Miss Universe 1981
Encyclopedia
Miss Universe 1981, the 30th Miss Universe
pageant, was held at Minskoff Theater
, New York City
, New York
, USA on July 20, 1981. 19-year-old Irene Sáez of Venezuela
was crowned as Miss Universe 1981. There were 77 contestants competing for the crown, but Miss Mauritius got homesick and withdrew. The pageant originally was scheduled to be held in Guatemala City
, Guatemala
. However, for financial and political reasons, Miss Universe
was moved to New York City
.
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....
pageant, was held at Minskoff Theater
Minskoff Theatre
The Minskoff Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre, located at 1515 Broadway in midtown-Manhattan. It is now showing the musical The Lion King, based on the Disney animated film of the same name....
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA on July 20, 1981. 19-year-old Irene Sáez of Venezuela
Venezuela
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...
was crowned as Miss Universe 1981. There were 77 contestants competing for the crown, but Miss Mauritius got homesick and withdrew. The pageant originally was scheduled to be held in Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
, Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. However, for financial and political reasons, 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....
was moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Placements
| Final results | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss Universe 1981 | |
| 1st runner-up |
 Canada - Dominique Dufour |
| 2nd runner-up |
 Sweden - Eva Lena LundgrenEva Lena Lundgren Eva-Lena Lundgren is a former model from Piteå, Sweden, and the former Miss Sweden 1981.Later in 1981 year she finished in third place at 1981 Miss Universe pageant and fourth place at Miss Europe... |
| 3rd runner-up |
 Brazil - Adriana Alves de Oliveira |
| 4th runner-up |
 Belgium - Dominique Van Eeckhoudt |
| Top 12 |
 Norway - Mona Olsen Germany - Marion Kurz United States - Kim SeelbredeKim Seelbrede Kimberly 'Kim' Seelbrede is a beauty queen from Ohio who held the title Miss USA 1981. Kimberly Seelbrede is a licensed psychotherapist in the state of New York. Kim holds a Master's degree from New York University and an undergraduate BA in Psychology.Following the pageant, Kim embarked on a...  Ecuador - Lucía Isabel Vinueza Urjelles New Zealand - Donella Elizabeth Clemmence Thomsen |
Semifinal Scores
| Country | Preliminary Average | Interview | Swimsuit | Evening Gown | Semifinal Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Venezuela |
8.575 (1) | 8.966 (1) | 9.024 (1) | 8.887 (1) | 8.959 (1) |
| 8.223 (6) | 8.529 (3) | 8.881 (2) | 8.268 (3) | 8.559 (2) | |
| 7.967 (10) | 8.658 (2) | 8.050 (6) | 8.179 (4) | 8.296 (3) | |
| 7.913 (12) | 8.167 (6) | 8.133 (5) | 8.508 (2) | 8.269 (4) | |
| 8.330 (4) | 8.191 (5) | 8.416 (3) | 7.824 (7) | 8.144 (5) | |
| 7.940 (11) | 8.149 (7) | 8.137 (4) | 7.962 (5) | 8.083 (6) | |
| 8.259 (5) | 8.435 (4) | 7.717 (8) | 7.838 (6) | 7.997 (7) | |
| 8.400 (3) | 7.875 (8) | 8.041 (7) | 7.442 (10) | 7.786 (8) | |
| 8.133 (7) | 7.590 (9) | 7.633 (9) | 7.625 (9) | 7.616 (9) | |
| United States |
8.527 (2) | 7.427 (11) | 7.617 (10) | 7.653 (8) | 7.566 (10) |
| 7.967 (9) | 7.442 (10) | 7.300 (12) | 7.317 (12) | 7.353 (11) | |
| 8.063 (8) | 6.950 (12) | 7.492 (11) | 7.350 (11) | 7.264 (12) | |
- Winner
- First Runner-up
- Second Runner-up
- Third Runner-up
- Fourth Runner-up
- Top 12 Semifinalist Rank in each round of competition
Special Awards
| Award | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Best National Costume |
|
| Miss Congeniality |
|
| Miss Photogenic |
|
Background music
- Opening Number: "Theme from New York, New YorkTheme from New York, New York"Theme from New York, New York" is the theme song from the Martin Scorsese film New York, New York , composed by John Kander, with lyrics by Fred Ebb. It was written for and performed in the film by Liza Minnelli...
