Brucene Smith

Karen Brucene Smith-Galvan (née Smith; born June 21, 1951) is an American model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss World USA 1971 and Miss International 1974.

Karen Brucene Smith-Galavan
Born
Karen Brucene Smith[1]

(1951-06-21) June 21, 1951[2]
Port Lavaca, Texas, U.S.
Other namesBrucene Smith-Galvan
Karen Brucene Galvan
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[3]
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title
Hair colorBrown[3]
Eye colorGreen[3]
Major
competition(s)		Miss World 1971 (Top 7)

Early life

Galvan was born and raised in Port Lavaca, Texas, by parents David Bruce Smith and Belle Dunlap-Smith, and grandmother Adela Dunlap. She grew up with four sisters: Cynthia, Darlene, Carrie, and Suzanne; and one brother, Robert Bruce.[4] Her father, David Bruce, named her after him, Brucene.[5]

Galvan graduated from Calhoun High School in 1969[1] and was a former student at Victoria College[6] and a junior in elementary education at the University of Texas at Austin when she decided to participate in Miss World USA.[6]

Miss World USA 1971

Galvan competed against 47 delegates in her country's national beauty pageant, Miss World USA, held in Hampton, Virginia, capturing the crown and the right to represent the United States in Miss World 1971.[5]

After her win, Calhoun County honored Galvan with a public reception and proclaimed October 24 as Brucene Day.[7]

As the official representative of her country to the Miss World 1971 pageant, held in London, she was a bookies' favorite[8] and became one of the top seven finalists, placing sixth overall.[9]

After the competition, Galvan joined Bob Hope for his 21st Christmas tour overseas.[10]

Miss International 1974

On October 9, 1974,[11] Galvan represented the United States as Miss American Beauty in the Miss International 1974 pageant in Tokyo and was crowned the eventual winner of the title, receiving two million yen in first-prize money.[12]

Life after Miss International

In January 1975, Galvan was briefly signed by Wilhelmina Models, but New York City's jet set lifestyle proved to be overwhelming for her small-town upbringing, and she returned to Austin one month later.[1]

After crowning Miss International 1975, Galvan stayed for six months in Japan, working as a model and making appearances across the country. Then she returned to the United States and continued her work as a model in Dallas for three more years.[1]

In 1980, Galvan married husband David[1] with whom she has six children, and moved to Helotes, Texas,[13] near the Hill Country in San Antonio's metropolitan area to focus on raising her family.[14]

References
  1. "Where are they now? Brucene Smith". The Port Lavaca Wave. October 22, 2010. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  2. "Representatives greet Brucene". The Victoria Advocate. June 22, 1972. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  3. "Miss World USA chosen". Oxnard Press-Courier. Associated Press. October 4, 1971. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  4. "Peterson". The Victoria Advocate. September 11, 2004. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  5. "Port Lavaca's Brucene Smith wins Miss World USA title". The Victoria Advocate. October 4, 1971. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  6. "Port Lavaca to honor Brucene Smith at event". The Victoria Advocate. October 24, 1971. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  7. "Brucene Day, due in Calhoun". The Victoria Advocate. October 21, 1971. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  8. "Board Studies". Los Angeles Times. November 7, 1971. Retrieved 6 November 2010. The talk in London's gambling circles centered on the favorites in the Miss World stakes: Brucene Smith of Port Lavaca.
  9. "Tawny-haired student selected Miss World". Times Daily. Associated Press. November 11, 1971. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  10. "Bob Hope Off on Yule Tour - 21st Time". Los Angeles Times. December 16, 1971. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  11. "Contestant - Brucene Smith". The Victoria Advocate. October 1, 1974. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  12. "Miss International". The Victoria Advocate. October 10, 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  13. "Sherry D.S. Howard". The Victoria Advocate. October 2, 2001. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  14. "Pari may ride into a role in Damon film". San Antonio Express-News. February 20, 1999. Retrieved 6 November 2010. Gallagher will be doing the hosting with former Miss World USA Brucene Smith-Galvan who has settled with her family in the Hill Country.
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