
The kingdoms of Norway, Sweden and Denmark consist the Scandinavia - a region in Europe which is usually confused with the peninsula itself. It is a term commonly used in a more cultural aspect to refer to these three monarchy (Nordic with be much appropriately used if you would refer to a broader region which would include Finland and Iceland and subsequent territories). All of them are under a parliamentary system of government.
These 3 countries has showcased a strong presence in the Miss Universe pageant arena since its inception in 1952. Argurably the Trinity is a force to reckon with in the first decades of the pageant, but since 2000 there has been some decline on their performance as seen in their habitual absences over the last decade.
Then again let's recount the glory days of he Scandinavian kingdom as they journey to conquer the Universe.

(Kongeriget Danmark)
This kingdom in Northern Europe has been the least succesful out of the three Scandinavian countries. The national pageant was originaly called Frøken Danmark (Miss Denmark) and started sending delegates since 1952. Their participation and absences fluctuates from time to time.
It should be noted that their highest placement is of Aino Korva in 1963 who placed as 1st runner up to Iêda Maria Vargas of Brazil MU'63.

Ainu Korva
They consistently landed in the top 15 in the 50's-60's and since then had a huge period of shutout and not been able to secure a placement until the franchise was revamp into the Miss Universe Denmark pageant in 2004.
Their last placements were a back-to-back peat care of Betina Faurbye (top 20) in 2006 and Žaklina Šojić in 2007 (top 15) respectively. Recently Denmark is still lagging behind it's sister countries when in comes to placements.

Betina and Žaklina
They also had one Miss Photogenic award won by Tina Brandstrup in 1981.

Tina Brandstrup
TRIVIA: Helena Christensen, a former Victoria's Secret Angel model and photographer won the Miss Denmark Title in 1986. unfortunately she was unplaced and went home to pursue a modelling career. Good thing she became a huge name in the modelling industry.

Helena with other European delegates

Helena as a Victoria's secret model
As for Denmark's future...well to be honest I don't see a bright one if they would not crown a girl at par with prominent delegates in Europe like Kosovo, Lithuania and Croatia.

(Kongeriket Noreg)
Frøken Norge is the official national pageant who crowns delegates to be sent to both Miss Universe and Miss World respectively. They consistently send delegates each year and only missed 6 editions since 1952.
Norway's representation in Miss Universe has been a strong one having placed more than once in the 1950's up until the the end of the 1980's.

Jorunn Kristjansen -1959 first runner -up to Akiko Kojima of Japan
1950's - 3 semi-finalist spots and 1 first runner up
1960's - 4 semi-finalist spots
1970's - 1 semi-finalist spot and 1 second runner-up
1980's - 3 semi-finalist

Aina Walle during the MU'73 finals -1973 second runner-up to Margarita Moran of the Philippines
The 1990's supposed to be a good decade for Norway after Mona Grudt won their first and only crown. During the semi-finals she won all three segments. Currently she is the host of Norway's Next Top Model.

Mona Grudt - Miss Universe 1990
Apparently the celebration end there. The Scandinavian country suffered a terrible blackout since Grudt's win with unsatisfactory results in the 1990's and
early 2000's. They only manage to win one award in the 1990's as best in National Costume in 1993 by Ine Beate Strand (not a favorable consolation
)
Ine Beate Strand
Luckily that was broken after 13 years via a back-to-back semi finalist placements through Kathrine Sørland (Top 15) in MU'04 and Helene Tråsavik (Top 15) in MU'05.

Kathrine Sørland and Helene Tråsavik during their stint at MU
Then they're back to square one. No placements or either a special ward to boost the pageant enthusiasm of Norway.

