Beauty and glamour have for 50 years been the main ingredients of the local Miss Gibraltar Contest. The winner goes on to compete for the most coveted beauty title on Earth – ‘Miss World’. Over so many years producers have seen many girls smile and many others cry. All have lived days of tension and excitement. Each benefiting from their moment of stardom in their own particular way.
The first ever Miss Gibraltar contest was staged in 1959. It was organised by the Vox Newspaper. Won by Viola Abudarham, the first election of a Miss Gib took place at a dance organised at the CFCA hall situated at the southern end of Main Street.
Looking back, many will be shocked to learn that Gibraltar’s first ever Miss Gibraltar was married at the time, since it was not until the show was revived in 1964 that the rules, as we know them today applied. In fact the reason for the absence of 4 years is ambiguous, some suggest it was due to lack of response by Gibraltarian girls, while others assure that no producer was willing to take on the challenge.