Armi Kuusela facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Armi Kuusela
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Kuusela in 1952
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Armi Helena Kuusela
20 August 1934 Muhos, Finland
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| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) |
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| Children | 5 |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Hair color | Blonde |
| Eye color | Blue |
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Armi Helena Kuusela-Williams, born on August 20, 1934, is a Finnish-American beauty queen and a kind-hearted person who helps others. She is famous for being the very first Miss Universe. In 1952, she won a beauty contest in Finland called Suomen Neito, which means "Maiden of Finland." This win allowed her to represent Finland in the first-ever Miss Universe pageant, held in Long Beach, California. After winning the Miss Universe title, Armi spent her life helping others, working in business, and representing her country. She has been involved in many charities and has received awards for her good work.
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Early Life and First Steps to Fame
Armi Helena Kuusela grew up in Finland as one of six children. Her parents owned a small family business. Her father also bravely fought for Finland during World War II. Armi went to school in Muhos and then to a boarding school in Porvoo, Finland.
One day, something unexpected happened. The mother of her roommate at boarding school saw an advertisement looking for someone to represent Finland in the "Maiden of Finland" contest. She thought Armi would be perfect! On May 24, 1952, Armi won the Finnish national title. This made her eligible to compete in the first Miss Universe Pageant. It also made her a special ambassador for Finland, helping to promote her country. As part of her prize, she received a plane ticket to the Miss Universe Pageant.
Becoming Miss Universe
On June 17, 1952, Armi, with her older sister as her chaperone, flew from Helsinki to Long Beach, California. There, she joined 29 other contestants in the first Miss Universe Pageant. The big event took place on June 28, 1952. Armi, representing Finland, won the very first Miss Universe crown! She was only 17 years old when she won. She weighed about 49 kilograms (108 pounds) and was 1.65 meters (5 feet 5 inches) tall.
Armi received many exciting prizes, including a new car and a movie contract from Universal Studios. As Miss Universe, she also became a Goodwill Ambassador for the Miss Universe organization, traveling and representing the pageant.
It's interesting to know that Armi was the only Miss Universe to be crowned with the Romanov Imperial Nuptial Crown. This special crown used to belong to the Russian royal family.
In 1952, a Finnish movie was made about her life and win. It was called Maailman kaunein tyttö, which means "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World."
Life After the Crown
Soon after winning Miss Universe, the Finnish government asked Armi to attend the Olympics in Finland that year. While there, a group from the Philippines invited her to their first International Trade Exposition.
On February 22, 1953, Armi began a world tour, again with her older sister. She visited the Philippines Exposition and even crowned Miss Philippines. During her visit, she met a businessman named Virgilio Hilario at a dance. When Armi and her sister continued their tour to Japan, Virgilio followed her. After a quick romance, Armi decided to give up her Miss Universe crown early, just before her year as queen ended. She married Virgilio Hilario on May 4, 1953, in Tokyo. They spent their honeymoon in Hawai‘i, then traveled around the United States and Europe before settling down in Manila, Philippines.
Armi and Virgilio started a real estate company called Gilarmi Corporation in Makati, Philippines. They even built a hotel called the Gilarmi Hotel, which was the first residential hotel in the Philippines. Between 1955 and 1965, they had five children: Arne, Anna-Lisa, José, Eva-Maria, and Miguel. Sadly, Virgilio passed away on September 7, 1975. Armi then became the chief executive officer of their company and also served as the Honorary Counsel of Finland in Manila until 1979.
Armi married a second time on June 8, 1978, to Albert N. Williams, an American diplomat. Armi supported Albert in his work as an American Consul General in Barcelona, Spain, where they lived from 1979 to 1983. Later, they moved to Washington, D.C., and then to İzmir, Turkey, from 1985 to 1989, where Albert continued his diplomatic work.
When Albert retired in 1989, they settled in La Jolla, California, in the United States. In 1996, Armi became a citizen of the United States. By this time, she had traveled all over the world, lived in many different countries, and could speak seven languages: Finnish, English, Swedish, German, Tagalog, Spanish, and Turkish!
Helping Others and Receiving Honors
Since retiring, Armi Kuusela has dedicated her time to many charitable causes. She has been involved with art museums, universities, and cancer research institutes, helping to raise money and support important work. For example, she has been a part of the San Diego Museum of Art and the University of California, San Diego. She also served on the board of the Burnham Cancer Research Institute for many years.
Armi has received many awards for her kindness and charity work. In 2000, she received the Deming Award for her support of cancer research. In 2011, the City of San Diego even declared August 10, 2011, as "Armi Kuusela Williams Day" to honor her! In 2012, the President of Finland gave her a special award called the Order of the White Rose of Finland.
In August 2014, Armi visited her hometown of Muhos in Finland. It was an official meeting with the city's manager.
See also
In Spanish: Armi Kuusela para niños
