The Miss Universe Pageant is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by the United States–based Miss Universe Organization. It is one of the most watched pageants in the world with an estimated audience of over 500 million viewers in over 190 territories.
The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) is a global, inclusive organization that celebrates women of all cultures and backgrounds and empowers them to realize their goals through experiences that build self-confidence and create opportunities for success. According to the organizers, the Miss Universe contest is more than a beauty pageant, along with participating in swimsuit and evening gown competitions, women aspiring to become Miss Universe must also be intelligent, well-mannered, and cultured. The delegates and titleholders that have participated in the MUO system are able to cultivate their personal, professional, and philanthropic goals. These women are forward thinking and motivated to not just talk about change, but to initiate it.
The first Miss Universe Pageant, won by Armi Kuusela of Finland, was held in Long Beach, California in 1952.
Year
Titleholder
Country
Age
1952
Armi Kuusela
Finland
17
1953
Christiane Martel
France
17
1954
Miriam Stevenson
United States
21
1955
Hillevi Rombin
Sweden
21
1956
Carol Morris
United States
20
1957
Gladys Zender
Peru
17
1958
Luz Marina Zuluaga
Columbia
19
1959
Akiko Kojima
Japan
22
1960
Linda Bement
United States
18
1961
Marlene Schmidt
Germany
23
1962
Norma Nolan
Argentina
24
1963
Iêda Maria Vargas
Brazil
18
1964
Corinna Tsopei
Greece
20
1965
Apasra Hongsakula
Thailand
18
1966
Margareta Arvidsson
Sweden
18
1967
Sylvia Hitchcock
United States
21
1968
Martha Vasconcellos
Brazil
20
1969
Gloria Diaz
Philippines
18
1970
Marisol Malaret
Puerto Rico
20
1971
Georgina Rizk
Lebanon
18
1972
Kerry Anne Wells
Australia
20
1973
Margie Moran
Philippines
19
1974
Amparo Muñoz
Spain
20
1975
Anne Marie Pohtamo
Finland
19
1976
Rina Messinger
Israel
20
1977
Janelle Commissiong
Trinidad and Tobago
24
1978
Margaret Gardiner
South Africa
18
1979
Maritza Sayalero
Venezuela
18
1980
Shawn Weatherly
United States
20
1981
Irene Sáez
Venezuela
19
1982
Karen Dianne Baldwin
Canada
18
1983
Lorraine Downes
New Zealand
19
1984
Yvonne Ryding
Sweden
21
1985
Deborah Carthy-Deu
Puerto Rico
19
1986
Bárbara Palacios
Venezuela
22
1987
Cecilia Bolocco
Chile
22
1988
Porntip Nakhirunkanok
Thailand
20
1989
Angela Visser
Netherlands
22
1990
Mona Grudt
Norway
19
1991
Lupita Jones
Mexico
23
1992
Michelle McLean
Namibia
19
1993
Dayanara Torres
Puerto Rico
18
1994
Sushmita Sen
India
18
1995
Chelsi Smith
United States
21
1996
Alicia Machado
Venezuela
19
1997
Brook Lee
United States
26
1998
Wendy Fitzwilliam
Trinidad and Tobago
25
1999
Mpule Kwelagobe
Botswana
19
2000
Lara Dutta
India
22
2001
Denise Quiñones
Puerto Rico
20
2002
Oxana Fedorova
Justine Pasek
Russia
Panama
24
23
2003
Amelia Vega
Dominican Republic
18
2004
Jennifer Hawkins
Australia
20
2005
Natalie Glebova
Canada
23
2006
Zuleyka Rivera
Puerto Rico
18
2007
Riyo Mori
Japan
20
2008
Dayana Mendoza
Venezuela
22
2009
Stefanía Fernández
Venezuela
18
2010
Ximena Navarrete
Mexico
22
2011
Leila Lopes
Angola
25
2012
Olivia Culpo
United States
20
2013
Gabriela Isler
Venezuela
25
2014
Paulina Vega
Colombia
22
2015
Pia Wurtzbach
Philippines
26
2016
Iris Mittenaere
France
24
2017
Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters
South Africa
22
2018
Catriona Gray
Philippines
24
2019
Zozibini Tunzi
South Africa
26
2020
Andrea Meza
Mexico
26
2021
Harnaaz Sandhu
India
21
2022
R’Bonney Gabriel
United States
28
2023
Sheynnis Palacio
Nicaragua
23
2024
Victoria Kjaer Theilvig
Denmark
21
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