Miss World 1959


Miss World 1959 was the ninth Miss World pageant, held at the Lyceum Ballroom, London, United Kingdom, on 10 November 1959.
At the conclusion of the event, the Chief Barker of the Variety Club of Great Britain crowned Corine Rottschäfer of Holland as Miss World 1959. This is the first victory of Holland in the history of the pageant.
Contestants from thirty-seven countries and territories participated in this year's pageant. The pageant was hosted by Bob Hope.

Background

Selection of participants

Thirty-seven contestants were selected to compete in the pageant. Three contestants were appointed to represent their countries after being a runner-up in their national pageants.

Replacements

The first runner-up of Miss Maple Leaf 1959, Huguette Demers, was appointed to represent Canada after Miss Maple Leaf 1959, Irene Dobler relinquished her title in order to marry. Berit Grundvig, the first-runner of Miss Norway 1959, was appointed to represent her country after Miss Norway 1959, Jorunn Kristjansen, became the first runner-up of Miss Universe 1959. Miss Holland 1957, Corine Rottschäfer, was appointed to represent her country after Miss Holland 1959, Peggy Erwich, withdrew due to her modeling commitments.

Debuts, returns and withdrawals

This edition marked the debut of Argentina, Ghana, Gibraltar, Hawaii, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Jordan, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Rhodesia and Nyasaland, South Korea, and Uruguay, and the return of Honduras, which last competed in 1955; and Austria, Finland, Iceland, and Luxembourg last competed in 1957.
Raymonde Valle of Morocco and Figen Özgür of Turkey withdrew for undisclosed reasons. Venezuela withdrew after its respective organization failed to hold a national competition or appoint a delegate. Habiba Bent Abdallah of Tunisia was supposed to compete, but withdrew from the competition due to financial constraints.

Results

Placements

Pageant

Format

The number of placements in this edition has been increased to eleven from six in the previous edition. The eleven semi-finalists were selected through a preliminary competition held on the day of the final competition consisting of a swimsuit and evening gown competition. The eleven semi-finalists were then interviewed by Bob Russell and paraded before the judges, and five finalists were eventually selected to compete in the final interview.

Selection committee

Thirty-seven contestants competed for the title.
CountryContestantAgeHometown
Argentina|alt