Miss Universe 1979

28th Miss Universe pageant

Bob Barker
Helen O'Connell
Jayne Kennedy

EntertainmentDonny OsmondVenuePerth Entertainment Centre, Perth, AustraliaBroadcasterCBS (international)
Seven Network (TVW) (official broadcaster)Entrants75Placements12Debuts

Bophuthatswana
Fiji
Transkei

Withdrawals

Bonaire
Curaçao
Lebanon
Lesotho
Morocco
New Hebrides
Nicaragua
American Samoa

Returns

WinnerMaritza Sayalero
VenezuelaCongenialityYurika Kuroda

JapanBest National CostumeElizabeth Busti

UruguayPhotogenicCarolyn Seaward

England

← 1978

1980 →

Miss Universe 1979 was the 28th Miss Universe pageant, held on 19 July 1979^[a] at the Perth Entertainment Centre in Perth, Australia. Margaret Gardiner of South Africa crowned her successor Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela. This marks as the first time a woman from Venezuela won the pageant. It was the first time in the pageant's history that the event was held in Australia.

Results

Placements

Placement	Contestant
Miss Universe 1979	Venezuela – Maritza Sayalero^[1]
1st runner-up	Bermuda – Gina Swainson^[1]
2nd runner-up	England – Carolyn Ann Seaward^[1]
3rd runner-up	Brazil – Martha Jussara da Costa^[1]
4th runner-up	Sweden – Anette Marie Ekström^[1]
Top 12	Argentina – Adriana Álvarez Belize – Sarita Acosta Germany – Andrea Hontschik Scotland – Lorraine Davidson South Africa – Veronica Wilson United States – Mary Therese Friel Wales – Janet Hobson

Notes

^ ^a ^b The event was held at 8:00 am Australia Time (UTC+08:00); for the Americas, this was July 19 in their local times including the United States.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Universe contestants endure stage fright". Wisconsin State Journal. 21 July 1979. p. 3. Retrieved 16 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.