Gladys Zender

Gladys Rosa Zender de Meier (née Zender Urbina; born October 19, 1939) is a Peruvian model and beauty queen who became the first Latin American to win the Miss Universe title. She was crowned Miss Peru Universe 1957 by Miss Peru Universe 1956, Lola Sabogal Morzán.[3]

Gladys Zender
Gladys Zender in a 1962 ad
Born
Gladys Rosa Zender Urbina

(1939-10-19) October 19, 1939
Lima, Peru[1]
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[2]
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss Peru 1957
Miss Universe 1957
Hair colorBlack[2]
Eye colorBrown[2]
Major
competition(s)		Miss Peru 1957
(Winner)
Miss Universe 1957
(Winner)

Miss Universe

Born to a Swiss father and a Peruvian mother, she won the title of Miss Universe 1957 in Long Beach, California, United States.

After being crowned, it was revealed that she was only 17 years old, a few months under the contest's minimum age requirement. Pageant officials decided that she could keep the crown after they were told she was considered to be 18 in Peru.[3]

Return to Peru

Zender became an instant celebrity.

  • She flew on the inaugural flight from Idlewild International Airport in New York City, New York, to Limatambo Airport in Lima, Peru, where she was greeted by thousands of fans.
  • Caretas, one of Peru's most-popular newsmagazines, soon featured Zender on their cover. She was also later featured on that publication's first all-color cover.
  • In March 1958, she agreed to accompany the then sailor Juan Carlos de Borbon, who was on a 4-day stay in Lima during his time as a trainee aboard Spain's insignia ship, the Sebastian Elcano, to a couple of social events.[4] He became King of Spain in 1975 and abdicated the crown to his son Felipe VI, in 2014.
  • The Peruvian composer Alicia Maguiña wrote a song called "Polka a Gladys Zender" (Polka dedicated to Gladys Zender). It was also titled "La más hermosa" (The most beautiful) and was recorded by the Peruvian group Los Troveros Criollos.

Personal life

Zender married Antonio Meier in 1965, and secluded herself into a family life; they had four children together. Their son, Christian Meier, is a well-known actor and singer in Peru and has achieved some fame in other Latin American countries. In 2003, Zender allowed Caretas to photograph her (and Meier's) home showcasing various artifacts, including a collection of Incan art, the couple have acquired through their years together.

References
  1. "29 de Marzo - Gladys".
  2. "Peruvian beauty, new Miss Universe". Lodi News-Sentinel. United Press. July 20, 1957. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  3. "Whew! She's crowned, but it sure was work". The Montreal Gazette. Associated Press. July 22, 1957. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  4. "Esta es la miss Universo peruana de la que se encaprichó el Rey Juan Carlos". El Mundo. 2019-11-20.
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