Grand Slam Ranking and Country of the Year 1960
11-Brazil; 12-Israel; 13-Denmark; 14-Peru; 15-Argentina; 16-Italy; 17-Venezuela; 18-Netherlands; 19-Egypt; 20-Norway; 21-Austria; 22-Switzerland; 23-Cuba; 24-Hawaii; 25-Ceylon; 26-Hong Kong; 27-Mexico; 28-Uruguay; 29-Canada; 30-Poland; 31-Australia; 32-India; 33-Korea; 34-Iceland; 35-Belgium; 36-El Salvador; 37-Southern Rhodesia & Nyasaland; 38-Tunisia; 39-Chile; 40-Panama; 41-Philippines; 42-Spain; 43-Ireland; 44-Jamaica; 45-Turkey; 46-Alaska; 47-Costa Rica and Morocco; 49-Guatemala; 50-Honduras; 51-Suriname; 52-Cyprus and Kenya; 54-Paraguay; 55-Singapore; 56-Ecuador and Puerto Rico; 58-Luxembourg; 59-Bolivia and Jordan; 62-Lebanon, British Guyana; Burma, New Zealand, Portugal and West Indies; 67-Monaco, Nicaragua, Tahiti, Thailand; 71-Borneo (British North Borneo), Dominican Republic, Ghana, Gibraltar, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaya, Martinique, South Pacific, Taiwan (ROF), and Tanganyika.
MISS INTERNATIONAL BRINGS MORE COUNTRIES INTO SCENE; THE USA TAKES THE LEAD OF THE GSR
With its third Miss Universe victory, the United States overtook Sweden as the Grand Slam Ranking leader. Germany and France switched places, in 3rd and 4th, respectively. Peru, down 5 notches (14th), left the leadership in Latin America to Colombia, up 7 and now 10th. Colombia had the first Miss International winner in history and its 2nd Grand Slam victory in just three years! Japan (5th) and South Africa (8th), topped Asia and Africa, respectively. Cyprus, who had just gained independence from Britain, participated in Miss World for the first time, with Mary Mavropoulos reaching the Top 18, and allowing the small Mediterranean new nation to appear on the Grand Slam Ranking in 52nd place. India, 2nd in Miss International and Top 18 in Miss World, with Iona Pinto, went 23 notched up in the Ranking, moving from 55th to 32nd place!
The inception of Miss International brought more countries, territories, and variety to the Grand Slam. Borneo, or British North Borneo, Malaya (future Malaysia), and Singapore, not yet an independent country, which made it to the Top 15 with Christl D’Cruz, were some examples. There was also a representative of South Pacific, which was not a country, but rather a region. Hawaii´s own Patricia Apoliona represented all the island nations, most dependencies located in Oceania in those days. Indonesia´s debut in the Grand Slam also happened in Miss International 1960, with Wiana Sulastini.
Miss World Ranking in 1960 (Top 10): 1-Sweden, 2-France, 3-Germany, 4-South Africa, 5-United States, 6-Denmark, 7-Israel, 8-Egypt, 9-Greece, 10-Finland;
Miss Universe Ranking in 1960 (Top 10): 1-United States, 2-Sweden, 3-Germany, 4-Japan, 5-Brazil, 6-Peru, 7-France, 8-UK, 9-Colombia, 10-Greece.
Miss International Ranking in 1960 (Top 10): 1-Colombia, 2-India, 3-Iceland, 4-England, 5-United States, 6-Austria, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, and Venezuela.
1960: MISS INTERNATIONAL IS BORN AND THE US OWES THE YEAR
When Miss Universe moved from Long Beach, California, to Miami Beach, Florida, in 1960, the Californian local organizers didn't want to lose all the worldwide promotion the city of Long Beach had, thanks to hosting the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants throughout the 1950s. So they decide to create their own event, which became immediately popular: Miss International. At that point, there were three Grand Slam pageants: Miss World, Miss Universe, and Miss International.
The Miss U Florida debut for Americans couldn't have been better: Utah's own Linda Jeanne Bement became the 3rd US Miss Universe. In Long Beach, the first-ever Miss International USA, Charlene Lunderg, placed 5th, the same placement Judith Ann Achter achieved in London. The USA was the first "Country of the Year" of the new decade.
Colombia, with Miss International's first winner, Maria Stella Márquez, who earlier had placed in the Top 15 of Miss Universe, placed 2nd. The third place that year went to Argentina, after a Miss World victory with Norma Gladys Cappagli.