| Miss Universe 1972 |
| Date |
29 July 1972 |
| Presenters |
Bob Barker |
| Venue |
Cerromar Beach Hotel, Dorado, Puerto Rico  |
| Broadcaster |
CBS |
| Entrants |
61 |
| Placements |
12 |
| Debuts |
Iraq, Zaire |
| Withdrawals |
Lebanon, Nicaragua, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia |
| Returns |
Chile, Denmark, El Salvador, Hong Kong, Paraguay |
| Winner |
Kerry Anne Wells
 Australia |
Miss Universe 1972, the 21st Miss Universe pageant, was held on 29 July 1972 at the Cerromar Beach Hotel in Dorado, Puerto Rico. Kerry Anne Wells earned Australia's first Miss Universe crown. Georgina Rizk of Lebanon, was not allowed to crown her successor due to government restrictions because of fears of a terrorist attack. Such fears were triggered when, two months prior to the pageant, bombings occurred outside the hotel in which Miss USA, Tanya Wilson, was then staying. In addition, a group of Japanese hired by Arab terrorists, attacked the international airport in Tel Aviv and killed twenty-two Puerto Rican tourists. The Puerto Ricans were en route to the Holy Land when the massacre occurred. Lebanon did not compete in 1972 and Georgina could not be there to crown Miss Universe 1972. Wells was crowned by Miss Universe 1970, Marisol Malaret of Puerto Rico and Miss Universe 1971 1st Runner-Up Toni Rayward. The Host was Bob Barker who would begin a 35 Year run as host of The Price Is Right more than 5 weeks later on CBS.
Results
Placements
| Final results |
Contestant |
| Miss Universe 1972 |
|
| 1st runner-up |
|
| 2nd runner-up |
|
| 3rd runner-up |
|
| 4th runner-up |
|
| Semi-finalists |
|
Special awards
| Awards |
Contestant |
| Miss Congeniality |
|
| Miss Photogenic |
|
| Best National Costume |
 Peru - Carmen Amelia Ampuero Mosquetti
|
Order of announcements
Top 12
- England
- Brazil
- Japan
- Venezuela
- Australia
- Peru
- Belgium
- U.S.A.
- Israel
- Germany
- Philippines
- India
|
Top 5
- Australia
- England
- Venezuela
- Israel
- Brazil
|
Judges
Contestants
Notes
Crossovers
External links
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