Miss Universe 1952 Armi Kuusela in the 2011 MU Tribute Video- in a Terno!

I have no intention of turning this into a missosology-inspired blog. But given that the moment I downloaded Miss Universe 2011 intomy laptop fate decided that the file play about a dozen times with a dozen of my friends in the first two days alone...



It was then I noticed that during the trip down memory lane in tribute to MU pageant turning 60 this year (I mean, come on... how many times can you go over memory lane when you do it every year- I'll need to confirm that though- MU devotees anyone?) that the picture they chose for then Armi Kuusela looked suspiciously Filipino-inspired.

Armi Hilario-Williams (former Kuusela) in the MU 2011 tribute to history

A Terno! Interesting picture I might add, because it's what they chose, intentional or not. So it got me sidetracked searching for some more interesting pictures over the internet. The one I found that I liked best came from this web post back in 2005 (reference: http://www.missfloridausa.com/Faces-Places/Faces-Places50.htm

Armi Kuusela-Hilario from Finland, married to a Filipino and a long-time resident of the Philippines greeted the President of the Philippines that time Elpedio Quirino. Together with her is Miss Philippines 1951 Teresita Villareal. 

At first my interest got piqued by the clothing she wore, and I must say I've never seen a Terno carried so well by a foreigner. So that's that for my MU Trivia, she was all but filipino at heart for a time, but of course It had to go just a little farther jsut to satisfy my curiosity.

 So a few other things- She wanted to become an athlete before winning the Ms. Universe Title, which she never did because of her duties. Met and married Virgilio Hilario in Tokyo, Japan 3 weeks shy of the end of her reign (which means she had to give up her crown right?). And she always thought she would live a life of quiet as a wife but instead moved around society circles because of her "duties" as a wife. Interesting how she always wanted the simple things but ended up doing the exact opposite.

One more thing-Back when she lived in the Philippines, she lived in Forbes park at the fitting "Millionaires Street". Alive at 77, she lives in La Joya, California which means "jewel" in Spanish with her husband Albert Williams. Interesting right?

A living legend. Proud that she treasures her time in the Philippines (she has a son Mikko Hilario living here). And so ends my curiosity.

To read up about her you can check her article out on http://www.missosology.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=100369
And her message interview to the Philippine Star http://www.hatawbeauties.com/2008/07/message-from-armi-williams-former.html

Ciao!