If the concept of Miss World and beauty contests is unfashionable these day, it was still all the rage 50 years ago.
In January 1973, the reigning Miss World, Belinda Green, paid a visit to Newcastle and the Chronicle's old Thomson House offices to take part in a fashion shoot. The 20-year-old Australian had won the title the previous year, beating American Lynda Carter – later to be TV’s Wonder Women – into second place.
Belinda squeezed in her Tyneside visit between trips to Paris, Frankfurt and Saigon and a whirlwind round of modelling engagements, TV interviews, lunches and cocktail parties. “You only get four hours sleep,” she told our reporter. “And they expect you to look good, too!” As well as the Chronicle fashion shoot, Miss World also enjoyed a game of bingo in Wallsend before jetting off.
