Background
Singapore hosted the 36th Miss Universe pageant on 27 May 1987. The extravaganza was staged in Hall 4 of the former World Trade Centre (now known as HarbourFront Centre) and televised worldwide to at least 600 million viewers in 56 countries. Organised at a cost of S$7 million by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board (now Singapore Tourism Board) and Miss Universe Incorporated, the event generated much public interest among Singaporeans.1 Contestants from 68 countries competed for the title that came with prizes worth US$250,000. Miss Chile Cecilia Bolocco, aged 22, was crowned the winner. Miss Singapore Marion Nicole Teo was placed among the 10 semi-finalists.2
Venue
Among the options for the pageant venue – including Kallang Theatre, Neptune Theatre and the Westin Ballroom – World Trade Centre Hall 4 was chosen, as it could accommodate an audience of 3,200, a stage and a store for the various sets. Its open space allowed designers to work freely without the constraints posed by existing structures.3
Staging the event
About S$1.4 million was invested in transforming the trade hall into a Hollywood-style theatre with tiered seats. Measuring 1,115 sq m and costing S$1 million to build, the stage was the biggest and most expensive indoor stage to be built in Singapore at the time.4 Over 5,600 tiny lights were installed on the darkened ceiling to create a starlight effect.5 Various backdrops were created for the different segments of the competition. The opening sequence featured a huge reclining lion with two flights of steps along its flanks where contestants made their entrance. Other centrepieces included a moon gate with two small dragons; a set comprising three large Oriental fans, each measuring 3.7 m high and 7.6 m long; an exotic butterfly set made up of four panels; and a Chinatown set. Complementing the main sets was a 4.3-metre waterfall that cascaded 1,500l of water into four pools below. Birds from the Jurong Bird Park and tropical foliage completed the miniature equatorial paradise.6
Preliminaries
A week before the finals, the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation aired a two-hour presentation show on the preliminary judging sessions, during which the contestants were assessed in their swimsuits and evening gowns.7 Closed-door interview sessions between the contestants and judges took place over the next three days. The combined scores of these sessions determined the 10 semi-finalists.8
In addition to the swimsuit and evening gown segments, contestants competed for the Best National Costume award.9 The winner, Miss Brazil, impressed the judges with her flamboyant gold and green sequinned gown and eye-catching headdress with long peacock feathers.10
Finals
The pageant was televised on 27 May 1987 at 9 am. More than 600 million viewers from 56 countries around the world watched the live show and repeat broadcasts hosted by Bob Barker and Mary Frann.11 The panel of 11 celebrity judges included Singaporean choreographer Goh Choo San, Miss Universe 1985 Deborah Carthy-Deu, television actor Peter Graves and internationally famed actress Isabel Sanford.12
The show opened with an energetic number, “Let's Go!”, during which contestants dressed in their national costumes introduced themselves in the Parade of Nations segment. Accompanied by young girls known as “little sisters” dressed in the Singapore Airlines sarong kebaya, the contestants were ushered in by a burst of fireworks, lion and dragon troupes, stilt-walkers and dancers in colourful costumes who made their way down the aisles among the audience.13 After the song-and-dance sequence, the 10 semi-finalists were announced. Miss Singapore Marion Nicole Teo received rousing cheers from the crowd when she was named. The semi-finalists went on to compete in the interview and swimsuit segments.14
The show included prerecorded videos on the sights and attractions of Singapore as well as a fashion parade by the reigning Miss Universe Barbara Palacios Teyde and the contestants, who showed off the creations of Singaporean designers such as Esther Tay, David Wang and Daniel Yam.15
From the 10 semi-finalists, the list was whittled down to the final five: Miss Chile, Miss Italy, Miss USA, Miss Venezuela and Miss Puerto Rico. Miss Chile Cecilia Bolocco, a 22-year-old fashion designer, was eventually crowned Miss Universe.16 She was the first Chilean to clinch the title and took home prizes worth US$250,000, including a car, a mink coat, an 18-carat gold watch, first-class return tickets to any Singapore Airlines destination, sponsored clothing for a year, a luxury apartment in Los Angeles, a week’s stay every year for 40 years at a Caribbean condominium and a year-long contract.17
Challenges
The preparation for an event of this scale was not without teething problems. The initial pageant logo of “a square-faced, middle-aged woman”, which attempted to represent Singapore as a “fun, vibrant, tropical and Asian destination”, was criticised by Singaporeans. In response to public reaction, the logo was replaced with a “stylised multi-coloured profile of a woman’s head resting on some green palm leaves”.18
