Find Out Who Took the Miss Universe Crown the Year You Were Born

1976: Miss Israel, Rina Messinger

Rina Messinger shook things up in 1976 when she became the first Miss Israel to take home the Miss Universe crown. At the time, she was a college student studying law and international relations, and she never expected to win—it was her mom who signed her up.

Once crowned, she used the global stage to speak out about peace and Middle Eastern politics, adding substance to the sparkle. Instead of diving into modeling or acting, she pursued a diplomatic career and worked with Israel’s Ministry of Tourism. In 2021, she reappeared to the public as a guest at Miss Universe in Eilat.

More in Trending

You must be logged in to post a comment Login