The news item on Page 4 of the Sumter Daily last July 20, 1979 reporting the stage collapse that somehow overshadowed Venezuela’s first Miss Universe win courtesy of Maritza Sayalero.
Miss Universe 1979 and her court (Photo credit: veestarz.com)
Back in July 20, 1979 when Perth, Australia hosted Miss Universe, Maritza Sayalero won for Venezuela its first Miss Universe crown. But at the same time, another news item shared the spotlight when – moments after the coronation – the stage collapsed due to the sheer weight of people conglomerating around the winners in addition to the heavy piece of skylab debris that was display in the background. A group of candidates fell on the hole which saw Misses Malta (Dian Borg Bartolo) and Turkey (Fusin Tahire Dermitan) getting a concussion and badly bruised, respectively.
Another news item back in 1979 which showed a photo of some of the ladies who fell off the stage including Miss Scotland Lorraine Davidson.
The skylab debris that was displayed onstage during MU1979.
The before-and-now pics of our rep during Miss Universe 1979. (Photo credit for the Before pic: Tony Paat and for the Now pic: Dang Cecilio)