The presentation show was also saddled with logistical and presentation issues. Due to the low stage, insufficient tiering of seats, poor acoustics and slow pacing of the show, audiences who could not see, hear or follow the proceedings left the show early.19 However, these issues were addressed by the time of the live telecast, and the broadcast of the pageant on 27 May earned praise for its professional and glitch-free presentation.20
Participation by Singaporeans
Over 800 girls vied to be one of 85 “little sisters” to the contestants.21 Singaporeans in schools, offices and shops tuned in to the live broadcast. In particular, primary school students from the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (Toa Payoh) were highlighted by the press. The students had been given special permission to watch the telecast as a treat after their examinations.22 Bookies and bettors also joined in the action; Miss Singapore was given 90-1 odds to win, and 8-1 to enter the semi-finals.23
Awards24
Miss Universe: Miss Chile, Cecilia Bolocco
First runner-up: Miss Italy, Roberta Capua
Second runner-up: Miss USA, Michelle Royer
Third runner-up: Miss Venezuela, Ines Maria Calero
Fourth runner-up: Miss Puerto Rico, Lauri Simpson
Best National Costume: Miss Brazil, Jacqueline Meireless
Miss Amity: Miss Honduras, Francia Tatiana Reyes
Miss Photogenic: Miss Columbia, Patricia Lopez
Author
Gracie Lee
References
1. Jamie Lye, “Miss Universe: A Second Look,” Singapore Business 11, no. 8 (August 1987), 24–25 (Call no. RSING 380.1095957 SB); Julie Tan, “A Night for Armchair Judges,” Straits Times, 17 May 1987, 4. (From NewspaperSG)
2. Salma Khalik and Josephine Ng, “Some Surprises for World TV Audiences,” Straits Times, 23 May 1987, 22; Kannan Chandran, “Flashy Pizzazz, Elegant Lines,” Straits Times, 28 May 1987, 29; “Chilean Charm Wins The Day,” Straits Times, 28 May 1987, 1. (From NewspaperSG)
3. Kannan Chandran, “From Singapore, with Razzle-dazzle,” Straits Times, 27 May 1987, 1. (From NewspaperSG)
4. Salma Khalik, “A Hollywood Fantasy,” Straits Times, 17 May 1987, 3; “‘Beast’ to Share Spotlight with the Beauties,” Straits Times, 9 May 1987, 17. (From NewspaperSG)
5. Salma Khalik, “A Hollywood Fantasy.”
6. “‘Beast’ to Share Spotlight with the Beauties”; Salma Khalik, “A Hollywood Fantasy,”; Salma Khalik and Ng, “Some Surprises for World TV Audiences.”
7. Tan, “A Night for Armchair Judges.”
8. Irene Ng, “Costume Contest Spectacle on TV Tonight,” Straits Times, 20 May 1987, 17. (From NewspaperSG)
9. Tan, “A Night for Armchair Judges.”
10. Teresa Cheong, “Sister Titles Which Are Just as Special,” Straits Times, 24 May 1987, 10; Irene Ng, “A Heady Victory for Miss Brazil,” Straits Times, 21 May 1987, 1. (From NewspaperSG)
11. Lye, “Miss Universe: A Second Look,” 24; Tan, “A Night for Armchair Judges.”
12. E. Kay Gillis and Kevin Tan, The Book of Singapore’s Firsts (Singapore: Singapore Heritage Society, 2006), 108 (Call no. RSING 959.57 GIL-[HIS]); Salma Khalik and Ng, “Some Surprises for World TV Audiences.” (From NewspaperSG)
13. Tan, “A Night for Armchair Judges”; Salma Khalik, Irene Ng and Jacqueline Wong Ng, “Keeping Them in Step,” Straits Times, 25 May 1987, 15; Salma Khalik and Ng, “Some Surprises for World TV Audiences.” (From NewspaperSG)
14. Jamie Lye, “Budding Fashion Designer Banters Her Way to the Top,” Business Times, 28 May 1987, 2. (From NewspaperSG)
15. Lye, “Budding Fashion Designer Banters Her Way to the Top”; Salma Khalik and Irene Ng, “Boost for S’pore Designers,” Straits Times, 19 May 1987, 18; Salma Khalik, Ng and Wong, “Keeping Them in Step.” (From NewspaperSG)
16. “Chilean Charm Wins The Day.”
17. Josephine Ng, “Goodbye without the Fuss,” Straits Times, 29 May 1987, 22; “What Winner Will Get,” Straits Times, 21 April 1987, 11. (From NewspaperSG)
18. Controversial Miss Universe Logo Replaced by ‘Tropical Beauty’,” Straits Times, 16 April 1987, 1; Edmund Loh, “Miss Universe Logo Gets Cool Reception,” Straits Times, 25 March 1987, 14. (From NewspaperSG)
19. “Crowd Walks out of the Show,” Straits Times, 21 May 1987, 19. (From NewspaperSG)
20. Lye, “Miss Universe: A Second Look,” 24.
21. Edmund Loh and R. Rajendran, “‘Little Sisters’ Set to Share Limelight with Beauty Queens,” Straits Times, 23 April 1987, 32. (From NewspaperSG)
22. Sandra Davie, “Some Schools, Offices Make Plans to Tune In,” Straits Times, 27 May 1987, 32. (From NewspaperSG)
23. “Bookies Beauty,” Straits Times, 26 May 1987, 17. (From NewspaperSG)
24. “Chilean Charm Wins The Day”; Cheong, “Sister Titles Which Are Just as Special.”
Further resources
Ministry of Information and the Arts, Miss Chile is Crowned Miss Universe 1987 during Pageant Finals at World Trade Centre, 27 May 1987, photograph. (From Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, National Archives of Singapore accession no. 19980006376-0050)
Ministry of Information and the Arts, Selection Miss Universe 1987 during Pageant Finals at the World Trade Centre, 27 May 1987, photograph. (From Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, National Archives of Singapore accession no. 19980006376-0025)
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