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| FANNEY INGSVARSDOTTIR / Arnor Halldorsson Photography |
Ungfrú Ísland (Miss Iceland) pageant is returning to international pageantry. The country was absent in 2014 Miss World pageant and has not competed in Miss Universe since 2009 when Ingibjörg Raghnheidur Egilsdóttir placed in the Top 15. The Icelandic franchise for both Miss World and Miss Universe has been bought by the owners of World Class, Björn Leifsson and Hafdís Jónsdóttir, with former Miss Iceland Fanney Ingsvarsdóttir serving as the national director. Fanney succeeds Íris Telma Jónsdóttir, another former Miss Iceland, who was the director in 2013. The national finals of Ungfrú Ísland 2015 will be held on September 5 at Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre in Reykjavik. The winner will succeed the reigning Ungfrú Ísland 2013,Tanja Ýr Ástþórsdóttir, and represent Iceland in Miss World 2015. It is reported that the 1st runner-up will compete in Miss Universe 2015.
For a small country of nearly 325,000 people, Iceland has had impressive success in world pageantry, starting with Guðrún Bjarnadóttir who was crowned Miss International 1963. Icelandic beauties so far have placed fourteen times in Miss International and has won the Miss World crown three times with Holmfridur Karlsdóttir (1985), Linda Pétursdóttir (1988) and Unnur Birna Vilhjálmsdóttir (2005). It has never won the Miss Universe crown, but Anna Geirsdóttir came close to winning it in 1962 when she placed 1st runner-up.
Visit the official website of Miss Iceland at http://ungfruisland.is/