Martha Rocha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martha Rocha
|
|
|---|---|
On stage at Miss Universe 1954
|
|
| Born |
Maria Martha Hacker Rocha
19 September 1932 Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
|
| Died | 4 July 2020 (aged 87) Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
|
| Title | Miss Brasil 1954 |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Hair color | Brown |
| Eye color | Blue |
| Major competition(s) |
Miss Universe 1954 Runner-up |
Maria Martha Hacker Rocha (born September 19, 1932, in Salvador, Brazil – died July 4, 2020, in Niterói, Brazil) was a famous Brazilian model. She made history as the first winner of the Miss Brasil pageant in 1954. She also became the first runner-up in the Miss Universe competition that same year. Martha Rocha was known for her beauty and became a symbol of Brazilian charm.
Contents
Her Journey to Fame
Martha Rocha was born in Salvador, Bahia, on September 19, 1932. When she was 18, in 1954, she won the title of Miss Bahia in her home state. This win led her to compete in the Miss Brasil pageant, which she also won.
Miss Universe Competition
After becoming Miss Brasil, Martha went on to represent her country in the Miss Universe pageant. Many people, even in the United States, thought she would win the top title. However, Miriam Stevenson from the USA was crowned Miss Universe.
There's a famous story about why Martha didn't win. It's said that the judges chose Miriam because her hip measurement was two inches smaller than Martha's. At that time, a narrower figure was considered the "standard" of beauty. After the competition, Miriam Stevenson reportedly gave one of the two cars she had won to Martha. Miriam already owned a car before the pageants.
Life After the Pageant
After Miss Universe, Martha Rocha became a successful model. She also worked in advertising for Hollywood studios. For example, she earned a lot of money for a Gessy Lever advertisement.
Martha Rocha became a true icon of beauty in Brazil. Her name was used for many things, including a special cake, a song, and even street names in states like Bahia, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo.
She also took part in international horse championships. She even met important people like Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles. In 2013, she left her handprints on the Ipanema Walk of Fame, a special place in Brazil.
The Martha Rocha Aquamarine
Her name was also given to a very famous and beautiful gemstone called the Martha Rocha aquamarine. This huge gem was found near Teófilo Otoni, Minas Gerais, in Brazil. It weighed 134 pounds and produced over 300,000 carats of stunning blue gems. People said the color was so deep and rich that it reminded them of her eyes. Even today, her name is used to describe the best color and intensity of aquamarines.
Her Family and Later Life
Martha was one of eleven children born to engineer Álvaro Rocha and his wife Hansa.
She married an Argentinian banker named Álvaro Piano. They had two sons together. Sadly, Álvaro died in a plane crash when Martha was around 23 years old. Later, she married Ronaldo Xavier de Lima, a businessman from Rio de Janeiro. They were together for 13 years and had a daughter named Claudia Xavier de Lima, who became an artist.
In 2001, Martha Rocha was diagnosed with breast cancer. However, the disease was successfully treated and controlled.
In her final years, she lived in a nursing home in Volta Redonda. Martha Rocha passed away in Niterói on July 4, 2020. She was 87 years old. She died after experiencing respiratory failure, which was followed by a heart attack. She was buried the next day at the Santíssimo Sacramento cemetery in Niterói.
See also
In Spanish: Martha Rocha para niños
