Lorraine Downes
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Lorraine Elizabeth Downes (born June 12, 1964 in Auckland, New Zealand), is a former beauty queen and model who held the Miss Universe title in 1983 and won the reality tv show Dancing with the Stars in 2006.
Downes won the Miss Universe 1983 contest in St. Louis, Missouri, becoming the first and so far only woman from New Zealand to do so.
Despite her ultimate victory, there is speculation that Downes may not have been the judges' first choice for the crown. Score-wise it seems they favoured Julie Hayek, Miss USA, for she won the preliminary competition by a large margin over the other 11 semi-finalists. Downes, however, entered the top 12 in fifth place. During the semi-finals, Hayek maintained her lead; winning both the swimsuit and evening gown competitions. Another preliminary favourite, Lolita Morena of Switzerland, who placed third in the preliminaries, also maintained her lead over Lorraine and landed in second. Downes climbed from her 5th place preliminary placement into third place. When the judges placed their votes, they voted neither Morena or Hayek, as most of the TV audience probably expected; instead they chose Downes. Years later, Downes revealed that Julie Hayek was upset about having been placed second, and it took months for Hayek to "forgive" Lorraine for winning.
Lorraine Downes was married in 1985 to Murray Mexted, a New Zealand rugby All Black, with whom she had two children before divorcing in 1997. She also has a successful business in New Zealand.
In June 2006 Downes won the New Zealand version of Dancing with the Stars with dance partner Aaron Gilmore.
| Preceded by: Karen Baldwin |
Miss Universe 1983 |
Succeeded by: Yvonne Ryding |
| Miss Universe Organization Titleholders 1983 |
||
| Miss Universe Lorraine Downes |
Miss USA Julie Hayek |
Miss Teen USA Ruth Zakarian |
