First published in The Age on August 20, 1962
Tania wins beauty crown
Miss International 1962 Tania Verstak is greeted by 60,000 people at the Manly Corso on 2 September 1962.Credit: SMH Archives
MISS Australia, Tania Verstak, was crowned Miss International Beauty of 1963 in a glittering ceremony at Long Beach, California, on Saturday night.
The 21-year-old Sydney University student is pictured in this A.P. radiogram in her regalia after the colourful crowning ceremony before 7000 people in the Long Beach arena.
Miss Universe 1963 Tania Verstak.Credit: AP
“I’m so proud, because it is for Australia,” she said, blinking back tears of happiness. “Australia has given me everything.”
Tania, who was chosen the new world beauty queen from among 52 girls from all over the world, wins 10,000 dollars (about £4464 Australian), a wardrobe and a diamond studded wrist watch.
She said she would return home tomorrow to fulfil her contract as Miss Australia and complete the year at Sydney University, before accepting any offers as the result of her win.
The runners-up to Miss Australia were Miss Argentina (Maria Victoria Buena), Miss Panama (Ana Cecelia Maruri), Miss Holland (Rina Lodders) and Miss United States (Carolyn Joyner).
Tania seemed scarcely able to believe it was real when the result was announced and she took her first regal promenade before the enthusiastic crowd.
“My knees are shaking so much,” she told reporters.
“When I was named Miss Australia, I felt, about three-quarters the way I feel now. This is the greatest thing that could happen to me.
“When I came here, I hoped to win some recognition for Australia, the wonderful land which adopted me and my parents and has been so marvellous to us.
“Now that I have won this crown I feel I have returned some measure of appreciation to Australia.”
Miss Verstak is the daughter of White Russians who fled from their homeland to China after the Communist revolution. She was born in China, but the family migrated to Australia after the Chinese Communist revolution.
The Minister for Immigration (Mr. Downer) last night sent this cable to Tania: “Congratulations. Australia is proud of you. You have been a charming ambassadress for your country. We all share your joy. What a wonderful girl you are.”
In the Sydney suburb of Manly, Tania’s parents received scores of congratulatory telephone calls... but the telephone call they wanted most did not come.
Tania had promised to telephone her family as soon as the contest was finished, but reception in Sydney was poor, and she called Miss Australia contest officials in Melbourne and asked them to relay a message.
The message was: “I am very well and very happy — but I want to come home.
“I miss you all, and will be with you as soon as the contest officials let me.”