" by Frank SinatraFrank SinatraFrancis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
(Cover version)
Judges
- Sammy CahnSammy CahnSammy Cahn was an American lyricist, songwriter and musician. He is best known for his romantic lyrics to films and Broadway songs, as well as stand-alone songs premiered by recording companies in the Greater Los Angeles Area...
- Chang Kang Jae
- PeléPeléHowever, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
- Julio IglesiasJulio IglesiasJulio José Iglesias de la Cueva , better known simply as Julio Iglesias, is a Spanish singer who has sold over 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and released 77 albums. According to Sony Music Entertainment, he is one of the top 15 best selling music artists in history,...
- Itzhak Kol
- Lee MajorsLee MajorsLee Majors is an American television, film and voice actor, best known for his starring role as Colonel Steve Austin in The Six Million Dollar Man and as Colt Seavers in The Fall Guy ....
- Mary McFaddenMary McFaddenMary Josephine McFadden is an American fashion designer and writer.-Family:McFadden is the only daughter of Alexander Bloomfield McFadden, a cotton broker, and her mother was the former Mary Josephine Cutting, a socialite and concert pianist. Her father died in 1948, when he was killed in an...
- David MerrickDavid MerrickDavid Merrick was a prolific Tony Award-winning American theatrical producer.-Life and career:Born David Lee Margulois to Jewish parents in St. Louis, Missouri, Merrick graduated from Washington University, then studied law at the Jesuit-run Saint Louis University School of Law...
- Anna MoffoAnna MoffoAnna Moffo was an Italian-American opera singer and one of the leading lyric-coloratura sopranos of her generation...
- LeRoy NeimanLeRoy NeimanLeRoy Neiman is an American artist known for his brilliantly colored, pseudo-expressionist paintings and screen prints of athletes and sporting events.- Early years :...
- Lorin Netherlandser
- Francesco ScavulloFrancesco ScavulloFrancesco Scavullo was an American fashion photographer best known for his work on the covers of Cosmopolitan and his celebrity portraits.-Biography:...
- Corinna TsopeiCorinna TsopeiKiriaki "Corinna" Tsopei is a beauty pageant winner and actress. In 1964, Tsopei became the first Greek winner of the Miss Universe pageant.-Career:...
Contestants
Argentina – Susana Mabel Reynoso
Aruba – Synia Reyes
Australia – Karen Sang
Austria – Gudrun Gollop
The Bahamas – Linda Teresa Smith- Belgium – Dominique van Eeckhoudt
Belize – Ivette Zabaneh
Bermuda – Cymone Florie Tucker
Bolivia – Vivian (Maricruz) Aponte Zambrano
Brazil – Adriana Alves de Oliveira
British Virgin Islands – Carmen Nibbs- Canada – Dominique Dufour
Cayman Islands – Donna Marie Myrie
Chile – María Soledad Hurtado Arellano
Colombia – Ana Edilma (Eddy) Cano Puerta
Costa Rica – Rosa Inés Solís Vargas
Curaçao – Maria Maxima Croes
Cyprus – Katia Angelidou
Denmark – Tina Brandstrup
Dominican Republic – Fausta Lucía Peña Veras- Ecuador – Lucía Isabel Vinueza Urjelles
Kingdom of England – Joanna Longley
Fiji – Lynn Michelle McDonald
Finland – Merja Orvokki Varvikko
Early Modern France – Isabelle Sophie Benard- Germany – Marion Kurz
Gibraltar – Yvette Dominguez
Greece – Maria Nikouli
Guadeloupe – Rosette Bivuoac
Guam – Bertha Antoinette Harmon
Guatemala – Yuma Rossana Lobos Orellana- ' – Ingrid Johanna Marie Schouten
Honduras – Leslie Nohemí Sabillón Dávila- ' – Irene Lo Kam-Sheung
Iceland – Elisabet Traustadóttir
India – Rachita Kumar
Republic of Ireland – Valerie Roe
Israel – Dana Wexler
Italy – Anna Maria Kanakis
Japan – Mineko Orisaku- ' – Lee Eun-jung
Malaysia – Audrey Loh Yin Fong
Malta – Susanne Galea
Martinique – Ghislaine Jean-Louis
Mauritius: Carole Fitzgerald (withdrew)
Mexico – Judith Grace González HicksJudith Grace GonzálezJudith Grace González is a Mexican television personality and former Señorita México. She competed in the Miss Universe 1981 pageant.-Biography:...
