Christiane Martel
Christiane Martel is a French actress and beauty queen who became the second woman to win Miss Universe, in 1953. She was the only Frenchwoman holding the Miss Universe title until Iris Mittenaere in 2016.
Martel was Miss Châtellerault in 1952. She was crowned Miss Cinémonde and represented France at Miss Universe 1953 where she became the second Miss Universe. She was crowned by actress, Julie Adams as Miss Universe 1952, Armi Kuusela of Finland gave up her crown.
Martel's runners-up in the 1953 pageant was Myrna Hansen of the USA, followed by delegates of Japan, Mexico, and Australia.
Shortly after her reign, Martel embarked on a successful career in international films, appearing in movies such as Yankee Pasha, So This Is Paris, Drop the Curtain, the 1956 version of Corazón salvaje, Viva el Amor!, Rosa Blanca and her last film to date, 1961's Leoni al Sole.
Martel was married briefly to Ronnie Marengo, a department store heir, whom she divorced in 1955. In 1961 she married Miguel Alemán Velasco, who would become Governor of Veracruz and is the son of Miguel Alemán Valdés, former president of Mexico. They have three daughters and one son. Their son, Miguel Alemán Magnani is a stakeholder of Televisa and the owner of low-cost airline, Interjet.
She made recent television appearances at the Miss Universe pageants in 1989, 1993, and 2007 that were held in Mexico. She was a celebrity judge at the Miss Universe 1978 pageant. Her last television appearance was on 3 December 2011 at the Miss France pageant.
