MISS UNIVERSE UPDATES: Amparo Muñoz, Miss Universe 1974, has passed away.

Amparo Muñoz Quesada (June 22, 1954 – February 28, 2011), was a Spanish actress who, in 1974, became the first, and so far only, Spaniard to win the Miss Universe pageant. She passed away on February 27, 2011 after a long illness, surrounded by all her loved ones. She was 56 years old.

Amparo Muñoz came from the town of Vélez-Málaga in Andalucia, Spain, where she had won the city title, to compete at the Miss Spain contest held in Lanzarote. After winning, she went on to Miss Universe 1974 Pageant in Manila, Philippines, where she won, only to give up her crown later that year. She was unofficially dethroned three months after crowning her successor.

Amparo was also declared "persona non-grata" in the Philippines.

She is one of the two Miss Universe titleholders who passed away. The first was Hillevi Rombin, Miss Universe 1955, who died in a plane crash in 1996.

Posted in: amparo munoz, miss universe 1974