Lalaine B. Bennett: Miss U ’63 finalist

Lalaine Betia Bennett has the distinction of being the first Miss Philippines to make it to the list of Miss Universe (1963) finalists (third runner-up). The winner was Ieda Maria Vargas of Brazil.

Lalaine is an American mestiza from Bayombong, Nueva Ecija. Before joining the Miss Universe beauty pageant in Miami Beach, Florida, Lalaine starred in Ligaw na Daigdig opposite Ronald Remy and Willie Sotelo in 1962. After her Miss U stint, she appeared in two other movies, Dear Eddie in 1963 and the autobiographical Lalaine Mahal Kita in 1964.

Lalaine crowned Myrna Panlilio as the first Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1964.

Her movie career was cut short when she married her official escort in the Miss U pageant, Felix Skievasky, an American naval officer of Filipino-Polish descent. They were married at the San Marcelino church in Manila on Sept. 7, 1964. The newlyweds later settled in Seattle, Washington.

Felix died in a plane crash in 1973. Lalaine continued with her real estate business.

After Lalaine, other delegates to the Miss U pageant were included in the finalists’ list: Chiqui Brosas, Charlene Gonzalez, Desiree Verdadero, Chat Silayan, Miriam Quiambao, Venus Raj, Shamcey Supsup, MJ Lastimosa, Ariella Arida and Janine Tugonon. But as earlier noted, Lalaine B. Bennett has the distinction of being the first.

Gloria Diaz and Margie Moran won the Miss U crowns.—RKC