The three tallest Miss Universe winners: Amelia Vega (2003), Wendy Fitzwilliam (1998) and Michelle McLean (1992)
Amelia Vega is tallest of the tallest at 6’1″
Now if we check out the other end of the spectrum, there are three Miss Universe ladies who measure 6’0 and above. Amelia Vega launched her Miss Universe bid last 2003 on a high note and never looked back from the time she set foot in Panama City. In the case of Wendy Fitzwilliam, she met strong opposition from Veruska Ramirez. Both of them stood tall at 6’0, but the former eased herself out of a possible deadlock after giving a more impressive reply during the Q&A. And during Michelle McLean’s time, she had far more deadly challenges, what with Paola Turbay, Madhu Sapre and Carolina Izsak making things more difficult for the statuesque Namibian. Good thing she stayed consistent and never let go of the judges’ halo placed on her head from the semifinals to Top 5.
While Amelia looks like she is the shortest in the photos above, her height is mightier than either Wendy’s or Michelle’s.
In the editions of Miss Universe following the latest year above (2003), the towering height still mattered to some extent but in my opinion, it was no longer on the ‘must-list’. The more important consideration is to find the most deserving winner. If she happens to be the tallest, well and good. And if she turns out to be the host delegate (like Olivia Culpo), better for the people at MUO who need not make adjustments to the personality of the winner (or relocation concerns for that matter). ;-)
