- Akiko Kojima
nihongo|Akiko Kojima|児島 明子|Kojima Akiko (
October 29 1936 inTokyo ) is a Japanese model. The firstMiss Universe to originate from Asia, Akiko was a 22-year-old model from Tokyo, Japan when she bested four other finalists from Norway, the USA, England, and Brazil for the 1959 Miss Universe crown inLong Beach, California . At 5ft 7in (1.70 m.), Akiko measured 37-23-38 inches (94-58-96 cm.), which many believed as "incredible dimensions" for an Asian. She denied having undergone breast surgery. Akiko settled into a quiet married life after her reign. Forty eight years later another Japanese national,Riyo Mori , won the Miss Universe pageant in 2007.She is also divorced from the famous Japanese actor
Akira Takarada , who rose to fame in the Toho movie studios doing theGODZILLA movies since 1954.Miss Universe Organization titleholders
Year=1959
Miss Universe=Akiko Kojima
Miss USA=Terry Huntingdon
Miss Teen USA="none"
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