(Konungariket Sverige)
Sweden is perhaps the most succesful of these Scandinavian countries. Fröken Sverige was the original pageant running from 1949 up until 2004. the franchise was handled by different companies from VeckoRevyn (magazine), Strix (productions), Moore! Magazine (magazine). Not until 2009, the franchise changed their name into Miss Universe Sweden. With an impressive 29 placements overall, Sweden proves to be a powerhouse to contend with placements each decade at least
TRIVIA: In 1954 they had their first runner up position through Ragnild Olausson finishing as 4th runner up. If Colombia had a three-peat back-to-back 1st runner up finish consecutively, well Sweden had a three-peat back-to-back 4th runner up finnish as well in the years 1978-1980.
Overall there placements consist of 16 semi-finalist, 4 fourth runner up, 3 third runner up, 2 second runner up, 1 first runner up, and 3 winners. (did you notice that the numbers of runner ups match the number of the actual placement 4/4. 3/3, 2/2, 1/1 except the winner of course with 3
)
Ekberg, Stavin, Olin, and Silvstedt
Notably, some winners begun acting or modelling careers like Anita Ekberg (War and Peace), Mary Stävin (James Bond Films), Lena Olin (Alias series), and Victoria Silvstedt (Victoria Silvstedt: My Perfect Life).

The beautiful Hillevi Rombin (RIP)
Sweden's first win came in the person of Hillevi Rombin in 1955. She, her husband, and one of their sons died in a plane crash in 1996 (a sad event) and was the first Miss Universe to die (Amparo Munoz of Spain MU'74 was the second MU to die of an undisclosed reason in 2011).

Rombin (RIP) during her crowning
Margareta Arvidsson MU'66 and Yvonne Ryding MU'84 was the second and third winners from Sweden respectively. Just to recount, Arvidsson is one of the prettiest delegate that year and was awarded the Miss Photogenic award - the first Miss Universe to do so. Ryding is also on a league of her own topping both Swimsuit and Gown semi finals round (though I would like to point that her gown itself was an epic failure).

Margareta Arvidsson MU'66 and Miss Photogenic and Yvonne Ryding
The last placement Sweden had was with Renate Cerljen in MU'09 held in Bahamas where she placed as a semi-finalist and being ousted after the swimsuit competition. Ronnia Fornstedt was at least expected to make the cut in MU'11 in Brazil but failed to do so. Fortunately, she won the online voting for Miss Photogenic. Interestingly both the wild card spot which was earned by Portugal and Miss Photogenic award was captured by two Europeans - and online voting system was prominently won over by Asian countries and Puerto Rico.

Cerljen, who was bashed constantly as the female version of Tom Cruise made the MU'09 cut and Fornstedt MU'11 most photogenic.
Well as for Sweden, will we expect another winner anytime soon or will they continue to slack down and dwindle into obscurity?
THE CONSENSUS:
The Trinity is loosing all it sparks...all the revamp they made in the national pageant is not helping them field out the delegate than can really make a splash and make the cut. I would like to be honest - they are picking up the right girl - but the preparation is not solid enough that can actually make you believe that they are indeed ready and deserving to win the top plum. Maybe, most ladies are thinking like most individual would do - enter a venture with a lasting effect like modelling and acting which is indeed big in Europe. As for these prior powerhouses, Sweden, Norway and Denmark - they should reinvent their strategies and come up with a game plan that would ensure the placement of their delegate (I do like Ronia a lot and she's far better than Brazil!!!)
WILL THE TRINITY REVIVE THE STRONG PAGEANT COMPETITIVENESS THEY ONCE HAD?
WHAT IS THE FUTURE LYING AHEAD OF THEM?
WHEN WILL WE SEE A SCANDINAVIAN GODDESS WEARING THE MISS UNIVERSE DIAMOND NEXUS CROWN?

VISIT MY OTHER THREADS...THANKS
KOSOVO AND THE UNIVERSE:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=139374
THE SLEEPING GIANT: CHINA AND THE UNIVERSE:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=139406




























.......BECAUSE YOU ARE A PAGEANT HISTORIAN ALREADY!!
SHE'S GOT TO BE ONE OF THE MU'S WITH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FACES! SO ANGELIC & BEAUTIFUL! 


Thanks for all these compliments...I personally think Yvonne was the the queen in her time. She deserved to wear a "real" gown that night and not a Halloween costume, but her queenly aura was what really matter 







