Country of the Year 1958
11-Brazil; 12-England / UK; 13-Egypt; 14-Venezuela; 15-Colombia; 16-Israel; 17-Cuba; 18-Hawaii; 19-Italy; 20-Ceylon; 21-Hong Kong; 22-Mexico; 23-Switzerland; 24-Uruguay; 25-Argentina; 26-Austria; 27-Australia; 28-Canada; 29-Norway; 30-Netherlands; 31-El Salvador; 32-Tunisia; 33-Belgium; 34-Chile; 35-Panama; 36-Poland; 37-Alaska and Turkey; 39-Philippines; 40-Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Morocco; 43-Honduras; 44-Suriname; 45-Ireland and Puerto Rico; 47-Iceland; 48-Ecuador and Korea; 50-West Indies; 51-British Guyana, Monaco, New Zealand, Paraguay, and Singapore; 56-Dominican Republic, India, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Martinique, Nicaragua, and Thailand.
GRAND SLAM RANKING IN 1958: SOUTH AFRICA REPLACES EGYPT AS #1 IN AFRICA
The Top 6 remained unchanged from 1957 to 1958, with Sweden leading the Grand Slam Ranking for the fourth consecutive year, however, there were some significant changes. South Africa, now 7th, is Africa´s new #1 power, replacing Egypt. Denmark, up 5 notches, has finally entered the Top 10, in 8th place. Peru, down two notches and now 9th, and Japan, also minus two positions and now 10th, top the Latin American and Asian regions, respectively.
Miss World Ranking in 1958 (Top 10): 1-.Sweden; 2-France; 3-Germany; 4-United States; 5-Egypt; 6-South Africa; 7-Denmark; 8-Finland; 9-Greece; 10-Venezuela.
Miss Universe Ranking in 1958 (Top 10): 1-USA; 2-Sweden; 3-Germany; 4-Peru; 5-Brazil; 6-France; 7-Finland; 8-Colombia; 9-Greece; 10-Japan.
FOR THE THIRD TIME, TWO ARE THE “COUNTRIES OF THE YEAR” - COLOMBIA AND SOUTH AFRICA
In 1958 Colombia says hello to Grand Slam beauty pageants with full power: Luz Marina Zuluaga, the South American country's first entry in Miss Universe, won the title in Long Beach. A few months later, in London, the African continent would have its 2nd Miss World and Grand Slam winner: South Africa, represented by Penelope Anne Coelen.
Colombia didn't compete in Miss World, South Africa didn't take part in Miss Universe, so with 3000 points earned from their respective victories, Colombia and South Africa tied as the best-performing nations of 1958.
Denmark, who had been doing really well especially in Miss World, had its best year that far, occupying the Grand Slam podium of 1958, in 3rd place. Vinnie Ingemann was 3rd in Miss World and Evy Norlund reach the Top 15 in Miss Universe.
PS: This was the South African flag until 1984, with a slight change in color in 1982.