Wilnelia merced biography of nancy

Puerto Rican Miss World winner and model

Wilnelia, Lady Forsyth-Johnson (néeMerced Cruz; born 12 October 1957) is a Puerto Rican former actress, model and beauty queen.

She was crowned Miss World 1975, and was married to British entertainer Sir Bruce Forsyth from 1983 until his death in August 2017.

Wilnelia merced biography of nancy

Career

Born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Merced won Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico 1975 and went on to win the Miss World 1975 title at the Royal Albert Hall in London. She remained the only Puerto Rican to win the title until Stephanie Del Valle was crowned Miss World 2016 after serving as a judge for the pageant.

She travelled widely during 1975 and was invited to El Salvador by the Salvadorean military government before the civil war.

After passing on her crown in 1976, she was signed by Ford Models in New York City. In 1978, a giant poster of Wilnelia Merced was displayed in Times Square.

She was introduced to British television entertainer Bruce Forsyth at the