AUSSIE RULES

1968's Thunder from Down Under

Here is Australia's Penelope Plummer, Miss World 1968, with her court of honor:

• Miss Philippines (and novice at the Dominican Santa Rosa convent in Makati, Philippines) Arene Cecilia "Pinkey" Amabuyok (4th runner-up);
• Miss Israel Miri Zamir (2nd runner-up);
• Miss United Kingdom Kathleen Winstanley (1st runner-up); and
• Miss Colombia Beatriz Sierra Gonzalez (3rd runner-up).

According to UK newspaper The Times, in the article "Miss World title goes to Australia" (15-Nov-1968), there was thunder in the Lyceum (venue for the pageant) - when supporters of Miss Israel booed their disappointment at the judges for naming her 2nd runner-up.

The Times described Penelope as having "...eyes of Pacific blue and hair the colour of Bondi Beach."

BBC aired Miss World 1968 live, and it was the second-highest rated TV programme in the UK in 1968, just behind the #1 rated programme A Special Royal Performance on ITV. #3? Eurovision, which also aired on BBC.

Aussie rules the runway!