Miss Puerto Rico

Miss Puerto Rico is a national title bestowed on the women representing Puerto Rico in international beauty pageants.

In 1987, Puerto Rico became the ninth nation to win the Big Three pageants of Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International. In 2019, Puerto Rico won Miss Earth, becoming the fourth nation to win the Big Four pageants. Having also won Miss Supranational, Miss Grand International, and Miss Intercontinental by 2019, Puerto Rico became the first nation—and only one as of —to win the Big Six or Grand Slam and the Big Seven pageants.

As the second Ibero-American nation and fourth nation globally with the most titles in the Big Three, Big Four, Grand Slam, and Big Seven pageants, Puerto Rico, which has won 16 major titles as of 2023, is considered a powerhouse in the industry of beauty pageants, alongside Venezuela, United States, Philippines, and India.

In Puerto Rico, beauty queens are an important part of the culture. The businesswoman in the modeling and beauty industry in charge of many Puerto Rican representatives in international pageants between 1952 and 1998, Anna Santisteban, popularly known as the Hacedora de Reinas (Maker of Queens), is recognized as the figure who established the fervent enthusiasm for beauty queens in Puerto Rico. As the holder of the Miss Universe franchise in Puerto Rico, Santisteban produced three international winners in 1970, 1985 and 1993.

Despite being an American territory as a commonwealth (estado libre asociado) with democratic self-governance, Puerto Rico competes in international beauty competitions as a separate and independent nation from the United States since 1952, as it does in the Olympic Games since 1948 and the Pan American Games since 1955.

Big Three world ranking by year of complete achievement
As of, the following 14 nations, in order of achievement year, have won Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International, or the three oldest and most prestigious international beauty pageants, collectively known as the Big Three:

Big Three Ibero-American ranking by number of titles won
As of, the 23 nations of Ibero-America, in order of number of titles won, have performed as follows in Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International, or the three oldest and most prestigious international beauty pageants, collectively known as the Big Three:

Big Three world ranking by number of titles
As of, the following nations, in order of number of titles won, have won more times in Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International, or the three oldest and most prestigious international beauty pageants, collectively known as the Big Three:

Big Four world ranking by year of complete achievement
As of, the following 5 nations, in order of achievement year, have won Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth, or the four most historically important international beauty pageants, known collectively as the Big Four:

Big Four Ibero-American ranking by number of titles won
As of, the 23 nations of Ibero-America, in order of number of titles won, have performed as follows in Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth, or the four most historically important international beauty pageants, collectively known as the Big Four:

Big Four world ranking by number of titles won
As of, the following nations, in order of number of titles won, have won more times in Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth, or the four most historically important international beauty pageants, collectively known as the Big Four:

Grand Slam world ranking by year of complete achievement
As of, the following nation, in order of achievement year, has won Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational, and Miss Grand International, or the six most important international beauty pageants, collectively known as the Big Six or Grand Slam:

Grand Slam Ibero-American ranking by number of titles won
As of, the 23 nations of Ibero-America, in order of number of titles won, have performed as follows in Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational, and Miss Grand International, or the six most important international beauty pageants, collectively known as the Big Six or Grand Slam:

Grand Slam world ranking by number of titles won
As of, the following 69 nations, in order of number of titles won, have managed to win at least once in Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational, or Miss Grand International, or one of the six most important international beauty pageants, collectively known as the Big Six or Grand Slam:

Big Seven world ranking by year of complete achievement
As of, the following nation, in order of achievement year, has won Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational, Miss Grand International, and Miss Intercontinental, or the seven most important international beauty pageants, collectively known as the Big Seven:

Big Seven Ibero-American ranking by number of titles won
As of, the 23 nations of Ibero-America, in order of number of titles won, have performed as follows in Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational, Miss Grand International, and Miss Intercontinental, or the seven most important international beauty pageants, collectively known as the Big Seven:

Big Seven world ranking by number of titles won
As of, the following 75 nations, in order of number of titles won, have managed to win at least once in Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational, Miss Grand International, or Miss Intercontinental, or one of the seven most important international beauty pageants, collectively known as the Big Seven:

Major titles won
Hundreds of beauty contests are held every year, but those known as the Big Four are considered the most prestigious, widely covered and broadcast by the international media. These three competitions are: Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International.

