MIAMI -- Yvonne Ryding, a 21-year-old blue-eyed, blond nurse from Sweden, burst into tears and sobbed 'This is not happening' Monday night when she was crowned Miss Universe 1984.
'I can't believe it. I just can't believe it. This is not happening,' said Miss Ryding as a mob of reporters and photographers crowded around moments after the crown was placed on her head.
Backstage, the Swedish beauty embraced her parents as fellow contestants swarmed through the mob, trying to get close enough to offer a congratulatory kiss.
During the personal interview portion of the pageant, the 5-foot-7 Miss Sweden urged women all over the world to 'stand with both feet on the floor and try to make other people happy.'
Miss Ryding, chosen over 80 other contestants, will collect $175,000 in cash and prizes, including a year in a New York apartment, a sports car, a boat, a diamond watch and clothes.
Miss Ryding, a registered nurse who said she enjoys working with the aged and the handicapped, was crowned by the reigning Miss Universe, Lorraine Downes of New Zealand.
Miss South Africa, Tisha Snyman, 19, was first runnerup.
'I feel wonderful. I'm really, really honored,' said Miss Snyman, a model from Johannesburg.
Miss Venezuela, Carmen Montiel, 19, was second runnerup; Miss Philippines, Dess Verdadero, 21, was third runnerup; and Miss Colombia, Susana Caldas, 20, was fourth runnerup.
The other five semi-finalists included Miss USA, Mai Shanley from Alamagordo, N.M.; Miss Germany, Brigette Berx; Miss Thailand, Savinee Prakaranang; Miss Guatemala, Julieta Urrutia; and Miss Holland, Nancy Neede.
A sellout crowd of 4,000 jammed Miami's newest auditorium for the competition that city officials and businessmen hoped would pump new life into the city's tourist trade.
'Gosh, I thought this would be like a Super Bowl, but it's worse,' said Miami exporter Neil Polin, who tried desperately to buy a pair of tickets in the lobby of the auditorium just before the show began.
The $3 million show telecast by CBS was expected to draw 600 million viewers worldwide. It featured TV game show host Bob Barker as master of ceremonies, 'Knots Landing' star Joan Van Ark and singer Tom Jones.
An untelevised coronation ball in a luxury hotel in downtown Miami was to follow the event.
The contestants, ranging in age from 18 to 24, donned swimsuits and evening gowns Monday and practiced striding down the runway.
Two Communist countries sent contestants -- Miss Poland, Joanna Karska, and Miss Yugoslavia, Ksenica Borojevic, both 22.
Eighty-four contestants were originally slated to compete, but 18-year-old Miss Sri Lanka withdrew last week because she was homesick. Pageant officials said Miss Indonesia's government would not let her travel and Africa's Miss Transkei could not get a passport.
City officials put up about $200,000 and a Miami restaurateur put up another $100,000 to bring the contest back to the Miami, where it originated across Biscayne Bay on Miami Beach in 1960.
For hosting Miss Universe, Miami got 40 minutes of free TV exposure to a national audience of 70 million, including visits to museums, the beaches, the zoo and a ride on Dade County's new rapid transit system, Metrorail.
