Amparo Muñoz Quesada ( Vélez-Málaga, 21 June 1954 –

Málaga Málaga (, ) is a municipality of Spain, capital of the Province of Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. With a population of 578,460 in 2020, it is the second-most populous city in Andalusia after Seville and the sixth most po ...

, 27 February 2011) was a Spanish actress, model and beauty queen who won the Miss Universe 1974 competition in

Manila, Philippines Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populated ...

, being the first and only Spaniard titleholder in this line of pageants. Muñoz surrendered both the title and crown after six months due to refusal to follow organizational regulations. During that time, no successor was willing nor assigned to officially take her vacated placement. After her shortened reign, Muñoz became a popular actress and starred in several comedies, including '' Mama Turns 100'', and in the dramas '' Clara es el Precio'', '' The Other Bedroom'' and '' Dedicatory''. Her personal life was often shrouded in notorious events and public controversies. She died on 27 February 2011 due to

cerebral aneurysm An intracranial aneurysm, also known as a brain aneurysm, is a cerebrovascular disorder in which weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein causes a localized dilation or ballooning of the blood vessel. Aneurysms in the posterior circula ...

complications and was buried in the Roman Catholic cemetery of

Saint Michael Michael (; he, מִיכָאֵל, lit=Who is like El od, translit=Mīḵāʾēl; el, Μιχαήλ, translit=Mikhaḗl; la, Michahel; ar, ميخائيل ، مِيكَالَ ، ميكائيل, translit=Mīkāʾīl, Mīkāl, Mīkhāʾīl), also ...

city.

Early life

Amparo Muñoz was born on 21 June 1954 to a

blacksmith A blacksmith is a metalsmith who creates objects primarily from wrought iron or steel, but sometimes from other metals, by forging the metal, using tools to hammer, bend, and cut (cf. tinsmith). Blacksmiths produce objects such as gates, gr ...

father and a housewife. She was the firstborn child among six children. Her godparents helped raise her at age seven due to their family’s poverty. After finishing high school, she worked as an administrative office assistant for “The Southern” local newspaper in Málaga. The

gay male Gay men are male homosexuals. Some bisexual and homoromantic men may also dually identify as gay, and a number of young gay men also identify as queer. Historically, gay men have been referred to by a number of different terms, including '' ...

director of the newspaper agency strongly encouraged Muñoz to enter the beauty contest,'' “El Certamen de Belleza de Costa del Sol” '' (English: Miss Sun Coast Beauty Contest) which gained her an entry sash to participate and won in the 1973 Miss Spain contest in

Lanzarote Lanzarote (, , ) is a Spanish island, the easternmost of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. It is located approximately off the north coast of Africa and from the Iberian Peninsula. Covering , Lanzarote is the fourth-largest of the i ...

city.

Miss Universe

Amparo Muñoz came from the town of Vélez-Málaga (

) in

Andalusia Andalusia (, ; es, Andalucía ) is the southernmost autonomous community in Peninsular Spain. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomous community in the country. It is officially recognised as a "historical nationality". The ...

, where she had won the city title, to compete at the Miss Spain contest held in

. After winning, she went on to win the Miss Universe 1974 pageant in

Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populated ...

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. According to her Filipina translator, she was homesick for her family and existing lover in Spain at the time. By the six month after winning, she gave up her crown after she reportedly refused travel to Japan, at times even throwing her crown against a wall and down in the balcony window, which often required jewel repair. Nevertheless, the

Miss Universe Organization Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by a United States and Thailand based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Str ...

thoroughly insisted that Muñoz would remain as the official titleholder of Miss Universe 1974 since the title was not offered to 1st runner-up Miss Wales

Helen Elizabeth Morgan Helen Elizabeth Morgan (born 29 September 1952) is a British actress, model, TV Host and beauty queen who won the 1974 Miss Wales, Miss United Kingdom and Miss World pageants. Morgan became the first winner to resign, and the second (after M ...

