Miss Europe 1930 was the second annual Miss Europe competition. Miss Greece won and 19 girls from Europe competed in the pageant. Belgium, Czechoslovakia and Turkey participated for the first time and one candidacy, that of Switzerland, was withdrawn.
1. Miss Europe 1930: Aliki Diplarakou
The Greek brunette Aliki Diplarakou (1912-2002) was 18 when she won in Paris the 1930 Miss Europe beauty pageant. In 1929 she had already become Miss Hellas. Diplarakou's family lived in Athens but originated from the Mani on the Peloponnese. After winning in Paris Diplarakou participated in the 1930 Miss Universe pageant in Rio de Janeiro as well. Aliki spoke various languages fluently, so she toured the States giving lectures on ancient and modern Greek culture. She hit the newspapers when she dressed in men's clothes and sneeked into the monk's sanctuary on Mount Athos, where women were strictly forbidden to enter. In 1932 Diplarakou married the French aviator and rich Industrial Paul-Louis Weiller. They had one son, Paul-Annick, who married princess Olimpia Torlonia. Their daughter became princess Sibylla of Luxembourg. In 1945 Diplarakou remarried Sir John Wriothesley Russell, descending from the 6th Duke of Bedford, and they had two children, Georgina and Alexander. Aliki's sister Cristina marrried Henri Claudel, a son of French writer Paul Claudel.
2. Miss Europe candidate 1930: Ingeborg von Grienberger
Ingeborg von Grinberger aka Grienberger was Miss Austria 1930, so she also joined the Miss Europe contest. Just like in 1929, when he first Miss Austria pageant was held, the Austrian daily Das neue Wiener Tageblatt had organised the pageant. The 18th years old Grienberger came from the Austrian province of Steiermark, but was originally born in Berlin, Germany. Winner of the Miss Europe 1930 pageant was Miss Greece, Aliki Diplarakou. Grienberger's predecessor, the 1929 Miss Austria Lisl Goldarbeiter, eventually had become Miss Universe in 1929.
3. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Jenny Vanparays
Jenny Vanparays aka Jenny Van Parys was the second Miss Belgium in 1929 - the first was Anne Koyaert in 1928 - so she joined the 1930 Miss Europe beauty pageant. It was the first year that Belgium joined the Miss Europe pageant. Winner that years was Miss Greece, Aliki Diplarakou. Diplarakou was surprised, as she thought that Miss Belgium would win. Vanparays/ Van Parys also competed in the 1930 Miss Universe pageant in Galveston, Texas. Her compatriot Netty Duchateau would win the Miss Universe title in 1931.
4. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Jenny Vanparays
Jenny Vanparays aka Jenny Van Parys was the second Miss Belgium in 1929 - the first was Anne Koyaert in 1928 - so she joined the 1930 Miss Europe beauty pageant. It was the first year that Belgium joined the Miss Europe pageant. Winner that years was Miss Greece, Aliki Diplarakou. Diplarakou was surprised, as she thought that Miss Belgium would win. Vanparays/ Van Parys also competed in the 1930 Miss Universe pageant in Galveston, Texas. Her compatriot Netty Duchateau would win the Miss Universe title in 1931.
5. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Konika Tchobanova
Konika Tchobanova was Miss Bulgaria in 1930, so she was allowed to join the 1930 Miss Europe pageant in Paris. Winner that year was Miss Greece Aliki Diplarakou.
6. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Milada Dostálová
Milada Dostálová was Miss Czechoslovakia in 1930, so she was allowed to join the Miss Europe pageant in Paris in 1930. Winner that year was Miss Greece Aliki Diplarakou.
7. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Esther Petersen
Esther Petersen aka Pedersen was Miss Denmark in 1930, so she was allowed to join the 1930 Miss Europe pageant in Paris. Winner that year was Miss Greece Aliki Diplarakou. During the repetitions in Paris Miss Denmark was hurt on the head by a falling large spotlight. The stage caught fire, but the fire was soon extinguished, while Miss Denmark was probably more shocked than seriously injured.
After the election in Paris the candidates went to French Cote d'Azur where they were treated like real queens. In Cannes Esther Petersen was crowned Queen of Elegance, in the presence of the Danish king.
8. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Marjorie Ross
In December 1929 'petite' Marjorie Ross, from Richmond, Surrey, became Miss England 1930. She joined the Miss Europe 1930 pageant in Paris. Winner that year was Miss Greece: Aliki Diplarakou.
9. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Dorit Nitykowski
Dorit Nitykowski, born 1911 in Berlin, was crowned Miss Germany in 1930 at the Berlin Kaiserhof. She could join the 1930 Miss Europe contest in Paris. Winner that year was Miss Greece: Aliki Diplarakou. She also participated in the 1930 Miss Universe contest in Rio de Janeiro. She had to give back her title of Miss Germany, as she married the star pilot Rudolf Cramer von Clausbruch (1900-1979), before her one-year existence of Miss Germany had ended.
10. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Rie van der Rest
In 1930 Rie van der Rest became Miss Holland, when the winner of the contest Emmy Kuster was disqualified, because she had lied about her age and her marriage. Like in 1929 (the first Miss Holland pageant), the Dutch illustrated magazine Het Leven [Life] had organised the pageant. Rie participated in the 1930 Miss Europe pageant in Paris. Winner then was Miss Greece, Aliki Diplarakou.
At the time of the Miss Europe pageant, Rie van der Rest, daughter of a pharmacist at Ginneken near Breda, was working as interpreter at a company in Paris, after having worked in Berlin as well, as she spoke French and German fluently. She wanted to work on stage but that seems never to have been materialised.
11. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Vera Curran
Vera Curran aka Curram was Miss Ireland in 1930 and joined the 1930 Miss Europe beauty pageant in Paris. Winner that year was Aliki Diplarakou from Greece. Very little is known about Vera Curran.
12. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Maria Papst
Maria Papst aka Maria Popsz aka Marie Popisj aka Bébi Pahsz, was Miss Hungary in 1930, so she joined the 1930 Miss Europe pageant in Paris. Winner that year was Miss Greece, Aliki Diplarakou. In 1929 Miss Hungary had won the Miss Europe contest: Elzbieta "Böske" Simon.
The jury of Miss Hungary 1930 consisted of a.o. Miss Europe organisator Maurice de Waleffe (chair of the jury), the former Miss Hungary and Miss Europe Böske" Simon, countess Teleki (chair of the Union of Female Writers), Jeno Heltai (chair of the Union of Playwrights), and count Bathyany (set designer for Max Reinhardt). The pageant was organised in January 1930 at the building of the Pester Lloyd (a newspaper of Budapest). The room was packed. From the hundreds of candidates a preselection of 60 was done, and from these 10 were selected. Out of the 10 the final candidate was chosen, who accompanied by the national anthem came forward, while the former Miss Europe decorated the new Miss Hungary with the national ribbon.
13. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Mafalda Mariottino
Mafalda Mariottino aka Morittino was Miss Italy 1930, so she joined the 1930 Miss Europe pageant in Paris. Winner that year was Miss Greece Aliki Diplarakou, Miss Belgium was second, Miss France third. Not much about Mariottino is known, apart that her father was a lawyer, but an interesting anecdote appeared in a newspaper in Liechtenstein on 25 September 1930. When a journalist from Trieste declared in public that Miss Italia's hairdo was getting more beautiful with every performance she had, she considered this an insult and stated he should withdraw his claim. But the journalist called witnesses who could testify that he was right. It lead to a trial for indemnification. discussing whether one could be offended by the act that one's hair was getting more beautiful by the week.
14. Miss Europe candidate 1930: Zofia Batycka
Zofia Batycka (August 22, 1907, Lemberg, Galicia, Austria-Hungary, now Lvov, Ukrain - July 9, 1989, Los Angeles) was a Polish model and actress.
Batycka was the daughter of a famous Galician lawyer. After graduating from high school in Lviv she began her studies at the Warsaw School of Economics. She supposedly had an affair with tenor Jan Kiepura in 1928 but they never married. Even as a student Zofia made her debut in the film.
From 1929 on she played in Polish films, first in the silent Sfinks production Grzeszna milosc ( Zbigniew Gniazdowski, Mieczyslaw Krawicz 1929), partly filmed at the Tatra Mountains. It was followed by Szlakiem hanby ( Export in Blond, Mieczyslaw Krawicz, Alfred Niemirski 1929), Dusze w niewoli (Souls in Bondage, Leon Trystan 1930), Moralnosc pani Dulskiej ( Boleslaw Newolin 1930) which was probably her first sound film, the short sound film Kobieta, która sie smieje (Ryszard Ordynski 1931) which was shot at the Paris Paramount sound studios, and the sound feature Dziesieciu z Pawiaka (10 Condemned, 1931), directed again by Ordynski, ans starring Józef Wegrzyn and Karolina Lubienska.
