Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2010

Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2010 was the 55th Miss Puerto Rico Universe pageant, held at the Centro De Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on November 12, 2009.

Mayra Matos crowned Mariana Vicente at the end of the event. Vicente represented Puerto Rico at the Miss Universe 2010 pageant, and placed in the top ten.

Castings
Eight casting calls were held throughout Puerto Rico beginning on May 9, 2009 and ending on June 28, 2009. Over 60 women were selected as pre-contestants, but only 40 became the official contestants in an event on July 11, 2009 in Teatro Ambassador in San Juan. During the event five contestants were given the Special Awards of the night:


 * Best Presentation/Projection: Ariana Rodriguez - Miss Carolina
 * Best Catwalk: Aideliz Hidalgo - Miss Cayey
 * Best Look Change: Juanita Acosta - Miss Toa Alta
 * Best Mood in Competition: Kathleen Flores - Miss Utuado
 * Best Self-Presentation: Coral Del Mar Casanova - Miss Hatillo

Buscando La Mas Bella
Buscando La Mas Bella is an interactive reality show featuring the 40 contestants in different activities and challenges. Each week people will have the chance to vote through a text message for their favorite contestant of the week, that contestant will have the chance to automatically advance to the finals and land a spot in the Top 20. There will be 10 contestant chosen like that, the other 10 will be chosen in the Preliminatory competition by a panel of experts. The show airs Sundays on Telemundo, since August 30 and finished on October 29, two weeks before the final night of Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2010. The show is hosted by Miss Puerto Rico national director and ex-Miss Puerto Rico 1995, Desiree Lowry. A panel of judges composed of Miss Universe 2006, Zuleyka Rivera, Miss Puerto Rico 2000, Zoribel Fonalledas, fashion designer Luis Antonio and actor Albert Rodriguez evaluate the girls each week in their challenges.

Buscando La Mas Bella winners:
 * 1st Week Winner: Acting Challenge: Yenitzia Ocasio - Miss Juana Diaz
 * 2nd Week Winner: Physical Condition Challenge: Rocio Jorge - Miss Las Marias
 * 3rd Week Winner: Outfit Presentation Challenge: Imarie Cintrón - Miss Santa Isabel
 * 4th Week Winner: Commercial "Pico y Espuela" Challenge: Candy Figueroa - Miss Toa Baja
 * 5th Week Winner: Celebrity Interview Challenge: Kathryn Burgos - Miss Yabucoa
 * 6th Week Winner: Protocol Challenge: Kathleen Flores - Miss Utuado
 * 7th Week Winner: Halloween Photoshoot Challenge: Desmarie Nieves - Miss Bayamón
 * 8th Week Winner: Dance Routine Challenge: Katherine Ortiz - Miss Orocovis
 * Preliminary Competition People's Choice: Chrisangelly Franco - Miss Dorado
 * Primera Hora Newspaper People's Choice: Liannelys Rodriguez - Miss Humacao

Contestants
Here is a list of the official 39 contestants:

Disqualifications

 * Miss Salinas, Karen Marie Lopez, left the competition on November 10, apparently for undisclosed personal reasons.

Crossovers

 * Yeidy Bosques (Miss Mayagüez) was crowned Miss Earth Puerto Rico 2010 and was crowned Miss Earth Fire 2010 as 3rd runner-up.
 * Aideliz Hidalgo (Miss Cayey) was crowned Miss Puerto Rico international 2010 and finished as Top 15 semi-finalist at Miss International 2010.

Franchise Change

 * In 2009 Magali Febles lost the franchise to send Puerto Rico's representative to the Miss Universe pageant. Miss Puerto Rico 1995, Desiree Lowry was appointed as the new owner of the franchise, making the Miss Puerto Rico 2010 pageant the first pageant under the direction of Desiree who took over the preparation of Mayra Matos for competing in Miss Universe 2009.