Kerstin Margareta Håkansson | |
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![]() Photo cropped from the cover of Tempo magazine issued on 14 – 21 July 1951, published by Mondadori based in Milan, Italy. | |
Born |
Stockholm, Sweden | 17 June 1929
Other names | Kiki Håkansson |
Occupation(s) | beauty queen and model |
Beauty pageant titleholder | |
Title | Miss Sweden 1951 Miss World 1951 |
Hair color | Light brown |
Eye color | Blue |
Major competition(s) |
Miss World Sweden 1951 (Winner) Miss World 1951 (Winner) |
Kerstin Margareta "Kiki" Håkansson [a] (born 17 June 1929) is a Swedish model and beauty queen who was the first winner of the Miss World beauty pageant after being crowned Miss Sweden World in 1951. [1]
Originally the Festival Bikini Contest, [2] Miss World was organized by Eric Morley as a mid-century advertisement for swimwear at the Festival of Britain. [3] Håkansson wore a bikini during the crowning ritual, after which she was condemned by the Pope, [4] [5] and some countries with strong religious traditions threatened to withdraw delegates. [6] In 1952, bikinis were banned from the pageant and replaced with more modest swimwear. [7] [8] While bikinis were eventually reintroduced to Miss World, Håkansson remains the only winner to have received her crown while wearing a bikini. [6]