The First MIss Universe 1952, Finnish Beauty Armi Kuusela, with hubby Filipino businessman Virgilio Hilario in 1953

Colorized in two versions a damaged photo of the first Miss Universe Armi Kuusela, a 17-year old Finnish beauty who was bagged by a Pinoy as his wife in 1953. Here was Armi and the 25-year old Pinoy millionaire businessman Virgilio Hilario. Their romance story is online, no need to replicate it here. The whirlwind courtship ended up with Hilario gifting Armi with a 3-carat diamond engagement ring, a Cadillac and a wedding honeymoon in Tokyo. She was also the first Miss Universe to resign less than year before relinquishing the crown to the next, to get married to Hilario. Representative Ferdinand Marcos tried to attract her when they met at the Philippine senate, a year before meeting Imelda. Hilario died in 1975 leaving 5 kids with Armi, all settled in many places around the world. One of them lives in the Philippines.