Christiane Martel

Christiane Martel

Beauty pageant titleholder
Christiane Martel and Ugo Tognazzi in Tipi da spiaggia (1959)
Born	Christiane Magnani (1932-01-18) 18 January 1932 Piennes, France
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1954–1962
Title(s)	Miss France 1953 Miss Universe 1953
Major competition(s)	Miss France 1953 (Winner) Miss Universe 1953 (Winner)
Spouse	Ronnie Morengo (divorced) Miguel Aleman Velasco

Christiane Martel (born Christiane Magnani on 18 January 1932) is a French actress and beauty queen who became the second woman to win Miss Universe in 1953.

Martel was crowned Miss France by outgoing titleholder Claude Godart and represented France at Miss Universe 1953 where she became the second Miss Universe. She was crowned by actress, Julie Adams as Miss Universe 1952, Armi Kuusela of Finland gave up her crown.

Martel's runners-up in the 1953 pageant was Myrna Hansen of the USA, followed by delegates of Japan, Mexico, and Australia.

Shortly after her reign, Martel embarked on a successful career in international films, appearing in movies such as Yankee Pasha, So This Is Paris, Abajo el Telón, the 1956 version of Corazón salvaje (playing the villain Aimée), Viva el Amor!, Rosa Blanca and her last film to date, 1961's Leoni al Sole.

Martel was married briefly to Ronnie Marengo, a department store heir, whom she divorced in 1955. In 1961 she married Miguel Alemán Velasco, who would become Governor of Veracruz and is the son of Miguel Alemán Valdés, former president of Mexico. They have three daughters and one son. Their son, Miguel Alemán Magnani is a stakeholder of Televisa and the owner of low-cost airline, Interjet.

She made recent television appearances at the Miss Universe pageants in 1989, 1993, and 2007 that were held in Mexico. Her last television appearance was on 3 December 2011 at the Miss France pageant.

External links

• Christiane Martel at the Internet Movie Database