– who eventually won

Miss World 1974 Miss World 1974, the 24th edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 22 November 1974 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, United Kingdom. The event was viewed by an estimated 30 million people, and was a "Wide World Special" on the ABC Tel ...

and was herself dethroned a few days after winning the said crown.

Cinematic career

After her victory in pageantry, various cinematic directors took interest in her. Her first steps in cinema came in 1973 with in ''Wholesome Married Life'', directed by

Roberto Bodegas Roberto Bodegas (3 June 1933 – 2 August 2019) was a Spanish film director and screenwriter.José Luis Garci, she played the temptress of

José Sacristán José María Sacristán Turiégano (born 27 September 1937), better known as José Sacristán, is a Spanish film, theatre, and television actor. At Gijón International Film Festival in 2015, he received the Nacho Martinez Award. At the 60t ...

, a married man obsessed with publicity. In ''Tocata y fuga de Lolita'' she was the rebellious girl who displayed her beautiful bust, a big contributor to the movie’s popularity. In the 70’s, Spanish cinema was at the height of destape ouble meaning: “liberalization” and “nudity” and the splendid figure of Amparo Muñoz found 9 titles in which to reveal itself, including '' Clara es el Precio'' (

Vicente Aranda Vicente Aranda Ezquerra (; 9 November 1926 – 26 May 2015) was a Spanish film director, screenwriter and Film producer, producer. Due to his refined and personal style, he was one of the most renowned Spanish filmmakers. He started as a f ...

, 1975), and '' The Other Bedroom'' (

Eloy de la Iglesia Eloy de la Iglesia (1 January 1944 – 23 March 2006) was a Spanish screenwriter and film director. De la Iglesia was an outspoken gay socialist filmmaker who is relatively unknown outside Spain despite a prolific and successful career in his n ...

, 1976), in which Amparo starred alongside the man who would be her first husband, the actor and singer Patxi Andión. After appearances in Volvoreta (

José Antonio Nieves Conde José Antonio Nieves Conde (22 December 1911http://dbe.rah.es/biografias/45978/jose-antonio-nieves-conde José Antonio Nieves Conde. Diccionario biográfico español. Real Academia de la Historia. Access 15 february 2020. in Segovia, Castilla y Le ...

, 1976), ''Del amor y de la muerte'' ( Antonio Giménez Rico, 1977), among other films, her cinematic career took a notable turn when she began a relationship with the producer

Elías Querejeta Elías Querejeta Gárate (27 October 1934 – 9 June 2013), also known as Elías Querejeta () and known in the Spanish film industry as "The Producer", was a Spanish screenwriter and film producer. He is the father of Gracia Querejeta. Biograph ...

, facilitating her appearances in films as important as '' Dedicatory'' (

Jaime Chávarri Jaime Chávarri (born 20 March 1943) is a Spanish film director and screenwriter, best known for his films '' El desencanto'' and '' Las bicicletas son para el verano''. Life and career Chávarri comes from a prominent family. His mother Ma ...

, 1980), which called her to the attention of other directors in both

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

and

Mexico Mexico (Spanish language, Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a List of sovereign states, country in the southern portion of North America. It is borders of Mexico, bordered to the north by the United States; to the so ...

, such as

Felipe Cazals Felipe Cazals (28 July 1937 – 16 October 2021) was a Mexican film director, screenwriter, and producer. His wife was Rosa Eugenia Báez de Cazals. Together with Arturo Ripstein, Cazals was considered in Mexico one of the most representative ...

(''Las siete cucas ''),

Pilar Miró Pilar Mercedes Miró Romero (20 April 1940 in Madrid – 19 October 1997 in Madrid) was a Spanish screenwriter and film director. She was the General Director of RTVE from 1986 to 1989. In the 1990s, she directed the television broadcasts of the ...