Zofia Batycka won the title of Miss Polonia 1930 and became extremely popular, so she joined the Miss Europe 1930 contest in Paris. Winner that year was Miss Greece Aliki Diplarakou, Miss Belgium was second, Miss France third. Batycka went on to win the title of Miss Paramount in 1931 and went to Hollywood in hope of a film career there. While away, Miss Poland 1931 couldn't go through as Batycka had forgotten to hand over the temporary crown. In 1932, Batycka signed with the American label "International Artists". It proved to be completely unsuccessful - in fact she didn't do any movies in Hollywood. In 1934 she returned to Poland and for a time there she was a theater actress. Soon she gave up acting and married a Dutch citizen who was a resident of Antwerp. After the war she moved to the United States and settled in Los Angeles. After her husband's death and that of her mother, she maintained herself by teaching foreign languages (she mastered four languages), and then worked in the gallery "Bac Street Antiques". After retiring she went to live in a nursing home, where she died in obscurity in 1989.
15. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Zoica Dona
Zoica Dona aka Zoïca Dona was a 20 year old student from the university of Bucarest, when in February 1930 she won the Miss Romania pageant. She joined the Miss Europe 1930 pageant, but didn’t win. That year Miss Greece won the Paris pageant. At the Miss Universe pageant in Galveston, Texas, August 1930, another Miss represented Romania, Mariana Mirica aka Maria Namiyica. Dona did represent Romania at the competing Miss Universe pageant in Rio de Janeiro.
When going to France, the Romanian journal Ilustraţiunea Română wrote on February 27, 1930: "Miss Zoica Dona writes from Cannes, that she is still under the impression of the grandiose reception at the Cannes train station - a truly royal reception. ‘Imagine - writes Ms. Dona - a sea of heads, with thousands of eager eyes to see European beauties who participate in the election of Miss Europe Paris: thousands of eyes expecting light up and inflame when the Miss disembark the train, a whole world of fans and admirers who throng, cheer, scream , cheer - a rare enthusiasm.” Dona indicated that from Cannes to Paris, wherever they came, the interest and enthusiasm of the public for the Misses was massive.
Dona was a sportive Miss. Ilustraţiunea Română wrote on February 6, 1930: "Since my childhood I liked almost all sports. I was so athletic, that my father had barbed wire enclosing the courtyard, to a great height to temper my zeal to climb like a cat. Today I love the belief that sports are a necessity for anyone wanting a healthy mind and a healthy body." Dona was also passionate about aviation: “When I received an invitation from the Air Club Albastru, this was the fulfillment of a long harbored desire. We flew over the capital in a Farman airplane named after our king Michael I. I went up with the same peace and security that I got on the train, especially since the device was piloted by one of best Romanian pilots.”
16. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Irene Wentzel
Irene Wentzel aka Irene Wentzell aka Irina Veisel was Miss Russia in Paris in 1930, elected by Russian immigrants, so she joined the 1930 Miss Europe pageant in Paris.
17. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Elena Plá Mompó
Elena Plá Mompó from Valencia - just like her predecessor Pepita Samper - was 18 when she won the pageant of Miss España in February 1930. Subsequently she joined the Miss Europe pageant in Paris that year. Winner in Paris was Miss Greece Aliki Diplarakou.
18. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Stephanie "Caca" Drobujak
Stephanie "Caca" Drobujak aka Drobyak and Drobnjak became Miss Yugoslavia in 1930, so she joined the 1930 Miss Europe pageant in Paris. Winner that year was Miss Greece Aliki Diplarakou.
19. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Mubedjel Namik
In 1930 the second Miss Turkey pageant was organised by the Istanbul journal Djoumhouriyet at the Russian restaurant La Turquoise. Winner was Mubedjel Namik aka Mubedjel Mubed Hanim, the 17-year old daughter of a customs employee at Galata. With her chestnut eyes, black eyes and impressive mouth she conquered the jury. American newspapers rumored at the time she might marry Turkish president Mustapha Kemal (better known now as Atatürk), but Atatürk, once married to Latife Uşaklıgil but divorced afterwards, never remarried. Becoming Miss Turkey, Mubedjel Namik joined the 1930 Miss Europe pageant in Paris. Winner that years was Miss Greece Aliki Diplarakou. Namik was the first Miss Turkey to participate in the Miss Europe pageant.
20. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Yvette Labrousse
Yvonne Labrousse, later known as Om Habibeh, was born 15 February 1906 in Sète, France, and died 1 July 2000 in Le Cannet, near Cannes. She was the wife of l'Aga Khan III, after having been elected as the 7th Miss France in 1930.
Yvette Blanche Labrousse was the daughter of the tram driver Adrien Labrousse and Marie Bouet, a couturière originally for Lyon. After bieng elected Miss Lyon in 1929, then Miss France in Paris in 1930, she joined the Miss Europe 1930 pageant in Paris, won by Miss Greece. She started to travel around the world and settled in Egypt. There Labrousse met her future husband, the Sultan Aga Khan III, 48th Imam of the Nizari Ismaili community, whom she married on 9 October 1944 in Switzerland and whose fourth and last wife she was. She converted to the Islam and took the name of Om Habibeh, fully Begum Om Habibeh Aga Khan. She was dearly loved by her people because of her generosity to the poor and the elderly, and by her own husband as well, who was very close to her. In 1954, Om Habibeh was given the title of Mata Salamat, which literally means serene or peaceful mother. She undertook the pelgrimage to Mecca in 1955. In Le Cannet she built a villa named Yakimour, after her nickname Yaki (Yvette/Aga/Khan) and Amour. When her husband died in 1957, he had stated in his will that his successor, his grandson Karim, would have Om Habibeh as advisor for the first seven years of his reign. Om Habibeh started building at Aswan a mausoleum to her husband, immediately after his death, while finishing it took 16 months. Om Habibeh remained well-known for her charity, such as by the Om Habibeh Foundation (1991). Her gesture of daily placing a red rose on her husband's tomb while in Egypt - when she was away in Europe a gardener would put the roses there - enforced the reputation of the legendary romance between Om Habibeh and her Aga Khan. Om Habibeh aka Yvette Labrousse died on 1 July 2000 at the age of 94 years.
1. Miss Europe 1930: Aliki Diplarakou
The Greek brunette Aliki Diplarakou (1912-2002) was 18 when she won in Paris the 1930 Miss Europe beauty pageant. In 1929 she had already become Miss Hellas. Diplarakou's family lived in Athens but originated from the Mani on the Peloponnese. After winning in Paris Diplarakou participated in the 1930 Miss Universe pageant in Rio de Janeiro as well. Aliki spoke various languages fluently, so she toured the States giving lectures on ancient and modern Greek culture. She hit the newspapers when she dressed in men's clothes and sneeked into the monk's sanctuary on Mount Athos, where women were strictly forbidden to enter. In 1932 Diplarakou married the French aviator and rich Industrial Paul-Louis Weiller. They had one son, Paul-Annick, who married princess Olimpia Torlonia. Their daughter became princess Sibylla of Luxembourg. In 1945 Diplarakou remarried Sir John Wriothesley Russell, descending from the 6th Duke of Bedford, and they had two children, Georgina and Alexander. Aliki's sister Cristina marrried Henri Claudel, a son of French writer Paul Claudel.
2. Miss Europe candidate 1930: Ingeborg von Grienberger
Ingeborg von Grinberger aka Grienberger was Miss Austria 1930, so she also joined the Miss Europe contest. Just like in 1929, when he first Miss Austria pageant was held, the Austrian daily Das neue Wiener Tageblatt had organised the pageant. The 18th years old Grienberger came from the Austrian province of Steiermark, but was originally born in Berlin, Germany. Winner of the Miss Europe 1930 pageant was Miss Greece, Aliki Diplarakou. Grienberger's predecessor, the 1929 Miss Austria Lisl Goldarbeiter, eventually had become Miss Universe in 1929.
3. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Jenny Vanparays
Jenny Vanparays aka Jenny Van Parys was the second Miss Belgium in 1929 - the first was Anne Koyaert in 1928 - so she joined the 1930 Miss Europe beauty pageant. It was the first year that Belgium joined the Miss Europe pageant. Winner that years was Miss Greece, Aliki Diplarakou. Diplarakou was surprised, as she thought that Miss Belgium would win. Vanparays/ Van Parys also competed in the 1930 Miss Universe pageant in Galveston, Texas. Her compatriot Netty Duchateau would win the Miss Universe title in 1931.
4. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Jenny Vanparays
Jenny Vanparays aka Jenny Van Parys was the second Miss Belgium in 1929 - the first was Anne Koyaert in 1928 - so she joined the 1930 Miss Europe beauty pageant. It was the first year that Belgium joined the Miss Europe pageant. Winner that years was Miss Greece, Aliki Diplarakou. Diplarakou was surprised, as she thought that Miss Belgium would win. Vanparays/ Van Parys also competed in the 1930 Miss Universe pageant in Galveston, Texas. Her compatriot Netty Duchateau would win the Miss Universe title in 1931.
5. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Konika Tchobanova
Konika Tchobanova was Miss Bulgaria in 1930, so she was allowed to join the 1930 Miss Europe pageant in Paris. Winner that year was Miss Greece Aliki Diplarakou.
6. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Milada Dostálová
Milada Dostálová was Miss Czechoslovakia in 1930, so she was allowed to join the Miss Europe pageant in Paris in 1930. Winner that year was Miss Greece Aliki Diplarakou.
7. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Esther Petersen
Esther Petersen aka Pedersen was Miss Denmark in 1930, so she was allowed to join the 1930 Miss Europe pageant in Paris. Winner that year was Miss Greece Aliki Diplarakou. During the repetitions in Paris Miss Denmark was hurt on the head by a falling large spotlight. The stage caught fire, but the fire was soon extinguished, while Miss Denmark was probably more shocked than seriously injured.
After the election in Paris the candidates went to French Cote d'Azur where they were treated like real queens. In Cannes Esther Petersen was crowned Queen of Elegance, in the presence of the Danish king.
8. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Marjorie Ross
In December 1929 'petite' Marjorie Ross, from Richmond, Surrey, became Miss England 1930. She joined the Miss Europe 1930 pageant in Paris. Winner that year was Miss Greece: Aliki Diplarakou.
9. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Dorit Nitykowski
Dorit Nitykowski, born 1911 in Berlin, was crowned Miss Germany in 1930 at the Berlin Kaiserhof. She could join the 1930 Miss Europe contest in Paris. Winner that year was Miss Greece: Aliki Diplarakou. She also participated in the 1930 Miss Universe contest in Rio de Janeiro. She had to give back her title of Miss Germany, as she married the star pilot Rudolf Cramer von Clausbruch (1900-1979), before her one-year existence of Miss Germany had ended.
10. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Rie van der Rest
In 1930 Rie van der Rest became Miss Holland, when the winner of the contest Emmy Kuster was disqualified, because she had lied about her age and her marriage. Like in 1929 (the first Miss Holland pageant), the Dutch illustrated magazine Het Leven [Life] had organised the pageant. Rie participated in the 1930 Miss Europe pageant in Paris. Winner then was Miss Greece, Aliki Diplarakou.
At the time of the Miss Europe pageant, Rie van der Rest, daughter of a pharmacist at Ginneken near Breda, was working as interpreter at a company in Paris, after having worked in Berlin as well, as she spoke French and German fluently. She wanted to work on stage but that seems never to have been materialised.
11. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Vera Curran
Vera Curran aka Curram was Miss Ireland in 1930 and joined the 1930 Miss Europe beauty pageant in Paris. Winner that year was Aliki Diplarakou from Greece. Very little is known about Vera Curran.
12. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Maria Papst
Maria Papst aka Maria Popsz aka Marie Popisj aka Bébi Pahsz, was Miss Hungary in 1930, so she joined the 1930 Miss Europe pageant in Paris. Winner that year was Miss Greece, Aliki Diplarakou. In 1929 Miss Hungary had won the Miss Europe contest: Elzbieta "Böske" Simon.
The jury of Miss Hungary 1930 consisted of a.o. Miss Europe organisator Maurice de Waleffe (chair of the jury), the former Miss Hungary and Miss Europe Böske" Simon, countess Teleki (chair of the Union of Female Writers), Jeno Heltai (chair of the Union of Playwrights), and count Bathyany (set designer for Max Reinhardt). The pageant was organised in January 1930 at the building of the Pester Lloyd (a newspaper of Budapest). The room was packed. From the hundreds of candidates a preselection of 60 was done, and from these 10 were selected. Out of the 10 the final candidate was chosen, who accompanied by the national anthem came forward, while the former Miss Europe decorated the new Miss Hungary with the national ribbon.
13. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Mafalda Mariottino
Mafalda Mariottino aka Morittino was Miss Italy 1930, so she joined the 1930 Miss Europe pageant in Paris. Winner that year was Miss Greece Aliki Diplarakou, Miss Belgium was second, Miss France third. Not much about Mariottino is known, apart that her father was a lawyer, but an interesting anecdote appeared in a newspaper in Liechtenstein on 25 September 1930. When a journalist from Trieste declared in public that Miss Italia's hairdo was getting more beautiful with every performance she had, she considered this an insult and stated he should withdraw his claim. But the journalist called witnesses who could testify that he was right. It lead to a trial for indemnification. discussing whether one could be offended by the act that one's hair was getting more beautiful by the week.
14. Miss Europe candidate 1930: Zofia Batycka
Zofia Batycka (August 22, 1907, Lemberg, Galicia, Austria-Hungary, now Lvov, Ukrain - July 9, 1989, Los Angeles) was a Polish model and actress.
Batycka was the daughter of a famous Galician lawyer. After graduating from high school in Lviv she began her studies at the Warsaw School of Economics. She supposedly had an affair with tenor Jan Kiepura in 1928 but they never married. Even as a student Zofia made her debut in the film.
From 1929 on she played in Polish films, first in the silent Sfinks production Grzeszna milosc ( Zbigniew Gniazdowski, Mieczyslaw Krawicz 1929), partly filmed at the Tatra Mountains. It was followed by Szlakiem hanby ( Export in Blond, Mieczyslaw Krawicz, Alfred Niemirski 1929), Dusze w niewoli (Souls in Bondage, Leon Trystan 1930), Moralnosc pani Dulskiej ( Boleslaw Newolin 1930) which was probably her first sound film, the short sound film Kobieta, która sie smieje (Ryszard Ordynski 1931) which was shot at the Paris Paramount sound studios, and the sound feature Dziesieciu z Pawiaka (10 Condemned, 1931), directed again by Ordynski, ans starring Józef Wegrzyn and Karolina Lubienska.
Zofia Batycka won the title of Miss Polonia 1930 and became extremely popular, so she joined the Miss Europe 1930 contest in Paris. Winner that year was Miss Greece Aliki Diplarakou, Miss Belgium was second, Miss France third. Batycka went on to win the title of Miss Paramount in 1931 and went to Hollywood in hope of a film career there. While away, Miss Poland 1931 couldn't go through as Batycka had forgotten to hand over the temporary crown. In 1932, Batycka signed with the American label "International Artists". It proved to be completely unsuccessful - in fact she didn't do any movies in Hollywood. In 1934 she returned to Poland and for a time there she was a theater actress. Soon she gave up acting and married a Dutch citizen who was a resident of Antwerp. After the war she moved to the United States and settled in Los Angeles. After her husband's death and that of her mother, she maintained herself by teaching foreign languages (she mastered four languages), and then worked in the gallery "Bac Street Antiques". After retiring she went to live in a nursing home, where she died in obscurity in 1989.
15. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Zoica Dona
Zoica Dona aka Zoïca Dona was a 20 year old student from the university of Bucarest, when in February 1930 she won the Miss Romania pageant. She joined the Miss Europe 1930 pageant, but didn’t win. That year Miss Greece won the Paris pageant. At the Miss Universe pageant in Galveston, Texas, August 1930, another Miss represented Romania, Mariana Mirica aka Maria Namiyica. Dona did represent Romania at the competing Miss Universe pageant in Rio de Janeiro.
When going to France, the Romanian journal Ilustraţiunea Română wrote on February 27, 1930: "Miss Zoica Dona writes from Cannes, that she is still under the impression of the grandiose reception at the Cannes train station - a truly royal reception. ‘Imagine - writes Ms. Dona - a sea of heads, with thousands of eager eyes to see European beauties who participate in the election of Miss Europe Paris: thousands of eyes expecting light up and inflame when the Miss disembark the train, a whole world of fans and admirers who throng, cheer, scream , cheer - a rare enthusiasm.” Dona indicated that from Cannes to Paris, wherever they came, the interest and enthusiasm of the public for the Misses was massive.
