How Chiqui caught Ali’s heart

Did you know that when  Muhammad Ali came for Thrilla in Manila, his historic bout with Joe Frazier at the Araneta Coliseum, he was smitten with a Filipina who served as one of the “round girls?”

That was 35 years ago, in Oct. 1975. And the girl was none other than Rosemarie “Chiqui” Brosas who, three months earlier (in July), brought honors to this beauty-contest-crazy country by finishing fourth runner-up (to Anne Pohtamo of Finland) at the Miss Universe pageant held in El Salvador.

The host, Bob Barker, asked Chiqui about the Miss U pageant held in Manila the year before (in 1974, won by the late Amparo Muñoz of Spain; and then in 1994 with India’s Sushmita Sen emerging the winner).   

In his nostalgia report, Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas recalled that Chiqui was the 10th semi-finalist to be called.

“Miss Philippines, Miss Rose Marie Brosas is from Makati,” announced Barker. “She’s 18 and she’s a student. And did you see our pageant in the Philippines last year?” 

“Yes,” answered Chiqui, “I was one of the usherettes for the Miss Universe 1974.”

Bob asked, “What ran into your mind when you watched our girls on the stage last year?”

“Well,” said Chiqui, “I was thinking that I dreamed of being in the contest but I never expected of being here.” 

“And this dream has come true to you,” Barker told Chiqui. “Thank you, Miss Philippines.”

Chiqui Brosas, now (left) and then (above, leftmost) as the fourth runner-up in the 1975 Miss Universe. The rest of the Miss U court were (from left) Sweden’s Catharina Sjodal (third runner-up), Finland’s Anne-Marie Pohtamo (winner), Haiti’s Gerthie David (first runner-up) and USA’s Summer Robin Bartholomew (second runner-up).

 

Before she went to El Salvador, Chiqui had to win Bb. Pilipinas-Universe at the local pageant held on May 10, 1975 at the Araneta Coliseum.

“She was a last-minute entry,” continued Celso. “Because of her natural beauty, charm and wit, she bagged the title plus two special awards, the Miss Photogenic and Best in Swimsuit. She was the first recipient of the latter award. In El Salvador, Chiqui competed against 70 other beauties from the same number of countries. The media dubbed her as Miss Numero Uno.”

The judges included 1958 Miss Universe Luz Marina Zuluaga of Colombia, jazz singer Sarah Vaughan and actor Peter Lawford. After seeing the 71 candidates in national costumes, evening gowns and swimsuits; and personally interviewed each of them a few nights before the finals, the judges voted individually and secretly for the 12 semi-finalists. 

“On the coronation night on July 19, 1975 at the Gimnasio National José Adolfo Pineda,” said Celso, “Barker announced the semi-finalists, wearing their national costumes, after the Parade of Nations: Misses Haiti (Gerthie David), Finland (Anne-Marie Pohtamo), El Salvador (Carmen Elena Figueroa), Colombia (Martha Lucia Echeverri Trujillo), Philippines (Rose Marie Singson Brosas), England (Vicki Harris), Japan (Sachiko Nakayama), Israel (Orit Cooper), Ireland (Julie-Anne Farnhan), Brazil (Ingrid Budag), Sweden (Catharina Sjodahl) and USA (Summer Robin Bartholomew).”

Then, the much-awaited Top 5 finalists were announced. First to be called was Miss Finland, followed by Misses Haiti, USA, Philippines and Finland. During the final Q&A portion, they were asked different questions handpicked by the girls themselves. Chiqui was the second to be called.

Her question: “If you become Miss Universe of 1975, what one individual other than your parents would have made the greatest contribution to your success, and why?”

Her answer: “Well, I think it would be the judges because they were the ones who voted for me if I won Miss Universe.” Barker quipped, “Very good. Thank you, Miss Philippines.”

Declared winner was Miss Finland, followed by runners-up Misses Haiti (first), USA (second), Sweden (third) and Philippines (fourth).

Aside from Zuluaga, four Miss Universe titleholders graced the finals and were acknowledged while sitting on stage, namely, Gladys Zender of Peru (1957), Norma Beatriz Nolan of Argentina (1962), Corina Tsopei of Greece (1964) and Kerry Anne Wells of Australia (1972). On behalf of 1974 Miss Universe Amparo Muñoz who didn’t finish her duties, Wells crowned Pohtamo.   

After her reign, Chiqui chose to pursue her college degree in France where she completed her International Business Administration degree at the American College in Paris in 1980. She married Filipino-German business magnate Ralph Hahn in 1983. Their daughter, Regina, placed second runner-up in the 2009 Bb. Pilipinas pageant.

“Since 1990, Chiqui has been a childbirth educator, regarded as a ‘guru’ in natural childbirth,” said Celso. “She received her certification from the American Academy of Husband Coached Childbirth or the Bradley Method in 1997.”

During the gold celebration of the Bb. Pilipinas pageant in 2013 (with Ariella Arida as top winner), Chiqui delivered this message: “The beauty of Filipino women is not just from the outside but also from the inside. Continue the cause that you actually believe in.”

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