Semi-finalist Miss Brazil, Carmen Sílvia de Barros Ramasco was awarded the Best National Costume, a first time for this South American country. Miss Greece, Elya Kalligeraki, was chosen as 'Miss Photogenic' by the press photographers.
Ceylon, Ecuador, Guyana, Jamaica, Lebanon, Morocco, Surinam, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay withdrew from the competition.
Sylvia Hitchcock Carson was the fourth woman from the United States to win the title of Miss Universe. She received USD 10,000 in cash plus a personal appearance contract of USD 10,000 and gifts totaling USD 75,000.
Miss Ecuador, Laura Baquero, and Miss Thailand, Prapussorn Panichkul, were disqualified upon arrival because they were only 17 years old, being sent back to their countries. At the time, contestants had to be at least 18 and up to 28 by the date of the finals.
Miss Israel, Batia Kabiri, 19 years old and 5'7 ft (1.70 m) tall, was a soldier of the Israeli army who had gotten a special permission to attend the Pageant.