SAN JUAN, P. R., July 21 —Thousands of proud, cheer ing Puerto Ricans jammed the Isla Verde airport today and lined the six‐mile route to the capital building to welcome home Marisol Malaret Con treras, Miss Universe of 1970.
“Marisol Marisol!” they shouted, waving pennants and colored balloons as the tall, green‐eyed beauty de scended from an Eastern Air Lines jet, stepped onto a red carpet and was engulfed immediately by an affection ate crowd of her compatriots.
Officials waiting to greet her—including the Governor, the heads of the Common wealth Senate and House, and the Chief Justice of the Wand’s Supreme Court were squashed by a crowd of photographers and jubilant gate‐crashers. Miss Malaret, sinning, kissed a bouquet of blue flowers and threw the blossoms to the throng.
Choked With Emotion
A local TV commentator, choked with emotion, watched confetti hurled from office buildings along Ponce de Leon Avenue and said, “This is the biggest parade we’ve ever seen here!” The police estimated crowds in the streets at well above 50,000. Many thousands more watch ed the spectacle on television. At a local department store, for example, over 300 persons watched a phalanx of color TV’s. When the jet from New York touched the runway they broke into applause and cheers.
“This is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to Puerto Rico—even greater than when Carlos Ortiz won the world’s [lightweight] box ing championship, or when Roberto Clemente won the batting title,” said one mid dle‐aged man watching the arrival from a pizzeria near the airport.
“She’s our own Cinderella,” said the proprietor, smiling.
“You should understand,” he told a visitor, “Puerto Rico is a small, poor island. We know our women are beauti ful. But for one of them to compete with all the great nations of the world—Brazil, Germany, the United States— and to win, why that’s fantas tic!”
Since Miss Malaret won the Miss Universe title in Miami Beach on July 11, she has been the major story in the island’s news media. Lo cal papers have carried edi torials and full‐page color photos. Poems have been written in her honor and a new pop tune will make its debut this week.
Prisoners’ Welcome
Inmates at the nearby Rio Piedras penitentiary painted a huge sign of welcome on the prison wall. Gov. Luis A. Perre declared today a half holiday for the island’s 100, 000 Government workers, and island banks have fol lowed suit.
Men in the streets in dulging in the classic Latin piropo (flirtation) now say, “Hi, Marisol,” to pretty girls passing by.
Marisol has even become the focus of political contro versy. Senate President Ra fael Hernandez Colon, an adherent of the present Com monwealth status, told a rally of followers two nights ago, “Marisol could never have won the Miss Universe title for her island if Puerto Rico were a state. Our island would lose its unique person ality.”
The new beauty queen, however, has artfully steered clear of controversy. Her striking looks and polished replies to aggressive ques tions by newsmen have evoked great admiration here.
Marisol is 20 years old, has large green eyes and long auburn hair. She is nearly 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 125 pounds and measures 35‐23‐35.
Raised by Aunt
She is an orphan. Her parents died when she was 10. She and a crippled brother were raised in the Puerto Nuevo section of San Juan by an elderly aunt who received $90 a month from Social Security and earned $200 a month selling Gov ernment lottery tickets.
After taking a special two‐ year secretarial course at the local university, she joined the Puerto Rico Telephone Company, which sponsored her entry in the Miss Uni verse contest.
“She’s got brains to match her beauty,” one matron said proudly this afternoon. “When they asked her about politics, she embraced both the American and Puerto Rican flags.”
Since winning the Miss Universe title, Miss Malaret has received a kiss from New York’s Mayor Lindsay and the key to the city. She will now be feted for four days on her island, after which she leaves for a year of personal appearances.
