Akiko Kojima

Akiko Kojima

Beauty pageant titleholder
Born	Akiko Kojima (1936-10-29) October 29, 1936 Tokyo, Japan
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Measurements	37–23–38& in (94–58–96 cm)
Title(s)	Miss Japan 1959, Miss Universe 1959
Major competition(s)	Miss Japan 1959 (Winner), Miss Universe 1959 (Winner)

Akiko Kojima (児島 明子, Kojima Akiko) (October 29, 1936 in Tokyo) is a Japanese model and the first Miss Universe to originate from Asia. She was crowned Miss Japan 1959 by Miss Japan 1958, Tomoko Moritake.

Biography

Akiko was a 22-year-old model from Tokyo, Japan when she bested four other finalists from Norway, the USA, England, and Brazil for the 1959 Miss Universe crown in Long Beach, California. At 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m), Akiko measured 37–23–38 inches (94–58–96 cm), which many believed as "incredible dimensions". She denied having undergone breast surgery. Akiko settled into a quiet married life after her reign. Forty eight years later another Japanese national, Riyo Mori, won the Miss Universe pageant in 2007.

She is divorced from the famous Japanese actor Akira Takarada, who rose to fame in the Toho movie studios doing the Godzilla movies since 1954.

References

Preceded by Tomoko Moritake

Miss Japan 1959

Succeeded by Yayoi Foruno