Halle Berry in the Miss World 1986 - The Unknown Story!

">had placed third in Britain in late 1985. Berry's
By the early 2000s Halle Berry set precedent andperformance at the 35Th Miss United States comes
made Miss World history when she became the firstas little surprise to the people who have followed the
former beauty queen to win an Academy Award.American contest; a result that had seemed almost
Since 1995 Berry, who won the 1986 Miss USA World,impossible a few decades earlier. In the 70s and early
has had a strong influence on beauty contestants as80s, three beauty pageant organizations had had black
well as black performers on both sides of Atlantic. Inqueens, but the Miss USA Organization did not make it
addition to being one of the great actresses of theuntil 1990, when the statuesque Carole Gist, who
21st century, Berry will be remembered as one of thestands 1.82m tall, won the national trophy.
most beautiful black representatives in Miss WorldSixteen years to the day before Miss USA 1986
history, alongside Aretha Rocke (Trinidad &Jennifer Hosten, a native from Grenada -an
Tobago's delegate in 1982) and Jennifer Hosten (MissEnglish-speaking Island on the Caribbean Sea -
World 1970) as well as Kayonga "Benita" Murekabecame the first black entrant to be crowned Miss
(Zaire's contestant in 1985) and Veronique Caloc (MissWorld. But she was not the only one. By the end of
France 1998). In 1998, the Miss USA Organizationthe 1970s, Gina Ann Casandra Swaisson of Bermuda,
conferred Halle Berry the "Distinguished Achievementanother "Caribbean Queen", won the global award in
Award"; it is awarded to a former beauty queen whoGreat Britain. Two years ago, on July 26, 1977 Janelle
distinguishes herself by performance and influence inCommissiong, Miss Trinidad Tobago -- according to the
America.New York Times "the black bombshell" - had become
Miss United States of Americathe first black winner in the 26-year history of Miss
Halle Berry first attracted attention at the beginning ofUniverse. Then, in 1984, Vanessa Williams became the
1986 when she reached the finals of Miss USAfirst black Miss America in Atlantic City, but her reign
Universe -- one of the world's top beauty contestended prematurely and was replaced by Suzette
awards -- in Miami,Florida. But before she could do thatCharles, another black beauty.
in this year, she had won two beauty pageant awards:Halle Berry in the Miss World 1986!
Miss Teen All American Pageant 1985 and then MissThe final ceremony on 13 November, 1986, was held at
Ohio USA. In Miami, former host to the Miss Universethe Royal Albert Hall in London before a crowd 8,000
Pageant, the young Berry, who served as her ownspectators. About 77 countries and dependencies took
manager, finished second, ahead of 49 of America'spart in this contest, including Gambia, Tonga and Isle of
most beautiful and talented candidates. Each delegateMan. In November 1986 Berry broke precedents by
was judged in three categories: swimsuit, eveningtaking part in the global contest, where she finished
gown, and interview. The judges were Rene Enriquezamong the top sixth. It was the first time in Miss
(Nicaraguan-born actor), Michael Young (performer),World's history that America sent a black entrant to
Kimberly Tomes (Miss Texas and Miss USA UniverseLondon, home to the Miss World Organization.
1977), Dave Robinson (singer), Waymon TisdaleThere were some interesting anecdotes: Miss Bolivia,
(former basketball player), Mai Shanley (Miss NewClaudia Arevalo Ayala, was a member of one of the
Mexico and Miss USA 1984), John Callahan (actor),most important Bolivian Volleyball clubs; Miss Ecuador
Maria Remenyi (Miss California and Miss USA 1966),was an English-teacher and a fashion model in her
Christopher Hewett (actor), Miriam Stevenson (Misshomeland; and Gibraltar, a tiny British dependency in
South Carolina & Miss Universe 1954), CarolEurope, became the smallest territory on the planet to
Connors (singer), and John Bolger (actor).send a representative to London. Curiously Maria
Results:Juarist Mateo Begoña, Miss Venezuela, had the
Preliminariesmost expensive evening gown in the event. Valued at
1-Texas 9.076 pointsno less than US$ 16,000! On the other hand, Poland
2-Halle Berry (Ohio) 8.640sent a delegate to the global contest -- in a land where
3-Mississippi 8.530the beauty contests had been traditionally forbidden by
4-Illinois 8.493the Communist regimes. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, a nation
5-South Carolina 8.443in crisis for years, also participated.There were 17 black
6-Georgia 8.440entries from Africa, Europe and the Americas. It was
7-California 8.436the first time that France had sent a black delegate to
8-North Carolina 8.426the Miss World Pageant.
9-Oklahoma 8.356However the British pageant should not be left without
10-Wyoming 8.301making mention of Halle Berry. She was also the first
Results: Second Roundblack woman from an industrialized nation to make the
Interview..................Swimsuit.................Evening Gownsemi-finals in the Miss World Pageant. Ohio's Berry
1.Ohio 9.230....................1.Texas 9.610............1.Texas 9.510became the 36th American delegate to compete in
2.Mississippi 9.215..........2.Ohio 9.240...............2.Ohio 9.360Miss World, a contest where the USA did not have a
3.Texas 9.100...................3.Califor. 8.970.........3.Califor. 9.177great performance. In 1972, Lynda Carter - a famous
4.Georgia 8.780................4.Georgia 8.910........4.Geor. 8.760entertainer in the late 70s and early 80s - was
5.SCarolina 8.744.............5.SC 8.870...................5.NC 8.820semi-finalist. On November 23, 1973, Miss USA,
6.Illinois 8.588...................6.NC 8.770...................6.SC 8.760Marjorie Wallace, defeated Miss Philippines, Evangeline
7.Oklahoma 8.480.............7.Okla. 8.730..............7.Miss. 8.660Pascual, and became Miss World. In the mid-70s, the
8.Califor. 8.266..............8.Illinois 8.580.............8.Illinois 8.610States had suffered a serious setback when Annelise
9.NC 8.280........................9.Mississippi 8.570......9.Okla. 8.490Ilschenko and Kimberly Marre Foley failed to make it
10.Wyoming 7.890.........10.Wyo. 8.370.............10.Wyo. 8.190into the semi-finals. Then, in the following years
Average:America could not win the title.
1.Texas 9.406Since the start of the global event, Halle Berry was
2. Halle Berry, Miss Ohio 9.226considered a leading candidate for the international title,
3.Georgia 8.853along with Linda Marie McManus of New Zealand,
4.Mississippi 8.815Giselle Jeanne-Marie Laronde of Trinidad &
5.California 8.804Tobago, Maria Juarist Begoña of Venezuela,
6.South Carolina 8.791Alison Louise Slack of the United Kingdom, Roberta
7.North Carolina 8.597Pereira of Brazil, and Margot Montt of Chile.
8.Illinois 8.593Two and half weeks prior to the global contest, Berry
9.Oklahoma 8.567and other 76 entries made a swimming photo shoot in
10.Wyoming 8.150Macao, a former Portuguese colony in Asia. At her
Final Results:arrival in Macao she was welcomed by a crowd of
Miss USA Universe 1986: Christy Fichtner (Dallas,about 200 cheering well-wishers who saluted her with
Texas)the traditional blessing: "Ni hao" (hello in Chinese).
First Runner-up: Halle Berry (Ohio)In the first round, Miss USA World 1986 finished third in
Second Runner-up: Tammi Tesh (Georgia)scoring, after Venezuela's Maria Juarist Mateo
Third Runner-up: Cindy Williams (Mississippi)Begoña and New Zealand's Linda Marie
Fourth Runner-up: Kelly Parsons (California)McManus. Berry received 42 points to 46 Miss
Special AwardsVenezuela and 44 for Miss New Zealand. South
Miss Photogenic: Beth King (Miss Wyoming)America's delegate, Berry's main rival, had been
Miss Congeniality:Lisa Summerour-Perry (Miss Newwell-prepared for over a year by Osmel Sousa, the
Jersey)world's most successful beauty pageant director in the
Because of her outstanding performance, Berrylatter half of the 20th century.
competed in Miss World 1986 in England. She wasIn the second round, Halle Berry had 27 points in the
named delegate to the States to replace BrendaSwimsuit Competition.
Denton, Miss New Mexico and Miss USA World, who