Marisol Malaret


Marisol Malaret Contreras is a Puerto Rican TV Host, model and beauty queen. In 1970 she was the very first Puerto Rican woman to be crowned Miss Universe.

Biography

She started to work from an early age due to the death of her father and chronic illness of her mother. She was reportedly persuaded by Puerto Rican make-up artist Carmen Andino to compete in the Miss Puerto Rico pageant, then owned by Puerto Rican modeling guru and businesswoman Anna Santisteban. Malaret's strong will, impeccable ethics and stunning beauty made her a crowd favorite in the local contest. Before winning, she worked as an executive secretary in the Puerto Rico Telephone Company.
She has one brother, Jesús and five half-siblings, Joseph, Alicia, Rita, Antonio, and Raul. Her parents are Lydia Contreras and José Antonio Malaret.
She has been married three times. First to former male model Butch James, and the second, to musician Corky Stroman, with whom she has her only child, daughter, Sasha. The third marriage was to Cuban-born engineer Frank Cué.

Miss Universe 1970

The auburn-haired, blue-green eyed Malaret won the title on July 11, 1970 at the Miami Beach Auditorium in Miami Beach, Florida.
Due to her win in the Miss Universe pageant, she was honored with what was considered until then one of the biggest welcomings ever at San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, then known as Isla Verde International Airport. The New York Times reported that "50,000 turned out in San Juan to honor a Queen."
Malaret's face has graced the covers of countless international and Puerto Rican entertainment and gossip magazines, such as Vea, Teve Guía, Artistas, Estrellas and its smaller version Estrellitas. She has participated in many advertising campaigns, and performs occasionally as a motivational speaker to young women and aspiring business leaders.