Turkey’s first ‘Miss World’ dies at age 99

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

Keriman Halis Ece Tamer was Turkey’s first ‘Miss World’ in 1932. She died at the age of 99 in Istabul. Hürriyet photo

Keriman Halis Ece Tamer, who became Turkey’s first Miss World in 1932, died due to heart failure on Jan. 28 at age 99.

Tamer, who died in the house of her daughter in Istanbul’s Bebek, will be buried today.

Issuing a letter of condolence, President Abdullah Gül expressed his deep sadness, saying: “Tamer, who successfully represented our country abroad and was honored with the surname ‘Ece’ [queen] by the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, will be always remembered with respect. I extend my condolences to her family and the Turkish public.”

Tamer beat out seven other candidates at the Miss Turkey beauty pageant on July 2, 1932, allowing her to advance to represent the country at the International Pageant of Pulchritude contest held in Spa, Belgium.

On July 31, 1932, she was crowned Miss World despite competition from 27 countries, winning Turkey’s first title at an international beauty contest just three years after her nation started holding such competitions and less than 10 years after the founding of the Republic. k HDN