text: Early life Armi Helena Kuusela was one of six children born to Finnish parents who owned and operated a small family business, except when her father, a decorated veteran, fought for Finland during World War II. She attended Elementary and Middle School in Muhos, and Porvoon Naisopisto Boarding School in Porvoo, Finland. She was unexpectedly invited to participate in Finland's national beauty pageant because the mother of her boarding school roommate responded to a public notice seeking the ideal representative for Suomen Neito, (translated, Maiden of Finland). On May 24, 1952, Kuusela won Finland's national title, which qualified her to compete in the first Miss Universe Pageant. It also elevated her to the status of a Goodwill Ambassador for Finland.  Among her prizes, she received a round trip ticket on Pan American Airlines to attend the first Miss Universe Pageant.
  Miss Universe
  On 17 June 1952, chaperoned by her older sister, Kuusela took the Pan Am flight from Helsinki to Long Beach, California, where she took part in the first Miss Universe Pageant. Thirty contestants participated in the Pageant, held on 28 June 1952. Kuusela, as Suomen Neito, captured the first Miss Universe crown. At her crowning, she was only 17 years old, weighed 49 kg (108 lb), and her height was .
  Among her many prizes, Kuusela received a new car and a long-term movie contract from Universal Studios.  As titleholder, she also became a Goodwill Ambassador for the Miss Universe organization.