Former Miss Universe Amparo Muñoz dies at 56

After suffering for a long time from a disease which the family refused to disclose, Miss Universe 1974 Amparo Muñoz passed away last February 27 at the age of 56.

Amparo Muñoz was a fashion model who represented Spain when the Miss Universe was held for the first time in Manila, Philippines in 1974. She won the beauty pageant that year and became the first and only Spaniard to won the title so far. She succeeded Margie Moran, Miss Universe 1973 from the Philippines.

Six months after her coronation, though, she stepped down when she refused to go to Japan.

She became an actress in Spain after the pageant. She also did a movie in Philippines together with 1969 Miss Universe titleholder Gloria Diaz entitled, "Hayop sa Ganda" which was released in 1983.

Unconfirmed reports went out earlier that the beauty queen suffered AIDS and brain tumor but she denied it.

Here's a video of the late Miss Universe during the 1974 beauty competition in Manila: