# Miss Venezuela 1952

Miss Venezuela 1952 was the first Miss Venezuela pageant. It was held at the Valle Arriba Golf Club in Caracas, Venezuela on June 7, 1952.
At the end of the event, Sofía Silva of Bolívar was crowned as Miss Venezuela 1952. This was Bolívar's first win in pageant's history. She represented Venezuela at the Miss Universe 1952 pageant.

## Background
### Location and date

The idea behind the beauty pageant began with the initiative of the American airline Pan Am, which entrusted its organization to Venezuelan journalist and musicologist Reinaldo Espinoza Hernández. The pageant had a budget of 25,000 bolivars, bringing together a group of 14 candidates, who for a week fulfilled various commitments related to the election, including a presentation in street clothes at the Caracas Military Circle and a parade in traditional costume at the Club Los Cortijos.
To increase the appeal and minimize the impact of the protests generated by the Venezuelan Young Women (Juventud Femenina Venezolana) who opposed the parade in swimsuits, the sum of one thousand bolivars was offered to the winner. The coronation ceremony was carried out through several parties, including the proclamation that took place in the presence of the Military Government Junta, and a popular proclamation that was held later at the baseball stadium of the University City of Caracas.

### Selection of participants
#### Debuts, returns, and withdrawals

Elba Delgado Olivares of Apure, María Josefina Rosell of Cojedes, Carmen Yolanda Luongo of Monagas, Ana Rosenda Ramos of Portuguesa and Carmen Guilarte Jiménez of Sucre withdrew from the competition due to undisclosed reasons.

## Pageant
### Selection committee

The judges for Miss Venezuela include:
* Abelardo Raidi – Sportswriter and radio boradcaster
* Ángel Álamo Ibarra – Diplomatic, writer and historian
* Aura Marina Colmenares – First female doctor in Lara state
* José Manrique – Music composer
* Flor Isava de Núñez – Olympic equestrian athlete
* Olga Tirado de Quintero Muro – Caracas high society lady
* Carlos Eduardo Frías – Lawyer, writer, journalist and publicist
* Amable Espina – Radio broadcaster and director of RCTV

## Results
### Placements

* Declared as winner
* Ended as runner-up or top 5/8 qualification
* Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
| Placement | Contestant | International placement |
| Miss Venezuela 1952 | Bolívar – Sofía Silva | Unplaced – Miss Universe 1952 |
| 1st runner-up | Anzoátegui – Ligia De Lima | |
| 2nd runner-up | Guárico – Vilma Viana | |
| 3rd runner-up | Distrito Federal – Olga Buvat | |
| 4th runner-up | Amazonas – Marbelia Gardier | |

## Contestants

14 contestants competed for the title.
| State | Contestant | Age | Height | Hometown |
| Amazonas | Marbelia Gardier Gago | | | |
| Anzoátegui | Ligia De Lima | | | |
| Aragua | Maruja Cordero Rodríguez | | | |
| Bolívar | Sofía Silva Inserri | 24 | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | Tumeremo |
| Carabobo | Miriam Guerra Mass | | | |
| Distrito Federal | Olga Renée Buvat de Virginy Capriles | | | |
| Guárico | Vilma Viana Acosta | | | |
| Lara | Yolanda Gil García | | | |
| Mérida | Miriam Dávila | | | |
| Miranda | Carmen Elena Álvarez | | | |
| Nueva Esparta | Verónica Rodulfo Campos | | | |
| Táchira | Ilse Theverkaus Ibarra | | | |
| Trujillo | Norah Rangel Alizo | | | |
| Yaracuy | Nieves Teresa Contreras Sánchez | | | |