Dona was a sportive Miss. Ilustraţiunea Română wrote on February 6, 1930: "Since my childhood I liked almost all sports. I was so athletic, that my father had barbed wire enclosing the courtyard, to a great height to temper my zeal to climb like a cat. Today I love the belief that sports are a necessity for anyone wanting a healthy mind and a healthy body." Dona was also passionate about aviation: “When I received an invitation from the Air Club Albastru, this was the fulfillment of a long harbored desire. We flew over the capital in a Farman airplane named after our king Michael I. I went up with the same peace and security that I got on the train, especially since the device was piloted by one of best Romanian pilots.”
16. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Irene Wentzel
Irene Wentzel aka Irene Wentzell aka Irina Veisel was Miss Russia in Paris in 1930, elected by Russian immigrants, so she joined the 1930 Miss Europe pageant in Paris.
17. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Elena Plá Mompó
Elena Plá Mompó from Valencia - just like her predecessor Pepita Samper - was 18 when she won the pageant of Miss España in February 1930. Subsequently she joined the Miss Europe pageant in Paris that year. Winner in Paris was Miss Greece Aliki Diplarakou.
18. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Stephanie "Caca" Drobujak
Stephanie "Caca" Drobujak aka Drobyak and Drobnjak became Miss Yugoslavia in 1930, so she joined the 1930 Miss Europe pageant in Paris. Winner that year was Miss Greece Aliki Diplarakou.
19. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Mubedjel Namik
In 1930 the second Miss Turkey pageant was organised by the Istanbul journal Djoumhouriyet at the Russian restaurant La Turquoise. Winner was Mubedjel Namik aka Mubedjel Mubed Hanim, the 17-year old daughter of a customs employee at Galata. With her chestnut eyes, black eyes and impressive mouth she conquered the jury. American newspapers rumored at the time she might marry Turkish president Mustapha Kemal (better known now as Atatürk), but Atatürk, once married to Latife Uşaklıgil but divorced afterwards, never remarried. Becoming Miss Turkey, Mubedjel Namik joined the 1930 Miss Europe pageant in Paris. Winner that years was Miss Greece Aliki Diplarakou. Namik was the first Miss Turkey to participate in the Miss Europe pageant.
20. Miss Europe 1930 candidate: Yvette Labrousse
Yvonne Labrousse, later known as Om Habibeh, was born 15 February 1906 in Sète, France, and died 1 July 2000 in Le Cannet, near Cannes. She was the wife of l'Aga Khan III, after having been elected as the 7th Miss France in 1930.
Yvette Blanche Labrousse was the daughter of the tram driver Adrien Labrousse and Marie Bouet, a couturière originally for Lyon. After bieng elected Miss Lyon in 1929, then Miss France in Paris in 1930, she joined the Miss Europe 1930 pageant in Paris, won by Miss Greece. She started to travel around the world and settled in Egypt. There Labrousse met her future husband, the Sultan Aga Khan III, 48th Imam of the Nizari Ismaili community, whom she married on 9 October 1944 in Switzerland and whose fourth and last wife she was. She converted to the Islam and took the name of Om Habibeh, fully Begum Om Habibeh Aga Khan. She was dearly loved by her people because of her generosity to the poor and the elderly, and by her own husband as well, who was very close to her. In 1954, Om Habibeh was given the title of Mata Salamat, which literally means serene or peaceful mother. She undertook the pelgrimage to Mecca in 1955. In Le Cannet she built a villa named Yakimour, after her nickname Yaki (Yvette/Aga/Khan) and Amour. When her husband died in 1957, he had stated in his will that his successor, his grandson Karim, would have Om Habibeh as advisor for the first seven years of his reign. Om Habibeh started building at Aswan a mausoleum to her husband, immediately after his death, while finishing it took 16 months. Om Habibeh remained well-known for her charity, such as by the Om Habibeh Foundation (1991). Her gesture of daily placing a red rose on her husband's tomb while in Egypt - when she was away in Europe a gardener would put the roses there - enforced the reputation of the legendary romance between Om Habibeh and her Aga Khan. Om Habibeh aka Yvette Labrousse died on 1 July 2000 at the age of 94 years.
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