The Miss Universe pageant is very popular around the world, held annually since 1950, although the title of Miss Universe has also been awarded to the winners of the International Beauty Contest that was held from 1926 to 1935 and was discontinued. From 1950 until today, 21 Latin American women have won it and here we review them.
1- Gladys Rosa (1957): Gladys Zender’s coronation filled all of Peru with pride in 1957 and she became the first Latin American to win the coveted title.
2- Marisol Malaret (1970): Malaret was the first Puerto Rican to win the Miss Universe crown, becoming a benchmark of beauty on the island.
3- Janelle Commissiong (Trinidad and Tobago) 1977: the Trinidadian won the title in the 26th edition of the contest, held at the National Theater of Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic.
4- Maritza Sayalero (1979): she is a Venezuelan architect, model and former beauty queen who became the first Miss Universe of that country in 1979, in Australia.
5- Irene Sáez (1981): winner of the Miss Venezuela 1981 and later of the Miss Universe and Miss South American Confraternity contests in 1981.
6- Deborah Carthy-Deu (1985): she is a model, actress and the second Puerto Rican to hold the title of Miss Universe, when she was elected in the contest held at the James L. Knight Center in Miami (Florida) on July 15, 1985.
7- Bárbara Palacios – (1986): is a Spanish-Venezuelan television presenter, writer, former model, former beauty queen. In 1986 she was the winner of Miss Venezuela, Miss South America and Miss Universe.
8 – Cecilia Bolocco (Chile) 1987: the Chilean won the title in the 36th edition of the contest, held in Hall Four of the World Trade Center in Singapore.
9 – Lupita Jones (Mexico) 1991: the Mexican won the title in the 40th edition of the contest, held at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, in the United States.
10 – Dayanara Torres (Puerto Rico) 1993: the Puerto Rican won the title in the 42nd edition of the contest, held at the National Auditorium in Mexico City.
11 – Alicia Machado (Venezuela) 1996: the Venezuelan won the title in the 45th edition of the contest, held at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts, Las Vegas.
12 – Wendy Fitzwilliam (Trinidad and Tobago) 1998: the Trinidadian won the title in the 47th edition of the contest, which took place on May 12 at the Stan Sheriff Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii.
13 – Denise Quiñones (2001) Puerto Rico: the Puerto Rican won the 50th edition of the competition, which took place at the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
14 – Justine Pasek (2002) Panama: the Panamanian won the 51st edition of the competition, which took place at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
15 – Amelia Vega (2003) Dominican Republic: the Dominican won the 52nd edition, which took place at the Figali Convention Center, Panama City.
16 – Zuleyka Rivera (2006) Puerto Rico: the Puerto Rican won the 55th edition of the pageant at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, United States.
17 – Dayana Mendoza (2008) Venezuela: the Venezuelan won the 57th edition of the contest, which was held at the Crown Convention Center, inside the Diamond Bay Resort, in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
18 – Stefanía Fernández (2009) Venezuela: the Venezuelan won the 58th edition of the contest, which was held at the Imperial Ballroom of the Atlantis Paradise Island resort, in Paradise Island, Bahamas.
19 – Ximena Navarrete (2010) Mexico: the Mexican won the 59th edition of the pageant, which was held at the Mandalay Bay Event Center, inside the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, United States.
20 – Gabriela Isler (2013) Venezuela: the Venezuelan won the 62nd edition of the contest, which was held at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia.
21 – Paulina Vega (2014) Colombia: the Colombian, the last winner of the contest, won the 63rd edition, held in the city of Doral, United States.