(''We Will Speak Tonight''),

Jaime Camino Jaime Camino (11 June 1936 – 4 December 2015) was a Spanish film director and screenwriter. He directed 16 films between 1962 and 2001. His 1976 film '' Long Vacations of 36'' was entered into the 26th Berlin International Film Festival. ...

(''The Open Balcony''),

Emilio Martínez Lázaro Emilio may refer to: * Emilio Navaira, a Mexican-American singer often called "Emilio" * Emilio Piazza Memorial School, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State * Emilio (given name) * ''Emilio'' (film), a 2008 film by Kim Jorgensen See also * Emílio ( ...

(''Lulú of the Night''),

Imanol Uribe Imanol Uribe (born 28 February 1950) is a Spanish screenwriter and film director. He won the Goya Award for Best Director and Best Screenplay for the 1994 thriller '' Running Out of Time''. Biography Born in San Salvador on 28 February 1950 to ...

(''The Black Moon''). She became an instant celebrity in Spain, alongside the likes of Nino Bravo, Pedro Carrasco,

Rocío Dúrcal María de los Ángeles de las Heras Ortiz (4 October 1944 – 25 March 2006), better known professionally as Rocío Dúrcal (), was a Spanish singer and actress. Widely successful in Mexico, she earned the sobriquet of ''Reina de las Rancheras'' ...

Rocío Jurado María del Rocío Mohedano Jurado (, 18 September 1944 – 1 June 2006), better known as Rocío Jurado, was a Spanish singer and actress. She was born in Chipiona (Cádiz) and nicknamed "La más grande" ("The Greatest"). In 2000 in New York Ci ...

Camilo Sesto Camilo Blanes Cortés (16 September 1946 – 8 September 2019), known professionally as Camilo Sesto "El Rey del Amor", was a Spanish singer, songwriter and music producer. There are various sales figures for him, ranging from 70 to 200 million ...

La Pandilla La Pandilla was a teen music group of the 1970s, founded in 1970 by Pepa Aguirre. The group had members of both sexes, unlike most pop groups at the time. Aguirre's son, daughter, and niece formed the band; later, 2 boys were added. Their first ...

and other Spanish celebrities of the 1970s, following her victory at Miss Universe with a fruitful show business career. In 1979, Muñoz acted in the comedy '' Mama Turns 100'', by

Carlos Saura Carlos Saura Atarés (born 4 January 1932) is a Spanish film director, photographer and writer. Along with Luis Buñuel and Pedro Almodóvar, he is considered to be one of Spain’s most renowned filmmakers. He has a long and prolific career t ...

. This was followed by performances in 1982's ''Todo un Hombre'' (''He's all a Man''), 1999's ''A Paradise Under the Stars'' and 2003's ''El Tahur''. In the late-1990s, she returned to mainstream Spanish cinema with the movie ''Familia'', by Fernando León de Aranoa and started a new life as an actress. In 1980, she went to live in

and partnered with Chilean national Flavio Labarca, who ran an antique shop. In 1991, she lived with Victor Guijarro in the Philippines, thereby disappearing from film for seven years (1989-1996), but eventually her immediate family requested her return to Spain, during which began the alleged melancholia and extreme mental depression of Muñoz. Accordingly, though raised and baptized

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: * Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

, Muñoz later dabbled and experimented with various

New Age New Age is a range of spiritual or religious practices and beliefs which rapidly grew in Western society during the early 1970s. Its highly eclectic and unsystematic structure makes a precise definition difficult. Although many scholars consi ...

philosophies, including

Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...

, Indonesian

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...

and

Soka Gakkai is a Japanese Buddhist religious movement based on the teachings of the 13th-century Japanese priest Nichiren as taught by its first three presidents Tsunesaburō Makiguchi, Jōsei Toda, and Daisaku Ikeda. It is the largest of the Japane ...

practices during the early 1990s. Returning to Spain, growing tabloid newspaper accusations of mental depression, drug addiction,

Parkinson’s Disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a chronic condition, long-term neurodegeneration, degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system. The symptoms usually emerge slowly, and as the disea ...