Puerto Rico has won Miss Universe five times: 1970 with Marisol Malaret, 1985 with Deborah Carthy-Deu, 1993 with Dayanara Torres, 2001 with Denise Quiñones, and 2006 with Zuleyka Rivera; Miss World twice: 1975 with Wilnelia, Lady Forsyth-Johnson, and 2016 with Stephanie Del Valle; and Miss International twice: 1987 with Laurie Simpson, and 2014 with Valerie Hernández. In 1987, Puerto Rico became the ninth nation globally to win all three competitions. With 9 titles, Puerto Rico is the fourth nation globally with the most titles won in these pageants.

Miss Earth is historically considered the next most important pageant. Puerto Rico has won the title once with Nellys Pimentel in 2019. Along with the three aforementioned competitions, Miss Earth composes Big Four (Big Four) pageants. In 2019, Puerto Rico became the fourth nation to win the four contests. With 10 titles, Puerto Rico is the fourth nation globally with the most titles won in these pageants.

The two most prestigious and relevant pageants after the Big four are: Miss Supranational and Miss Grand International. Puerto Rico has won both competitions once, winning Miss Supranational in 2018 with Valeria Vázquez Latorre, and Miss Grand International in 2013 with Janelee Chaparro Colón in the first edition of the pageant.

These six beauty competitions—Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational, and Miss Grand International—are considered the Big Six or Grand Slam, as they are the most important in the world of beauty pageants. In 2019, Puerto Rico became the first nation in the world to win all six. As of, Puerto Rico is the only nation to have achieved this feat. With 12 titles, Puerto Rico is the fourth nation globally with the most titles won in these pageants.

Together with Miss Intercontinental, the oldest minor international beauty competition, these major pageants are collectively known as the Big Seven. Puerto Rico has won Miss Intercontinental four times: 1986 with Elizabeth Robinson, 1991 with Carmen Lynda Díaz, 2010 with Maydelise Columna, and 2016 with Heylimar Rosario. In 2019, Puerto Rico became the first nation in the world to win all seven. As of, Puerto Rico is the only nation to have achieved this feat. With 16 titles, Puerto Rico is the fourth nation globally with the most titles won in these pageants.

With a decade of history, a high quality production, and more than sixty competing delegates, Miss Global is one of the most relevant international beauty pageants following the seven mentioned above. Puerto Rico earned its first Miss Global crown with Ashley Meléndez, who won the title in the pageant’s 2023 edition.

As of, Puerto Rico has won the following important international titles:

Placements in major pageants
In 2006, Puerto Rico placed for the first time in all Big Three pageants of Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International. In 2010, Puerto Rico placed for the first time in all Big Four competitions of Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth. In 2019, Puerto Rico placed for the first time in all Big Six or Grand Slam pageants of Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational, and Miss Grand International. In 2023, Puerto Rico placed for the first time in all Big Seven pageants of Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational, Miss Grand International, and Miss Intercontinental.

As of, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements in the most important international pageants:

History
In its various forms, the Miss Puerto Rico beauty pageant has been held almost every year since the 1930s. The winner of the contest represents Puerto Rico at the Miss Universe pageant each year.

The selection of Miss Universe Puerto Rico commences the year before the winner advances to participate in the Miss Universe pageant. Each Puerto Rican municipality may choose a representative who then enters the Miss Puerto Rico finals, traditionally held at a San Juan area hotel. The winner is crowned at the conclusion of the final competition.

There have been several changes to the pageant's ownership and name. Miss Puerto Rico was held from 1952 until 1998 under the direction of Anna Santisteban. From 1996 to 1998, Telemundo organized the contest under the name Miss Universe Puerto Rico. From 1999 to 2002, TeleOnce (now Univision Puerto Rico) obtained the franchise, renaming it Miss Puerto Rico Universe. Magali Febles organized the pageant between 2003 and 2009 and the pageant title remained the same. In 2009, Luisito Vigoreaux and Desireé Lowry obtained the franchise and renamed the pageant Miss Universe Puerto Rico. In 2018, WAPA-TV obtained ownership of the franchise, keeping the name of Miss Universe Puerto Rico and hiring Denise Quiñones as the pageant’s director. In 2022, host, motivational speaker, Miss Puerto Rico Petite 2000 (national title), and Miss Global Petite 2000 (international title), Yizette Cifredo Hernández, became the new national director of the pageant.