Namibia – Antoinette Anuza- New Zealand – Donella Thomsen
- ' – Juanita Masga Mendiola
- Norway – Mona Olsen
Panama – Ana María Henríquez Valdés
Paraguay – María Isabel Urízar Caras
Peru – Gladys Silva Cansino
Philippines – Maria Caroline (Maricar) de Vera Mendoza
Portugal – Ana Paula Machado Moura
Puerto Rico – Carmen Lotti- ' – Patricia Abadie
St. Kitts – Marva Warner
Kingdom of Scotland – Anne McFarlane
Singapore – Florence Tan
South Africa – Daniela di Paolo
Spain – Francisca (Paquita) Ondiviela OteroFrances OndivielaFrances Ondiviela is a Spanish actress. One of her best known roles was in Acorralada.Ondiviela was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. She studied theatre and acting in Spain and Mexico...
Sri Lanka – Renuka Varuni Jesudhason- Sweden – Eva Lena LundgrenEva Lena LundgrenEva-Lena Lundgren is a former model from Piteå, Sweden, and the former Miss Sweden 1981.Later in 1981 year she finished in third place at 1981 Miss Universe pageant and fourth place at Miss Europe...
Switzerland – Bridget Voss
French Polynesia – Tatiana Teraiamano
Thailand – Massupha Karbprapun
Transkei – Kedibone Tembisa Letlaka- ' – Romini Samaroo
Turkey – Senay Unlu- ' – Frances Gloria Rigby
Uruguay – Griselda Dianne Anchorena- United States – Kim SeelbredeKim SeelbredeKimberly 'Kim' Seelbrede is a beauty queen from Ohio who held the title Miss USA 1981. Kimberly Seelbrede is a licensed psychotherapist in the state of New York. Kim holds a Master's degree from New York University and an undergraduate BA in Psychology.Following the pageant, Kim embarked on a...
- ' – Marise Cecile James
- Venezuela – Irene Sáez Conde
Wales – Karen Ruth Stannard
Samoa – Lenita Marianne Schwalger
Preliminary Swimsuit Scores
- 8.510 USA
- 8.440 Germany
- 8.380 Tahiti
- 8.375 Venezuela
- 8.350 Norway
- 8.230 Finland
- 8.200 Brazil
- 8.140 Belgium
- 8.080 Sri Lanka
- 8.040 Sweden
- 8.000 Ecuador
- 7.980 New Zealand
- 7.870 Holland
- 7.840 South Africa
- 7.830 Uruguay
- 7.770 Iceland
- 7.670 Guadeloupe
- 7.610 France
- 7.580 Peru
- 7.540 Colombia
- 7.510 Canada
- 7.510 Israel
- 7.460 Australia
- 7.410 Italy
- 7.380 Ireland
- 7.270 Martinique
- 7.250 Panama
- 7.240 Wales
- 7.140 England
- 7.130 Puerto Rico
- 7.120 Chile
- 7.100 Dominican Republic
- 7.100 India
- 7.080 Switzerland
- 7.040 Bahamas
- 6.990 Philippines
- 6.970 Korea
- 6.970 Namibia
- 6.920 Spain
- 6.910 Mexico
- 6.870 Gibraltar
- 6.860 Transkei
- 6.850 Scotland
- 6.800 Greece
- 6.788 Cyprus
- 6.760 Singapore
- 6.750 Austria
- 6.730 Japan
- 6.720 Costa Rica
- 6.710 Trinidad & Tobago
- 6.690 Guam
- 6.690 Paraguay
- 6.680 Turkey
- 6.670 Denmark
- 6.670 Malaysia
- 6.580 Bolivia
- 6.550 Thailand
- 6.510 Curaçao
- 6.500 Fiji
- 6.500 Western Samoa
- 6.480 Guatemala
- 6.465 Belize
- 6.420 Cayman Islands
- 6.420 Malta
- 6.400 Aruba
- 6.350 Mauritius
- 6.330 US Virgin Islands
- 6.230 Saint Kitts
- 6.206 British Virgin Islands
- 6.140 Bermuda
- 6.080 Northern Marianas
- 6.070 Turks & Caicos Islands
- ? Argentina
- ? Honduras
- ? Hong Kong
- ? Portugal
- ? Réunion
Debuts
Returns
- St. Kitts
- Transkei
Withdraws
Indonesia: Rossje Soeratman
Papua New Guinea: Jennifer Abaiyjah
St. VincentSaint Vincent (island)Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between Saint Lucia and Grenada. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains...
: Marsha Ann Morris
Replacements
-
- ': Doris Loh was replaced by Irene Lo Kam-Sheung.