|
The first winner is never forgotten,
and this time Miss Mexico Everywhere Forum wants to pay a
deserved tribute to Gladys Zender Urbina, the beautiful Peruvian
who conquered the very first Miss Universe crown in July 19th,
1957, in Long Beach California.
With only 17 years old
and in the middle of a great controversy by the recent destitution
of the Miss USA (since it was discovered that she was married
and that it had children), Gladys Zender almost loses the
crown because of her age, the directors of the Miss Universe
pageant call to an urgent meeting and according to the newspaper
Los Angeles Times, the meeting lasted about 2 hours and a
half, meanwhile Gladys waited in her room of the Lafayette
Hotel with 3 security guards outside her door, finally the
directors reach an agreement and decided that they would allow
her to continue with the Miss Universe title since she was
only a few months away to turn 18 years old (October 19th).
- Gladys was the first Miss Universe
in having a “chaperona”, her own mother!!!
- Also she was the first in not receiving
a contract for a film in Hollywood ("thanks" to her father
that arranged it).
- Her official welcome to Peru, the
day of August 11 of 1957, was declared a National Celebration.
- Gladys was a national champion of
Volleyball in Peru.
|
