Armi Kuusela
Armi Kuusela | |
|---|---|
 Kuusela in 1952 | |
| Born | Armi Helena Kuusela 20 August 1934 |
| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) |
| Spouses | Virgilio Hilario
(m. 1953; died 1975)Albert N. Williams (m. 1978) |
| Children | 5 |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title | Suomen Neito 1952 Miss Universe 1952 |
| Hair color | Blonde |
| Eye color | Blue |
| Major competition(s) | Suomen Neito 1952 (Winner) Miss Universe 1952 (Winner) |
Armi Helena Kuusela (born 20 August 1934) is a
Early life
 | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (December 2022) |
Armi Helena Kuusela was one of six children born to Finnish parents who owned and operated a small family business, except when her father, a decorated veteran, fought for Finland during World War II. She attended Elementary and Middle School in
Miss Universe
On 17 June 1952, chaperoned by her older sister, Kuusela took the Pan Am flight from Helsinki to Long Beach, California, where she took part in the first Miss Universe Pageant. Thirty contestants participated in the Pageant, held on 28 June 1952. Kuusela, as Suomen Neito, captured the first Miss Universe crown.[1] At her crowning, she was only 17 years old, weighed 49 kg (108 lb), and her height was 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in).
Among her many prizes, Kuusela received a new car[2] and a long-term movie contract from Universal Studios.[3] As titleholder, she also became a Goodwill Ambassador for the Miss Universe organization.
Kuusela was the only
That year, Kuusela also starred in a Finnish movie about her titled Maailman kaunein tyttö (The Most Beautiful Girl in the World). Tauno Palo played the role of Jack Coleman, Veikko Itkonen was the director, and Mika Waltari received writing credits for the film.[4]
Life after Miss Universe
At the request of the Finnish government shortly after winning the Miss Universe Pageant, Kuusela attended the Olympics in Finland that year. While attending there, the Philippine trade delegation invited her to attend their first International Trade Exposition. On 22 February 1953, Kuusela embarked upon a world tour with her older sister as chaperone. She attended the Philippines Exposition and crowned
Kuusela and Hilario owned and operated Gilarmi Corporation, a real estate development company in Makati, which included their eponymous Gilarmi Hotel along Ayala Avenue, the first residential hotel in the Philippines. Between 1955 and 1965, they had five children: Arne, Anna-Lisa, José (Jussi), Eva-Maria and Miguel (Mikko).[8] Hilario died of a heart attack on 7 September 1975, and until 1979, Kuusela was chief executive officer of Gilarmi Corporation and Honorary Counsel of Finland in Manila. Kuusela was married a second time to American diplomat Albert N. Williams, a Senior Officer with the
Since retirement, Kuusela has worked on many charitable causes. Since 1992, she has been a Member of the Director's Circle of the San Diego Museum of Art and the Chancellor's Associates at the University of California, San Diego. From 1993 to 1998, she was a Member of the Director's Circle of the Mingei International Museum, and co-chair of the Director's Circle from 1993 to 1994. From 1993 to 2006, she served as board member of the Burnham Cancer Research Institute (now known as the Sanford Burnham Preys Institute), and a Member of its Board Nominating Committee. Since then, she has served as a Member of the advisory board of the Fishman Foundation, an affiliate of the Institute that funds research scholarship. Since 1994, she has been a Bravissimo Circle Paton of the San Diego Opera. Since 1995, she has been a Charter Member of the Patrons of the Prado, for the benefit of San Diego's iconic Balboa Park museums. In 2010, she became a Member of the International Bipolar Foundation. That year, she also became a Member of the Angel's Angels of the San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory, and from 2013 to 2018, she served as honorary co-chair of its annual gala to raise scholarships for the children. In 2014, she was admitted into the Order of Saint John, a British order of chivalry, first as a Member and later promoted to the rank of Officer in 2018.
Kuusela has received numerous honors for her charity. In 2000, she received the Deming Award from the Burnham Cancer Research Institute and the Paul Harris Award for Philanthropy from the International Rotary Foundation. In 2008, she received the Fishman Foundation Award. In 2011, the City of San Diego designated August 10, 2011, as Armi Kuusela Williams Day, by Proclamation of Mayor Jerry Sanders. In 2012, the President of Finland awarded Kuusela the Order of the White Rose of Finland, with the rank of Knight (First Class).[9]
She visited her native town of Muhos in August 2014. Her visit was an official meeting with the city municipal manager.[10]
References
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Glamorous Photos of Armi Kuusela, the first Miss Universe, Who Gave Up Her Crown for Marriage, in 1950's". vintag/es. Vintage Everyday. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ a b Bell, Diane (5 September 2014). "La Jollan Was First 'Miss Universe'". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ a b "IN PHOTOS: Miss Universe crowns through the years". Rappler. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Miss Universe Married To Filipino With Black Eye". The Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas. 5 May 1953. p. 8, col. 34. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- ^ "Miss Universe 1952 – Armi Kuusela". muhos.fi. Archived from the original on September 15, 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
- ^ Lo, Ricky (28 June 2006). "A misty-eyed look at Armi Kuusela, the first Miss Universe". philstar.com. The Philippine Star. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "IS vieraili upean Armi Kuuselan, 78, kotona Kaliforniassa." Ilta-Sanomat 18 December 2012.
- ^ Armi Kuusela kirjoitti kotiin. Yle.fi, viitattu 17 April 2014
External links
Media related to Armi Kuusela at Wikimedia Commons
| |||
| |||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
