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<img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources/mimilanie-laurel-marquez-t.webp" alt="Mimilanie Laurel Marquez" />
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Born on July 16, 1964 in Mabalacat, Pampanga, Marquez won the prestigious beauty contest at the age of 15. 


There are two other Filipino women who have held the Miss International crown before Marquez, they are, Gemma Guerrero Cruz Araneta, who won the title in Long Beach, California in 1964; Aurora McKenny Pijuan in Osaka, Japan in 1970.


Three more Filipinas would be crowned the Miss International title since. They are Precious Lara Quigaman, in 2005, Koseinenkin Hall, Tokyo, Japan; Bea Rose Monterde Santiago in 2013, Shinagawa Prince Hotel Hall, Tokyo, Japan; and Kylie Fausto Verzosa in 2016, Tokyo Dome City Hall, Tokyo, Japan. 



Gain of fame drove Marquez in joining the international beauty contest. She eventually pursued a career in fashion print, ramp modeling, and television acting.


Other prestigious titles she has won include: Face of the 1980's winner in New York in 1985, first runner-up in the Supermodel competition in 1986, and touted as the Most Glamorous Woman in Italy, also in 1986.

She was also adjudged and voted as the "Most Beautiful Miss International Winner" in 2000.



Marquez earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (cum laude) from the International Academy of Management and Economics in November 2006.


Melanie is a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Mormon Church, after her marriage to an American in Utah named Adam Lawyer, her fifth husband. 



Source:

<ol class="article-sources">
<li>
Philippine News Agency archives
</li>
<li>
Philippines at major beauty pageants, Wikipedia
</li>
</ol>

Today in History, November 12, 1979, Mimilanie Laurel Marquez won the Miss International beauty pageant held in Tokyo, Japan