"The beauty queen from Hell," Mona Grudt of Hell, Norway, was crowned Miss Universe at the 39th annual pageant in Los Angeles Sunday. The red-headed student-model who wants to be a nurse in Africa was chosen over 70 other women.
The first black American contestant, Carole Gist, 20, of Detroit, was first runner-up in a contest dominated but not won by Latin American aspirants. Miss Colombia, Liseth Mahecha, was second runner-up among the 71 contestants from 70 nations and Puerto Rico.Rounding out the six semifinalists were the contestants from Bolivia, Mexico and Chile.
This year's pageant was marked by a more political tone and included the first Soviet contestant, Evia Stalbovska, 18, a doctor's assistant from Riga, Latvia, who was not among the final 10.
During the week preceeding the show, Stalbovska, who speaks little English, became friends with Miss Israel, Yvonna Krugliak, who translated for her. The two women were born five days apart in the same Latvian hospital. Krugliak's parents later emigrated to Israel.