Puerto Rico has held the following Miss Universe editions:

Miss Universe world ranking by number of finalists and semifinalists
As of, the following nations, in order of number of finalists and semifinalists, have placed more times in the final night of the competition:

Miss Universe world ranking by number of finalists
As of, the following countries or territories, in order of number of finalists, have placed more times in the final group of finalists:

Miss Universe world ranking by number of titles
As of, the following countries or territories, in order of number of titles, have earned the largest number of titles:

Puerto Rico placements in Miss Universe
As of, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements in Miss Universe:

Puerto Rico has placed consecutively in the last six editions of the international competition, becoming the longest uninterrupted streak in the history of Puerto Rico, and the second longest uninterrupted streak in the international competition currently after United States, which has consecutively placed for the last 13 years.

Representatives
Winner of Miss Universe
 * Color Key

Runner-up in the Top 3, Top 5, or Top 6

Finalist in the Top 10 or Top 12

Semifinalist in the Top 16 or Top 20

History
Puerto Rico debuted in Miss World in 1959, then it was absent from 1960 to 1969. In 1970, a new organization took the responsibility of sending contestants until 1985 via castings. Puerto Rico did not compete in Miss World from 1986 to 1988. The Miss Puerto Rico organization, directed by Anna Santisteban, obtained the Miss World franchise in 1989, Tania Collazo was her first Miss World delegate. Santisteban produced Miss World Puerto Rico until 1995.

In 1996, Delia Cruz, mother of Miss World Wilnelia Merced, Lady Forsyth-Johnson, obtained the franchise and began organizing the Miss Mundo Puerto Rico pageant with Tania Collazo as organizer for a few years before Desiree Lowry, and later on Shanira Blanco. Currently, the pageant is headed by Wilnelia Merced and Fernando Allende.

Miss World 2021 was held in Puerto Rico in the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum.

Placements
Puerto Rico has two winners in Miss World 1975 and Miss World 2016. As of, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:

Representatives
Winner of Miss World
 * Color Key

Runner-up in the Top 3 or Top 8

Finalist in the Top 10 or Top 17

Semifinalist in the Top 20 or Top 25

Quarterfinalist in the Top 30 or Top 40

History
This contest is considered the third most important female beauty event in the world. The Miss Puerto Rico pageant had the rights to this franchise from 1960 to 1997. Then, from 1998 to 2003, the Miss Puerto Rico Tourism pageant, led by Jorge Manrique, and later by former Miss Puerto Rico Tourism and Miss World Puerto Rico Tania Collazo. In 2004, the new Bellezas del Turismo (Tourism Beauties) pageant, also directed by Tania Collazo, obtained the rights until 2006. From 2007 to 2015, the firm Creative Options Inc. chaired by Fernando Oquendo Vega, was in charged of the franchise, which was directed for a while by Desireé Del Río De Jesús, Miss International Puerto Rico 2011.

Currently, Nuestra Belleza Puerto Rico (Our Beauty Puerto Rico) organization chaired by Miguel R. Deliz has ownership of the franchise with Miss Supranational Puerto Rico, and Miss Grand Puerto Rico, and Miss Charm Puerto Rico.

Placements
Puerto Rico has two winners in Miss International 1987 and Miss International 2014. As of, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:

Representatives
Winner of Miss International
 * Color Key

Runner-up in the Top 5

Finalist in the Top 8

Semifinalist in the Top 12 or Top 15

History
The Miss Puerto Rico Universe organization sent representatives to Miss Earth between 2001 and 2004 under Magaly Febles. From 2005 to 2013, Puerto Rico's representative to Miss Earth was selected through the Miss Puerto Rico Earth pageant. Under the direction of Shanira Blanco in 2014, the representative was selected through the Miss Mundo Puerto Rico pageant with the 1st Runner-Up being sent to Miss Earth. In 2018, Vanessa de Roide and Joe Amhed took control of the franchise. Currently, Amhed is the sole national director of Miss Earth Puerto Rico.

