Biography

Gloria María Aspillera Díaz (born 10 March 1951 in Aringay, La Union) is an award-winning actress in the Philippines, and the first Filipino to win the Miss Universe crown in 1969 in Miami Beach, Florida. Often cited as being part of the Díaz clan in newspapers, she is one of twelve children (10 girls and 2 boys). Díaz was approached by an individual who believed she would do well in the Miss Universe competition and groomed the young woman. Díaz was only 18 when she became Miss Universe 1969 after besting other candidates on the final question. It was about how to welcome the first men that had just landed on the moon -- Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins—as soon as they were back on the planet.