Iona Pinto | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 June 1936 |
| Died | 21 June 2012 |
| Occupation | Model and beauty pageant titleholder |
| Title | Eve's Weekly Miss India 1960 |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Major competition(s) |
|
Iona Pinto (17 June 1936 – 21 June 2012), also known as Iona Pinto-Vaz, was an Indian model and beauty pageant titleholder. She won the 1960 Eve's Weekly Miss India competition and represented India at Miss International 1960 and Miss World 1960. She finished as the first runner-up at Miss International 1960.[1][2]
Career[edit | edit source]
Pinto won the 1960 Eve's Weekly Miss India competition. The pageant was organised by Eve's Weekly, an Indian magazine that had established its beauty contest in 1959. Fleur Ezekiel won the inaugural edition in 1959 and represented India at Miss World 1959.[1]
In 1960, Pinto became the second winner of the Eve's Weekly Miss India competition and represented India at both Miss International 1960 and Miss World 1960.[1]
The first Miss International pageant was held on 12 August 1960 at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California. The competition had 52 entries. Stella Márquez of Colombia won the title, followed by Pinto of India in second place, Sigridur Geirsdóttir of Iceland in third, Joyce Kay of England in fourth and Charlene Lundberg of the United States in fifth.[2]
At Miss International 1960, Pinto was one of the 15 semifinalists and advanced to the final five. She finished as the first runner-up to Colombia's Maria Stella Márquez Zawadzky, who won by half a point. Pinto received US$4,000 as the first runner-up.[3]
Pinto represented India at Miss World 1960, held on 8 November 1960 at the Lyceum Ballroom in London. The competition had 39 participants and was won by Norma Gladys Cappagli of Argentina. Pinto advanced to the Top 18.[4][5]
Pinto subsequently worked as a model and was associated with the Indian beauty-pageant industry.[6]
Personal life and death[edit | edit source]
Pinto was married to Allan Vaz and had three children.[7] She died on 21 June 2012 in Angeles City, Philippines, after a battle with cancer.[6] A Month's Mind Mass was scheduled at Holy Name Cathedral in Colaba, Mumbai, on 21 July 2012.[7]
Pageant results[edit | edit source]
| Year | Competition | Representing | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Eve's Weekly Miss India | India | Winner |
| 1960 | Miss International 1960 | India | 1st runner-up |
| 1960 | Miss World 1960 | India | Top 18 |
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "An ode to Eve's Weekly Miss India, the first beauty pageant of India". The Great Pageant Company. 2 January 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Miss International 1960". Pageantopolis. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=requires|archive-url=(help) - ↑ "Miss International 1960 - Part Two". Miss International Seminar Series. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
- ↑ "10th Miss World - 1960". Miss World. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
- ↑ "Miss World 1960". Pageantopolis. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=requires|archive-url=(help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 Sanghavi, Malavika (25 June 2012). "A star is gone". Mid-Day. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "IONA PINTO-VAZ". The Times of India. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2026.