Grand Slam Ranking and Country of the Year 1999
1999: ANALYSING THE MAIN CHANGES IN THE GRAND SLAM RANKING DURING THE PAST DECADE
The 1990s were the years when Venezuela overtook traditional pageant powerhouses Britain, Sweden and Brazil, to be in a solid 2nd place in the Grand Slam Ranking, only behind the USA (still the leader by far); Venezuela ended the 1980´s in 5th place, which means that it was another extraordinary decade for them.
Colombia, 12th in 1989, rose to the 9th position in 1999, to be the only newcomer in the Top 10 after another decade of Grand Slam pageants.
India was responsible for the most significant move of the decade: 31st in 1989, it was in 12th place in 1999, having climbed extraordinary 19 positions in the Grand Slam Ranking!
Russia debuted as the USSR in 1989, in 141st place. In 1999, as Russia, it was already in the 43rd place, having risen 98 notches in just 10 years! It was the best mover of the decade.
Botswana, 126th in 1999, and 71st in 1999, up 55 notches after its Miss Universe victory, was the best mover of the year.
On we were about to move to a new century and millennium!! What were the main changes in international pageant order in the years to come? We shall find out next.
Miss World Ranking in 1999 (Top 20): 1-UK; 2-United States; 3-Venezuela; 4-South Africa; 5-Israel; 6-Jamaica; 7-Sweden; 8-Australia; 9-France; 10-India; 11-Germany; 12-Austria; 13-Finland; 14-Brazil; 15-Argentina; 16-Denmark; 17-Netherlands; 18-Greece; 19-New Zealand; 20-Ireland.
Miss Universe Ranking in 1999 (Top 20): 1-United States; 2-Venezuela; 3-Sweden; 4-Brazil; 5-Finland; 6-Colombia; 7-Germany; 8-Puerto Rico; 9-England / UK; 10-Israel; 11-Philippines; 12-Japan; 13-Norway; 14-India; 15-Greece; 16-Australia; 17-Spain; 18-Argentina; 19-Italy; 20-Netherlands.
Miss International Ranking in 1999 (Top 20): 1-United States; 2-Spain; 3-England / UK; 4-Australia; 5-Philippines; 6-Venezuela; 7-Finland; 8-Colombia; 9-Brazil; 10-Japan; 11-Germany; 12-Norway; 13-Iceland; 14-Poland; 15-France; 16-Korea; 17-Israel; 18-India; 19-New Zealand; 20-Argentina.
COUNTRY OF THE YEAR 1999: INDIA
For the 4th time, and closing the century and the millennium with great reasons to celebrate, India was the Country of the Year in 1999. Yukta Mookhey won the Miss World title, in Malta and London, while the very smart and congenial Gul Panag made it to the Top 10 in Miss Universe, in Trinidad and Tobago.
In 2nd place came Botswana. The African nation debuted in Miss Universe with a victory, with the one and only Mpule Kwelagobe.
Spain was 3rd even after not winning any Grand Slam titles in 1999. A 3rd place in Miss Universe with Diana Nogueira, elected Miss Grand Slam and the Sexiest Woman Alive by Global Beauties, a top 10 in Miss World, with beautiful Lorena Bernal, and a vice-Miss International, with Carmen Fernández, were enough to put Spain on the podium that year.
This is how the top nations of 1999 scored in the Grand Slam Ranking:
1) India (3601 points);
2) Botswana (3001);
3) Spain (2850).
Top 5: Colombia (2752) and Venezuela (2575).