Placements
Puerto Rico conquered the crown of Miss Earth with Nellys Pimentel in 2019. In winning, Puerto Rico became one of only five countries to win the four most recognized pageants of Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth. Puerto Rico also became the first—and the only country as of —to win the six most important beauty international competitions: Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational, and Miss Grand International.

As of, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:

Representatives
For a complete list of the representatives to Miss Earth

Winner of Miss Earth
 * Color Key

Runner-up in the Top 4

Finalist in the Top 8

Semifinalist in the Top 12 or Top 15

Semifinalist in the Top 20

Big Four titleholders
Puerto Rico's performance in the Big four international beauty pageants of Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth, which are historically considered the most important, as of :

Miss Universe winner
 * Color key

Miss World winner

Miss International winner

Miss Earth winner

Ended as Runner-up

Ended as Semi-finalist or Quarter-finalist

History
The Miss Supranational representative from Puerto Rico is chosen at the Nuestra Belleza Puerto Rico (Our Beauty Puerto Rico) national beauty pageant. Miss Supranational was established in 2009, but Puerto Rico did not send a representative for the pageant’s first edition.

Placements
Puerto Rico has one winner in Miss Supranational 2018. As of, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:

Representatives
Winner of Miss Supranational
 * Color Key

Runner-up in the Top 5

Finalist in the Top 10 or Top 12

Semifinalist in the Top 20 or Top 25

History
Miss Grand International Puerto Rico is the title of the female beauty contest in Puerto Rico created since 2013 to compete at Miss Grand International. The winner of the title carries it for a period of about a year, and they give meaning and importance to this beauty competition by promoting a stop to war and violence, a campaign which is the slogan of the pageant. The Miss Grand International candidate from Puerto Rico is chosen at the Nuestra Belleza Puerto Rico (Our Beauty Puerto Rico) national beauty pageant.

Placements
The first Puerto Rican delegate to win the international title of Miss Grand International was Janelee Chaparro in 2013 at the pageant’s first edition.

In 2023, there were two candidates of full Puerto Rican descent participating: Cristina Ramos of Puerto Rico, who finished in the top 20, and Sthephanie Miranda of United States of America, who finished as 3rd runner-up.

As of, Puerto Rico is the only nation to have placed in all editions of the pageant, producing the following placements:

Representatives
Winner of Miss Grand International
 * Color Key

Runner-up in the Top 5

Finalist in the Top 10

Semifinalist in the Top 20

History
Currently, a pageant is not being held to choose the representative of Puerto Rico for Miss Intercontinental. In recent years, the delegate has been chosen from the group of semifinalists in Miss World Puerto Rico.

Placements
Puerto Rico has won Miss Intercontinental four times in 1986, 2010, and 2016, but the current organization of the pageant only recognizes three winners. Miss Intercontinental does not include Puerto Rico’s 1991 win in their official archive.

Miss Intercontinental was held twice in 1991. Carmen Lynda Díaz from Puerto Rico won the first edition held in Lagos, Nigeria by Nigerian owners of the pageant, Silverbird Productions, which held the franchise from 1986 to 1991, and Elena Ivanova from Russia won the second edition held in Bonn, Germany by organizers working under the direction of the new owners of the pageant, a company from Germany, which held the competition in Europe from 1991 to 2003. Despite not being included in the official archive of the pageant by the current owners, Puerto Rico irrefutably won the first edition of 1991 in Nigeria, thus achieving its second Miss Intercontinental crown.

Having produced four winners as of, Puerto Rico is the second country with the most crowns. Venezuela and United States have the most winners with 5 each.

Since it began to be awarded in 2008, Puerto Rico is the country with the most Miss North America titles, winning it six times as of.

As of, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:

Representatives
Winner of Miss Intercontinental
 * Color Key

Runner-up in the Top 3 or Top 5

Finalist in the Top 10, Top 15 o Top 20

Big Seven titleholders
Puerto Rico's performance in the two international beauty pageants of Miss Supranational and Miss Grand International, which together with the Big Four—Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth—make up the Big Six, or the Grand Slam. Also included is the oldest minor international pageant, Miss Intercontinental, which together with the six previously mentioned, compose the Big Seven. In addition, Miss Global is included, which is one of the most important international pageants to follow these seven. As of, Puerto Rico has performed in these as follows:

Miss Supranational winner
 * Color key

Miss Grand International winner

Miss Intercontinental winner

Miss Global winner

Ended as Runner-up

Ended as Semi-finalist or Quarter-finalist

History
The Miss Global candidate from Puerto Rico is chosen at the Miss Earth Puerto Rico national beauty pageant, which is directed by Joe Amhed.

