View source for Akiko Kojima

{{short description|Japanese model and beauty queen (born 1936)}}
{{western name order|Kojima Akiko}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=January 2011}}
{{Expand Japanese|topic=bio|児島明子|date=May 2019}}
}}
{{Infobox pageant titleholder
| name = Akiko Kojima
| title = [[Miss Japan]] 1959 <br> [[Miss Universe 1959]]
| image = Akiko Kojima 1959 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Kojima in 1959
| native_name = 児島 明子
| native_name_lang = ja
| nationalcompetition = [[Miss Japan]] 1959 <br> (Winner) <br> [[Miss Universe 1959]] <br> (Winner)
| birth_place = [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1936|10|29}}
| height = {{height|m=1.68}}
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Akira Takarada]]|1966|1984|reason=div}}
| domestic_partner = 
| children = Michiru Kojima (daughter)
| films = 
| agency = 
| hair_color = black
| eye_color = brown
| competitions = 
| module = 
| website = 
| signature = 
| signature_size = 
| signature_alt = 
}}

{{nihongo|'''Akiko Kojima'''|児島 明子|Kojima Akiko|born October 29, 1936}} is a Japanese model and beauty queen. She was crowned [[Miss Universe 1959]], making her the first Japanese and Asian woman to win the title.<ref name=r1>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CfljAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AuUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4637,1222532&dq=akiko+kojima&hl=en|title=Japanese Girl Beauty Queen|date=July 26, 1959|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=5 January 2011}}</ref>

==Biography==
Kojima was a 22-year-old model from Tokyo, Japan, when she won over four other finalists from Norway, the U.S., England, and Brazil for the 1959 Miss Universe crown in Long Beach, California. At 5&nbsp;ft 6 in (167.6&nbsp;cm), Akiko measured 37–23–38&nbsp;inches (94.0–58.4–96.5&nbsp;cm).<ref name=r1/><ref>''Associated Press''. July 13, 1959. (see back side of [[:File:Akiko Kojima 1959c.jpg]])</ref> She denied press reports on having undergone breast surgery.<ref>''Associated Press''. August 13, 1959. (see back side of [[:File:Akiko Kojima 1959.jpg]])</ref> A year later, Akiko crowned [[Linda Bement]] from the United States in 1960.

In 1966, Kojima was married to Japanese actor [[Akira Takarada]], who rose to fame in the Toho movie studios doing the [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]] movies since 1954. Kojima settled into a quiet married life. They later had a daughter, Michiru Kojima, in 1967. They divorced in 1984, and Kojima left with their daughter.

Forty eight years later after her reign, Japanese [[Riyo Mori]] won the Miss Universe pageant in 2007.

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{commons category}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{s-bef|before={{flagicon|COL|1861}} [[Luz Marina Zuluaga]] †}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Miss Universe]]|years=[[Miss Universe 1959|1959]]}}
{{s-aft|after={{flagicon|USA|1959}} [[Linda Bement]]}}
{{s-bef|before=Tomoko Moritake}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Miss Japan]]|years=1959}}
{{s-aft|after=Yayoi Foruno}}
{{s-end}}

{{Miss Universe titleholders}}
{{Miss Universe 1959 delegates}}
{{Miss Universe Organization titleholders
| Year = 1959
| Miss Universe = {{flagicon|JPN}} '''Akiko Kojima'''
| Miss USA = {{flagicon|California}} [[Terry Huntingdon]]
}}
{{Big Four Pageants titleholders
| Year = 1959
| Miss World = {{flagicon|NLD}} [[Corine Rottschäfer]]
| Miss Universe = {{flagicon|JPN}} '''Akiko Kojima'''
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kojima, Akiko}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:Japanese beauty pageant winners]]
[[Category:Japanese female models]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Miss Universe 1959 contestants]]
[[Category:Miss Universe winners]]

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