July 21, 1963 - In Miami Beach last night, Miss Brazil — brunette Leda Vargas — was named Miss Universe of 1963. Radiant but poised after her victory, Miss Vargas said, “When they called my name, I was so emotional I could not think.” In the audience when the 18-year-old college student from Porto Alegre won the beauty crown were her parents, Mr. and Mrs. José Joaquin de Vargas. The new queen’s father is a high school teacher. The striking young lady was cheered toward victory by a special section of 50 young Brazilians attending the University of Miami summer school. Second place went to Miss Denmar, Aino Korwa, 20, a blond, green-eyed secretary from Copenhagen.
