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.[2][3][4][5]
Big Three world ranking by year of complete achievement
As of 19 August 2024, 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 19 August 2024, 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:
Titles Won by Ibero-American Nations in the Big Three Pageants
As of 19 August 2024, 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 19 August 2024, 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 19 August 2024, 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:
Titles Won by Ibero-American Nations in the Big Four Pageants
As of 19 August 2024, 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:
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.
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.
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 19 August 2024, 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.
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 19 August 2024, Puerto Rico has won the following important international titles:
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 19 August 2024, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements in the most important international pageants:
In its various forms, the Miss Puerto Rico beauty pageant has been held almost every year since the 1930s.[6] 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.
Miss Universe world ranking by number of finalists and semifinalists
As of 19 August 2024, the following nations, in order of number of finalists and semifinalists, have placed more times in the final night of the competition:
Placements of Semifinalists and Finalists 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.
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.
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.
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 19 August 2024—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 19 August 2024, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:
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 19 August 2024:
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.
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.
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.[9][10][11][12][13]
Having produced four winners as of 19 August 2024, Puerto Rico is the second country with the most crowns. Venezuela and United States have the most winners with 5 each.
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 19 August 2024, Puerto Rico has performed in these as follows:
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 19 August 2024, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:
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 19 August 2024, Puerto Rico has produced the following classifications:
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 19 August 2024, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:
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 19 August 2024, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:
^ abcdefghijkMiss 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, Silver 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. See Miss Intercontinental Puerto Rico.