Maritza Sayalero Fernandez became Venezuela's first Miss Universe in 1979. She was Miss Venezuela of that year. Note: She is known in the Miss Universe history as Maritza Sayalero.
1979 Miss Universe Pageant
The Miss Universe pageant and awards ceremony (19 July) was held in Perth, Australia.
The judges were:
- Julio Iglesias - singer
- Rossana Podesta - Italian actress
- Don Galloway - American actor
- Constance Towers - American singer/actress
- Yves Cornassiere
- Anne Marie Pohtamo - Miss Universe 1975
- Lana Cantrell - Australian singer
- Robin Moore - author/actor
- Ita Buttrose - Australian journalist/magazine editor
- Tony Martin - singer
- Apasra Hongsakula - Miss Universe 1965
The ceremony is also remembered also for the collapse of the stage set, when several contestants and photographers fell into a hole after the set was subjected to several times its design weight when paparazzi crowded the event.
Legacy
Her victory began a national interest in beauty that has resulted in the Miss Venezuela pageant becoming the most competitive and legendary national contest in the world.
Her name has become synonymous with beauty among Spanish language speakers, not only in Venezuela. In the 1980s, many girls were named Maritza, especially if the family name was the not uncommon Fernandez.
At least one ship was named in her honour, Maritza Sayalero.
Life after 1979-80
Little material is readily available about her life after the year as Miss Universe.
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