Christiane Martel facts for kids

Martel in 1953

Christiane Martel (born Christiane Magnani on January 18, 1935) is a famous French actress and former beauty queen. She made history by becoming the second woman ever to win the Miss Universe pageant in 1953. For a long time, she was the only French woman to hold this title. This changed when Iris Mittenaere won in 2016. Christiane Martel is also known for her acting career, especially in Mexican films. She is one of the last living stars from the "Golden Age" of Mexican cinema.

Christiane Martel's Life

Christiane Martel was born in Nancy, France. She grew up in a town called Piennes. Her family had Italian roots. During the Second World War, her family moved to Western France. Later, in 1940, they moved to Loudun.

Becoming a Beauty Queen

Christiane Martel began her journey in beauty pageants in 1952. She was crowned Miss Châtellerault that year. She then won the title of Miss Cinémonde. This allowed her to represent France at the Miss Universe 1953 pageant.

Winning Miss Universe 1953

At the Miss Universe 1953 contest, Christiane Martel became the second Miss Universe. The previous winner, Armi Kuusela from Finland, had given up her crown. Actress Julie Adams crowned Christiane Martel as the new Miss Universe. The runners-up in the 1953 pageant included Myrna Hansen from the USA. Other top contestants were from Japan, Mexico, and Australia.

Acting Career in Films

After her time as Miss Universe, Christiane Martel started a successful career in movies. She acted in films around the world. Some of her notable movies include Yankee Pasha and So This Is Paris. She also appeared in the 1956 version of Corazón salvaje. In this film, she played the character Aimée. Her last film to date was Leoni al Sole in 1961.

Later Public Appearances

Christiane Martel continued to be involved in public life. She served as a judge at the Miss Universe 1978 pageant. She also made television appearances at several Miss Universe pageants. These included the contests held in 1989, 1993, and 2007. All these events took place in Mexico. Her most recent TV appearance in France was in 2011 at the Miss France pageant. In 2017, she was interviewed on the Mexican television show Sale el sol.

Christiane Martel's Family Life

Christiane Martel was briefly married to Ronnie Marengo. He was an heir to a department store. They divorced in 1955. In 1961, she married Miguel Alemán Velasco. He later became the Governor of Veracruz in Mexico. Miguel Alemán Velasco is also the son of Miguel Alemán Valdés, a former president of Mexico.

Christiane and Miguel have four children together. They have three daughters and one son. Their son, Miguel Alemán Magnani, is a well-known businessman. He is a stakeholder in Televisa, a large media company. He also used to own Interjet, a low-cost airline.

See also

In Spanish: Christiane Martel para niños