1956
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Miss World 1956
- an amalgam of news reports -

Petra Schurmann, a green-eyed German blond-turned-brunette, defeated a field of contenders from 22 other nations last night to win the annual Miss World beauty contest.  She gasped and then almost swooned as she received the crown.

“I owe it all to Teddy,” the 23-year-old Cologne university student told reporters.  Teddy is her mascot, a tiny Teddy bear.

“I carried him all through the show,” said Petra.

For a moment it looked as if Miss United States, Betty Lane Cherry, had won the 1958 international beauty title.

When the six finalists filed from the wings of a London theater for the announcement of the title winner in front of the television cameras, Miss Cherry sported a serene and confident look - plus a sash draped across her shapely bosom.  The BBC announcer said:

“Oh, Miss United States seems to have won.  She’s got on the winner’s sash.”

A contest official quickly whipped the sash off Miss Cherry.

“Sorry,” the announcer said, “something seems to have happened.”

“It was a mistake,” harassed contest director Eric D. Morley explained later.  “I told the backstage attendant to put the sash on the last girl out - Miss Germany.  But he chose his own winner before the judges had given their verdict.”

Betty Lane Cherry was awarded second place.  She said, “I never thought I’d win, so it was no disappointment.”

Miss Schurmann is 5 feet 7 1/2 inches tall, weighs 110 pounds and measures 36-20-33.  She confided to a newsman that the shade of her hair comes out of a bottle.

Her prizes included a silver trophy, 500 pounds ($1,400) in cash and a costly sports car.  Miss Schurmann said she would either sell the automobile or “look for a man who is handsome, clever and chivalrous to share it with me.”

Although her ultimate ambition is to become an actress, Miss Schurmann said she plans to continue her philosophy studies for the time being.

Behind Miss Germany and Miss Cherry, the girls who finished in the money and won cash prizes and silver trophies were Miss Israel, Rina Weiss, third; Miss Japan, Midoriki Tokura, fourth; Miss Denmark, Anne Rye Nielsen, fifth; and Miss Sweden, Eva Brann, sixth.

Bottom  Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece & Iceland

Top  Ireland, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey & U.S.A.

Not yet in London  Holland, Morocco, South Africa & Venezuela


Visit with the Lord Mayor of London and his wife

Top  Italy, Egypt, Austria, Sweden, Belgium (face hidden), Switzerland (face partly hidden), Israel (sitting on arm of chair), Iceland, South Africa, Holland & Great Britain

Bottom  France, Denmark, Turkey, U.S.A., Germany & Ireland 

The excitement was too much for two contestants who fainted (below)

Israel helps Greece

Eric Morley & Ireland helps Iceland

 


Germany

Denmark, France, Finland & Sweden

France, U.S.A. & Turkey

Greece & South Africa

 

1956 October 15
London, England
24 entries

Results
1  Germany  Petra Susanna Schürmann
2  U.S.A.  Betty Lane Cherry
3  Israel  Rina Weiss
4  Japan  Midoriki Tokura
5  Denmark  Anne Rye Nielsen
6  Sweden  Eva Bränn

Remainder
Austria  Margaret Scherz
Belgium  Madeleine Hotelet
Egypt  Norma Dugo
Finland  Sirpa Helena Koivu
France  Genevieve Solare
Great Britain  Iris Alice Kathleen Waller
Greece  Maria Paraloglou
Holland  Ans van Pothoven
Iceland  Agusta Gudmundsdóttir
Ireland  Amy Kelly
Italy  Angela Portaluri
Morocco  Lydia Marin
New Zealand  Jeannette de Montalk
South Africa  Norma Vorster
Switzerland  Yolande Daetwyler
Tunisia  Pascaline Agnes
Turkey  Suna Tekin
Venezuela  Celsa Pieri


Top 6
Denmark, Germany, Israel, Japan, Sweden & U.S.A.
Note  U.S.A. had the winner's sash on before it was removed

Sweden (5th runner-up), Israel (2nd runner-up), Germany (winner), U.S.A. (1st runner-up), Japan (3rd runner-up) & Denmark (4th runner-up)
Cross-references to some of the other pageants

Belgium  Europe 1957
Finland
  Europe 1956
Great Britain
  Universe-England 1956 (3rd runner-up)