, and

Human Immunodeficiency Virus The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immun ...

coupled with poverty and melancholia ravaged Muñoz’ public image, along with the physical decrepitude allegedly causing emotional shame and her imminent withdrawal from society.

Personal life

In 1976, Muñoz met singer-songwriter Patxi Andión, who would become her first husband, while making '' The Other Bedroom''. They were married on 16 May 1976 and divorced in 1978, however due to the irregularities of this marriage according to

Constitution of Spain The Spanish Constitution (Spanish, Asturleonese, and gl, Constitución Española; eu, Espainiako Konstituzioa; ca, Constitució Espanyola; oc, Constitucion espanhòla) is the democratic law that is supreme in the Kingdom of Spain. It was ...

, it was not legally finalized until 1983. Afterwards, Muñoz had brief romantic relationships with Antonio Flores,

Vicente Fernández Vicente Fernández Gómez (17 February 1940 – 12 December 2021) was a Mexican singer, songwriter, actor, and film producer. Nicknamed "Chente" (short for Vicente), "El Charro de Huentitán" (The Charro from Huentitán), "El Ídolo de México ...

and Máximo Valverde. She also dated both Flavio Labarca when she lived in

in 1980 and Víctor Rubio Guijarro in the

in 1991, both who suffered from

drug abuse Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is the use of a drug in amounts or by methods which are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder. Differing definitions of drug abuse are used in public health, ...

by which Muñoz called off in both relationships. The most significant extramarital relationship of Muñoz's life was with

. She met Querejeta on the set of ''

Mamá cumple cien años ''Mamá cumple cien años'' is a 1979 Spanish comedy film written and directed by Carlos Saura. The film is a comedy sequel of the drama Ana and the Wolves directed by Saura in 1973. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Langua ...

'', which was nominated for the

Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film prior to 2020) is one of the Academy Awards handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to a ...

at the

52nd Academy Awards The 52nd Academy Awards ceremony, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored films released in 1979 and took place on April 14, 1980, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles beginning at 6:00 p ...

. The relationship subsequently received much publicity. Querejeta remained married to his wife throughout their relationship—although he and his wife had been living separate lives, there was never an official split and neither party pursued a divorce. Accordingly, Muñoz as a mistress, did not interfere to break this union, and also never fought for possible marriage or conjugal rights.

Death

Muñoz had been long struggling with health issues. In the spring of 1991, she suffered from

acute pancreatitis Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas. Causes in order of frequency include: 1) a gallstone impacted in the common bile duct beyond the point where the pancreatic duct joins it; 2) heavy alcohol use; 3) systemic disea ...

. In 2003, she was formally diagnosed with a

brain tumor A brain tumor occurs when abnormal cells form within the brain. There are two main types of tumors: malignant tumors and benign (non-cancerous) tumors. These can be further classified as primary tumors, which start within the brain, and seco ...

along with an arterial malformation in the vicinity of her

Cerebellum The cerebellum (Latin for "little brain") is a major feature of the hindbrain of all vertebrates. Although usually smaller than the cerebrum, in some animals such as the mormyrid fishes it may be as large as or even larger. In humans, the cerebe ...

. Muñoz was advised by her physicians of imminent death in which she suffered two cerebral aneurysms, the first case which paralyzed half of her body. She died on 27 February 2011, aged 56 and was given a highly private funeral at her own personal request. Her gravestone is marked at the Roman Catholic cemetery of Saint Michael in Málaga, Spain.

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Munoz, Amparo 1954 births 2011 deaths Beauty pageant controversies Miss Spain winners Miss Universe 1974 contestants Miss Universe winners People from Vélez-Málaga Spanish beauty pageant winners Spanish film actresses 20th-century Spanish actresses