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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-17/margie-moran.webp" alt="Margie Moran" loading="lazy" />
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Miss Universe 1973 Margie Moran
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Early Life and Family Background
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Margie Moran was born into two of the Philippines' most prominent families. Her father, Francis Morán, was the son of <strong>Chief Justice Manuel Morán</strong> and <strong>Nieves Gonzalez de Morán</strong>, a granddaughter of <strong>Don Francisco Gonzalez y Reinado</strong>, who owned the legendary 39,000-hectare Hacienda Esperanza. This vast estate encompassed the municipalities of Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Rosales, and San Quintin, extending through Pangasinan and the provinces of Tarlac and Nueva Ecija.
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Her mother, Rosario "Charo" Roxas, was one of three children born to <a href="/articles/3302/manuel-roxas-biography-born-january-1-1892" class="news_link">Manuel Roxas</a>, the fifth President of the Philippines, and Juanita Muriedas McIlvain. Her mother's siblings include Consuelo Roxas-Javellana and Manuel "Manny" Roxas, Jr.
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She completed her high school education at St. Theresa's College and attended college at Maryknoll College (now Miriam College). Before entering the pageant world, Moran worked part-time as a model for fashion designer Auggie Cordero. She also trained in ballet from ages eight to eighteen, a background that would later inform her lifelong commitment to arts and culture.
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<h2>
Miss Universe 1973: A Crown for the Philippines
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Moran won the right to represent the Philippines in the Miss Universe pageant in Athens, Greece, after winning the Binibining Pilipinas competition in <time datetime="1973">1973</time>. She entered the contest, she said, because of the persistent urgings of friends and family. At just 19 years old and standing 5 feet 6 inches tall, Moran ultimately captured the Miss Universe <time datetime="1973">1973</time> title, also earning the Miss Photogenic award.
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She became only the second Filipina to win the Miss Universe crown, following <a href="/kauswagan/articles/2857/today-in-philippine-history-april-5-1951-gloria-diaz-the-first-filipino-to-win-the-miss-universe-crown-was-born-in-manila" class="news_link">Gloria Diaz</a>'s victory in <time datetime="1969">1969</time>. This achievement would not be repeated until Pia Wurtzbach's win in <time datetime="2015">2015</time> - a 42-year gap that underscores the significance of Moran's accomplishment in Philippine pageant history. She is one of only four Miss Universe winners to also claim the Miss Photogenic title, alongside Margareta Arvidsson, Janelle Commissiong, and Denise Quiñones.
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The <time datetime="1973">1973</time> pageant took place against a tumultuous global backdrop: the Greek military junta had officially abolished the monarchy and declared a republic, the Watergate scandal was unfolding in Washington, the Vietnam War was winding down, and in the Philippines, President <a href="/kauswagan/articles/595/today-in-philippine-history-september-11-1917-ferdinand-e-marcos-was-born-in-sarrat-ilocos-norte" class="news_link">Ferdinand Marcos</a> had placed the nation under martial law. Against this turbulent world stage, Moran's poise and grace represented a moment of national pride for Filipinos.
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<h2>
Life After the Crown: Education, Family, and Business
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Two years after her reign, at age 21, Moran married Congressman <strong>Antonio R. Floirendo, Jr.</strong> of Davao del Norte. Despite the demands of marriage and family, she remained committed to her education, completing her Business Administration degree cum laude at Maryknoll College, followed by a master's degree in Business Administration from Boston University and a master's degree in Development Management from the University of London, awarded through the School of Oriental and African Studies.
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The marriage lasted over 30 years before the couple separated, though Moran has described their relationship as "very, very good" in its current state. They have two daughters, Monica Danielle and Gabrielle Antoinette.
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In the business sphere, Moran headed several private companies, including serving as head of the Pearl Farm Beach Resort in Samal Island, Davao del Norte, from <time datetime="1989">1989</time> to <time datetime="1994">1994</time>. Pearl Farm, originally a working pearl cultivation site, has since become one of the Philippines' premier island resorts, known for its world-class amenities and natural beauty.
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<h2>
A Multifaceted Career in Media and Arts
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Moran's influence extended into media and film. She hosted the television program "Margie on Mindanao" from <time datetime="1998">1998</time> to <time datetime="2003">2003</time>, showcasing the culture and beauty of the southern Philippines. She also produced the multi-awarded film "Bagong Buwan" (New Moon), a powerful drama exploring the Muslim rebellion in Mindanao - a project that reflected her deep engagement with the region's complex social realities.
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Her passion for dance, nurtured from childhood, led her to become a driving force in the Philippine arts scene. She served as president of Ballet Philippines from <time datetime="2009">2009</time> to <time datetime="2018">2018</time>, overseeing the company's operations and championing its mission to bring dance to communities across the country. She also promoted arts and culture through the Southern Philippines Foundation for the Arts, Culture and Ecology.
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In <time datetime="2018-01">January 2018</time>, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Moran as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). She was subsequently elected as the cultural agency's chairperson in <time datetime="2018-04">April 2018</time>, succeeding advertising executive Emily Abrera. She served in this capacity until <time datetime="2022-06-30">June 30, 2022</time>.
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Margie Moran: A Filipino Beauty queen And Peace Advocate

Discover Margie Moran, Miss Universe 1973, actress & peace advocate. Born Sept 15, 1953. Learn about her life, family, career & humanitarian legacy.

September 15, 1953: Margie Moran, a Filipino beauty queen, actress and peace advocate was born in Manila