Maritza Sayalero
Encyclopedia
Maritza Sayalero is a former beauty queen
who was crowned Miss Venezuela
in 1979 and became her country's first Miss Universe
titleholder. She is married to Mexican
tennis player Raúl Ramírez
with whom she has lived in Mexico since 1981.
in her country's national beauty pageant, Miss Venezuela
, capturing the crown and the right to represent her country in Miss Universe 1979
.
in a pageant held in Perth
, Australia
on July 19.
Immediately after the live telecast ended the stage collapsed as too many journalists and photographers stormed to get a photograph of the new queen. She managed to save a contestant from falling into the gaping hole left in the middle of the set, although several unfortunate delegates didn't have the same luck, including Miss Turkey and Miss Brazil, who were injured as a result of the fall.
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.
. She now lives in Ensenada
, Baja California
where for years she owned a boutique where she sold her own designs. The couple has three children: Rebeca (born 1982), Raúl Alán (born 1984) and Daniel Francisco (1989).
Beauty Queen
"Beauty Queen" is the second song from Roxy Music's second album, For Your Pleasure. The lyrics refer to Ferry's girlfriend, Valerie Leon, one-time UK beauty queen, B-movie actress and model working in the Newcastle area, circa 1973.-Musicians:...
who was crowned Miss Venezuela
Miss Venezuela
The Miss Venezuela contest is the national beauty pageant of Venezuela and has been held since 1952. It is responsible for selecting the country's representatives to the Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss Earth and Miss International pageants .Under the direction of Osmel Sousa, Venezuela has...
in 1979 and became her country's first Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
titleholder. She is married to Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
tennis player Raúl Ramírez
Raúl Ramírez
Raúl Ramírez is a retired Mexican professional tennis player. He was active during the 1970s and 1980s, and is regarded as one of the great all-around players of the modern era. Ramírez was also the first player to finish first in both singles and doubles Grand Prix point standings, accomplishing...
with whom she has lived in Mexico since 1981.
Miss Venezuela
Sayalero competed in 1979 as Miss Departamento VargasVargas (state)
Vargas State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. Named after Venezuela's first non-military president, José María Vargas, Vargas comprises a coastal region in the north of Venezuela, bordering Aragua to the west, Miranda to the east, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Capital District to the...
in her country's national beauty pageant, Miss Venezuela
Miss Venezuela 1979
Miss Venezuela 1979 was held in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 16, 1979, after weeks of events. The winner of the pageant was Maritza Sayalero, Miss Departamento Vargas....
, capturing the crown and the right to represent her country in Miss Universe 1979
Miss Universe 1979
Miss Universe 1979 was held at Perth Entertainment Centre, Perth, Australia on 20 July 1979. 18-year-old Maritza Sayalero earned Venezuela's first Miss Universe crown. First runner-up Gina Swainson would go on to win the rival Miss World 1979 later in the year...
.
Miss Universe
Sayalero showed enough of her legendary poise to become the indisputable leader of the night, winning the swimsuit, interview and evening gown competitions and becoming the first titleholder from VenezuelaVenezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
in a pageant held in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on July 19.
Immediately after the live telecast ended the stage collapsed as too many journalists and photographers stormed to get a photograph of the new queen. She managed to save a contestant from falling into the gaping hole left in the middle of the set, although several unfortunate delegates didn't have the same luck, including Miss Turkey and Miss Brazil, who were injured as a result of the fall.
Legacy
Her victory began a national interest in beauty that has resulted in the Miss Venezuela pageant becoming one of the most competitive and legendary beauty contests in the world.Her name has become synonymous with beauty among Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
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 Miss Universe
Maritza Sayalero is married to Mexican tennis player Raúl RamírezRaúl Ramírez
Raúl Ramírez is a retired Mexican professional tennis player. He was active during the 1970s and 1980s, and is regarded as one of the great all-around players of the modern era. Ramírez was also the first player to finish first in both singles and doubles Grand Prix point standings, accomplishing...
. She now lives in Ensenada
Ensenada, Baja California
Ensenada is a coastal city in Mexico and the third-largest city in Baja California. It is located south of San Diego on the Baja California Peninsula. The city is locally referred to as La Cenicienta del Pacífico, or, The Cinderella of the Pacific...
, Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
where for years she owned a boutique where she sold her own designs. The couple has three children: Rebeca (born 1982), Raúl Alán (born 1984) and Daniel Francisco (1989).
External links
- Miss Universe official history - including photograph
- 1970s Miss Universe winners - including photograph BellezaVenezolana.net