Veruska Ramírez

Veruzhka Tatiana Ramírez is a Venezuelan beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Venezuela 1997, and was first runner-up at Miss Universe 1998.

Miss Venezuela 1997
Ramirez was abandoned as a child and grew up in relative poverty. In 1997, reigning Miss Venezuela Marena Bencomo visited Táchira, where Ramírez approached her for an autograph. Bencomo encouraged her to go to Caracas to compete for the Miss Venezuela 1997 title, where Osmel Sousa appointed her as Miss Táchira. As the winner of Miss Venezuela 1997, she went on to represent her country at Miss Universe 1998.

Miss Universe 1998
Ramírez was the official representative of Venezuela to Miss Universe 1998, held in Honolulu, Hawaii. She placed first runner-up to Wendy Fitzwilliam of Trinidad and Tobago.

Kidnapping
Ramírez was kidnapped for three hours in 2003.