Placements
The first Puerto Rican delegate to win the international title of Miss Global was Ashley Meléndez in January of 2024 at the pageant’s 2023 edition, where she competed against 72 other delegates. She was the first candidate from Puerto Rico to have participated in the pageant, making her one of the few women in history who have won an international beauty pageant title as a debuting delegate.

As of, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:

Representatives
Winner of Miss Global
 * Color Key

Runner-up in the Top 3 or Top 5

Finalist in the Top 10 or Top 15

Semifinalist in the Top 20 or Top 25

History
The Miss Cosmo candidate from Puerto Rico is chosen in the national beauty pageant Nuestra Belleza Puerto Rico (Our Beauty Puerto Rico) presided by Miguel René Deliz and directed by Valeria Vázquez Latorre.

Placements
The representative of Puerto Rico for Miss Cosmo will be part of the first edition of the pageant, which will be held in 2024.

Until, Puerto Rico has produced the following classifications:

Representatives
Winner of Miss Cosmo
 * Color Key

Runner-up as First-Runner Up

Finalist in the Top 5

Semifinalist in the Top 10

Semifinalist in the Top 21

History
The Miss Charm candidate from Puerto Rico is chosen by the Nuestra Belleza Puerto Rico (Our Beauty Puerto Rico) organization, which is presided by Miguel René Deliz and directed by Valeria Vázquez Latorre.

Placements
Until, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:

Representatives
Winner of Miss Charm
 * Color Key

Runner-up in the Top 3

Finalist in the Top 6

Semifinalist in the Top 10

Semifinalist in the Top 20

History
The representative for Universal Woman from Puerto Rico is elected by the organization of "Universal Woman Puerto Rico" presided and directed by David Díaz Villegas.

Placements
Until, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:

Representatives
Winner of Universal Woman

Finalist in the Top 5

Semifinalist in the Top 12

Semifinalist in the Top 24

Crossovers

 * Miss Universe
 * 2023 – Karla Guilfú (Top 5)
 * 2019 – Madison Anderson (1st Runner-Up)
 * 2016 – Brenda Jiménez (Unplaced)
 * 2014 – Gabriela Berrios (Unplaced)
 * 2008 – Ingrid Marie Rivera (Unplaced)
 * 1998 – Joyce Giraud (2nd Runner-Up)
 * 1997 – Ana Rosa Brito (Top 10)
 * 1994 – Brenda Robles (Unplaced)
 * 1993 – Dayanara Torres (WINNER)
 * 1987 – Laurie Simpson (4th Runner-Up)
 * 1986 – Elizabeth Robison (Top 10)
 * Miss World
 * 2005 – Ingrid Marie Rivera (2nd Runner-Up)
 * 1994 – Joyce Giraud (Unplaced)
 * 1993 – Ana Rosa Brito (Unplaced)
 * Miss International
 * 2016 – Gabriela Berrios (Unplaced)
 * 2003 – Dignelis Jiménez (Unplaced)
 * 1993 – Brenda Robles (Unplaced)
 * 1992 – Dayanara Torres (Top 15)
 * 1990 – Ana Rosa Brito (Unplaced)
 * 1987 – Laurie Simpson (WINNER)
 * 1986 – Elizabeth Robison (Top 15)
 * Miss Earth
 * 2009 – Dignelis Jiménez (Unplaced)
 * Miss Latin International US
 * 2010 – Gabriela Berrios (WINNER)
 * Miss Tourism Intercontinental
 * 2010 – Gabriela Berrios (WINNER)
 * Miss Supranational
 * 2021 – Karla Guilfú (1st Runner-Up)
 * 2012 – Gabriela Berrios (Top 20)
 * Miss Grand International
 * 2017 – Brenda Jiménez (3rd Runner-Up)
 * 2016 – Madison Anderson (3rd Runner–Up)

Miss Puerto Rico Scholarship Program
Puerto Rico sends a delegate to the Miss America competition. 2010 was the first time Puerto Rico had done so since 1961.