Miss Peru send her representative, Mary Núñez, to the Miss Universe Pageant, because she was prevented from participating by the president of the republic, Juan Velasco Alvarado. He considered the contest was the product of American capitalism, and a country with which he did not have good relations. This was the only occasion in which a Miss Peru did not participate in the Miss Universe except for the 1955 and 1974, when no contest was held. Given the refusal of Alvarado, Mary Núñez was sent to Miss World 1973 in London, England. In 1982, Peru became the first South American country to
Juan José Alvarado Juan José Alvarado Juan José Alvarado (1798–1857) was Supreme Director of Honduras from 15 April 1839 to 27 April 1839. Alvarado was born in Ciudad de la Esperanza, Intibucá, but later lived in Gracias a Dios in the department of Lempira, where he worked as a surveyor. There he became a judge of first instance and Jefe Político of Gracias. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly and was elected President of this Parliament. On 26 October 1838 under the provincial government of José María Martinez Salinas, the province of Honduras had declared itself a separate state. Francisco Ferrera,