Throwback Thursday: Venezuela’s first Miss Universe

Maritza Sayalero was the 28th Miss Universe and the very first big winner for Venezuela in the said pageant. Only 18 at the time of Miss Universe 1979, she made the long flight from Caracas to Perth, Australia armed with the natural beauty and charm that wowed everyone Down Under. Not even her closest pursuer, 1st Runner-Up Gina Swainson of Bermuda, could match the strong impression made by the former on the judges – not even the collapse of part of the stage minutes after her crowning and injured some candidates.

Let us now watch highlights of her performance during the finals of Miss Universe 1979 held at the Perth Entertainment Center.

courtesy of Pageanthology 101

Maritza started a healthy list of Miss Universe winners from Venezuela – Irene Saez Conde (1981), Barbara Palacios Teyde (1986), Alicia Machado (1995), Dayana Mendoza (2008), Stefania Fernandez (2009) and Maria Gabriela Isler (2013).

A couple of years after her reign, Maritza married (now retired) Mexican Professional Tennis Player Raúl Ramírez and chose to become a naturalized citizen of Mexico. They have three children – Rebeca, Raúl Alán and Daniel Francisco. They are now based in Southern California (Ensendada, Baja). ;-)