Grand Slam Ranking and Country of the Year 1964
11-Netherlands; 12-Denmark; 13-Israel; 14-South Africa; 15-Colombia; 16-Iceland; 17-Venezuela; 18-Peru; 19-Italy; 20-Austria; 21-Taiwan; 22-Philippines; 23-Korea; 24-Jamaica; 25-Australia; 26-Norway; 27-New Zealand; 28-Egypt; 29-Ireland; 30-Spain; 31-Ceylon; 32-Canada; 33-Switzerland; 34-Uruguay; 35-Cuba; 36-Hawaii; 37-Panama; 38-Belgium; 39-India; 40-Hong Kong; 41-Mexico; 42-Poland; 43-Chile; 44-Turkey; 45-Paraguay; 46-Wales; 47-El Salvador; 48-South Rhodesia; 49-Tunisia; 50-Liberia; 51-Malaysia; 52-Bolivia, Morocco; 54-Lebanon; 55-Costa Rica; 56-Scotland; 57-Alaska, Guatemala, Suriname; 60-Honduras; 61-Cyprus; 62-Haiti, Kenya, Montserrat; 65-Ecuador; 66-Puerto Rico; 67-Singapore; 68-Luxembourg; 69- Jordan, Nicaragua; 71-Dominican Republic, Guyana, Portugal, Tahiti; 75-Burma, West Indies; 77- Madagascar; 78-Aruba, Bahamas, Curaçao, Gibraltar, Monaco, Nigeria, Okinawa, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, US Virgin Islands; 88-Dahomey, Borneo, Ghana, Grenada, Guam, Indonesia, Martinique, Saint Vincent; South Pacific, Tanzania.
1964 MARKED A SIGNIFICANT JUMP BY BRITAIN, NOW 2ND IN THE GRAND SLAM RANKING
1964 marked a significant jump by Britain: the host-country of Miss World was finally a major pageant powerhouse, 2nd only to the USA, home for Miss Universe and Miss International. Brazil and Argentina had another great year, ending 1964 in 6th and 7th, respectively, leading in Latin America. Greece, after a Miss Universe victory, escalated 6 notches in the ranking, returning to the Top 10, in 9th place.
Taiwan, or the Republic of China, kept on collecting great Grand Slam results, living what were its best years in pageant history. In 1964, it grew from 26th to 21st place. The Philippines, another Asian nation with a passion for beauty pageants, made a sensational move after winning the Miss International title that year, climbing 15 positions, going from 37th to 22nd place. Liberia, after placing for the 2nd consecutive year among Miss World semi-finalists, was now #50 (+10). Bolivia, placing for the first time in a Grand Slam pageant (Top 15 in Miss Universe), climbed from the 67th to the 52nd position in the Grand Slam Ranking (+15).
Iceland kept on leading the Miss International Ranking, France remained #1 in Miss World and the USA topped Miss Universe.
Miss World Ranking in 1964 (Top 10): 1-France; 2-UK; 3-Sweden; 4-Denmark; 5-United States; 6-Germany; 7-South Africa; 8-The Netherlands; 9-Finland; 10-Argentina.
Miss Universe Ranking in 1964 (Top 10): 1-United States; 2-Brazil; 3-Germany; 4-Sweden; 5-Argentina; 6-Greece; 7-Japan; 8-England / UK; 9-France; 10-Peru.
Miss International Ranking in 1964 (Top 10): 1-Iceland; 2-United States; 3-Netherlands; 4-Philippines; 5-England; 6-Australia and Colombia; 8-Brazil; 9-Germany; 10-Israel.
1964: AND THE BRITISH BEAUTY EMPIRE KEPT ON GROWING!
For the 2nd time in just four years, the UK / England was once again the Country of the Year 1964, with a team to make all other nations envious! In Miss World, the UK definitely found its path, bagging a second crown in less than half a decade, this time with the one and only Ann Sidney. In Miss Universe, England came very close to capture the crown, with Branda Blackler, another impressive beauty with a unique smile and big brown eyes. Tracy Ingram, or Iris Ord, her real name, was a beautiful blonde who didn't stay much behind the two previously mentioned stunners when competing in Miss International: she was 4th. Long live the British queens from a nearly perfect year!
In 2nd place came Greece, with its Miss Universe victory, by Kiriaki Tsopei, and a Top 15 semi-finalist in Miss World.
And in 3rd place... Mabuhay, world! A great story of success gained strength by the Philippines when Gemma Guerrero Cruz became Miss International 1964. It was the first of many Grand Slam titles the Philippines would conquer.