Carole Joan Crawford (13 February 1943 – 18 December 2024) was a Jamaican of Afro-European heritage, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss World 1963, she was also the first winning delegate from both

Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...

and the Caribbean to have won Miss World. At the time of her victory, she was 20 years old and stood at a height of only , which was short by Miss World standards at the time. During the beauty competition, which was held in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, Crawford wore a specially designed swimsuit with a high neckline so that she would appear taller. Her return to Jamaica, after her historic win in London, sparked a huge celebration: "The reception when I returned was simply fantastic. The airport was filled with people welcoming me. The Government had issued millions of commemorative stamps with my picture in my swimsuit on it. There were receptions with Sir

Alexander Bustamante Sir William Alexander Clarke Bustamante (born William Alexander Clarke; 24 February 1884 – 6 August 1977) was a Jamaican politician and Jamaica Labour Party leader, who, on Independence Day, August 6th, 1962, became the first prime minister ...

and Governor General Sir

Clifford Campbell Sir Clifford Clarence Campbell (28 June 189228 September 1991) was a Jamaican educator and politician who served as speaker of the House and President of the Senate. In 1962, after Jamaica achieved independence, he was appointed as the first ...

and his wife. I was presented with the gold key to the city of Kingston." In honor of her winning the Miss World title, the Jamaica Post issued a series of stamps imprinted with an image of Crawford wearing a swimsuit. Later, Crawford resided in Canada, and was known as Carole Joan Crawford-Merkens. She died on 18 December 2024, at the age of 81.

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* 1943 births 2024 deaths Miss World winners Jamaican female models Miss Jamaica World winners Miss World 1963 delegates Models from Kingston, Jamaica Jamaican emigrants to Canada {{Jamaica-bio-stub