Carole Crawford biography: 13 things about Miss World 1963

Carole Joan Crawford Merkens is a Jamaican model and beauty queen based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She was named after Joan Crawford.

Merkens was born in Jamaica to Vinton Reginald Crawford, who owned the Tropical Trading Company in Kingston, Jamaica, and Edna May Crawford. Vinton and Edna have two other children named Vin Crawford and Darryl Crawford.

From Jamaica, Merkens later moved to Canada with her husband Klaus Merkens and their two children. Born in Germany, he worked as an industrial importer to Jamaica.

Merkens is 5’3″ tall and she is the first Miss World from Jamaica. Here are 13 more things about her:

1. On August 2, 1963, as Miss Pepsi Cola, she competed against 14 other Miss Jamaica 1963 candidates at the Sheraton Kingston Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica. She won the title.
2. On November 7, 1963, she represented Jamaica at Miss World 1963 and competed against 39 other candidates at the Lyceum Ballroom in London, England, United Kingdom. She won the title.
3. On December 15, 1963, she attended the Mister Berlin 1963 competition in the Eden Saloon in Berlin, Germany, which was won by Jürgen Künn.
4. On March 17, 1964, she had a photo soot on the Thames riverbank in London and modeled for Mayfair hairdresser in London. can
5. On November 12, 1964, she went back to the Lyceum Ballroom in London to crown her successor Miss World 1964 Ann Sidney. Shortly after, she met Klaus through a blind date.
6. In September 1965, she and Klaus got engaged.
7. In 1966, she and Klaus got married.
8. In 1970, she gave birth to Stephen Klaus Merkens.
9. In 1974, she gave birth to Daniela Veruschka Merkens.
10. On December 29, 1975, her father passed away.
11. In 1977, she, Klaus, Stephen and Daniela moved to Toronto, Ontario.
12. On December 9, 1994, her mother passed away.
13. On February 12, 2024, she turned 81.