Gladys Rosa Zender, Miss Universe 1957

Gladys Rosa Zender was born on October 19 1939 is a Peruvian model and beauty queen who became the first Latina to win the Miss Universe title in 1957. After being crowned, it was revealed that she was only 17 years old, a few months under the contest's minimum age requirement. Pageant officials decided that she could keep the crown after they were told she was considered to be 18 in Peru. She flew on the inaugural flight in New York to Lima Airport in Peru, where she was greeted by thousands of fans. Caretas, one of Peru's most-popular newsmagazines, soon featured Zender on their cover. She was also later featured on that publication's first all-color cover. In March 1958, she agreed to accompany the then sailor Juan Carlos de Borbon, who was on a 4-day stay in Lima during his time as a trainee aboard Spain's insignia ship, the Sebastian Elcano, to a couple of social events. He became King of Spain in 1975 and abdicated the crown to his son Felipe VI, in 2014. The Peruvian composer Alicia Maguiña wrote a song called Polka a Gladys Zender. It was also titled The most beautiful and was recorded by the Peruvian group Los Troveros Criollos. Zender married Antonio Meier in 1965, and secluded herself into a family life, they had four children together. Their son, Christian Meier, is a well-known actor and singer in Peru and has achieved some fame in other Latin American countries. In 2003, Zender allowed Caretas to photograph her home showcasing various artifacts, including a collection of Incan art the couple have acquired through their years together.