REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Wednesday, Sept 22, 1976

MISS Universe, Rina Messinger, flashed a smile at her packed press conference audience at Surfers Paradise and said: “The first thing I want to do when my reign is over is have a good long sleep.”

But the world-famous 20year-old Israeli beauty queen showed no signs of fatigue as she answered questions in accented but unhesitating English.

Although Rina seemed willing to talk, she was stopped from discussing the politics of the Middle East by Quest for Quest officials.

An official told the audience: “Don’t involve her in subjects of political or military matters please as she has been instructed that these are not the things she should discuss here.”

However, Rina did explain why she said she wanted to visit an Arab country during the judging of the Miss Universe quest earlier that year.

“I wanted to go to an Arab country just because I want peace,” she said.

“Arab countries are our neighbours and I can’t go there now because of the present situation.

“I hope that one day there will be peace and I can go there.”

Rina arrived on the Gold Coast the previous day and was preparing for a ceremony at which she would present sashes to five winners of the Australian Quest of Quests who were chosen at a gala dinner and judging at Evandale.

Before becoming the first Israeli to win the then-26-yearold Miss Universe title, Rina had been a glider pilot and an aerodynamics instructor with the Israeli airforce.