Miss Universe is an annual international major beauty pageant that is run by a Thailand and Mexican-based Miss Universe Organization. Along with Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth, it is one of the Big Four beauty pageants.
María Stella Márquez de Araneta, often styled as Madame Stella de Araneta, is a Colombian—Filipino pageant director and beauty queen. She grew up in New York City and moved back to Colombia, where she became a pageant titleholder. As Miss Colombia, she was crowned the first Miss International in 1960. She obtained her Filipino citizenship via naturalization in 1970.
Shawnae Nicole Jebbia is an American entertainer and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 1998. As Miss USA, she represented the United States at Miss Universe 1998, where she was placed in the Top 5.
Carolina Éva Izsák Keményfy is a Venezuelan model and beauty pageant titleholder whovcompeted in the 1992 Miss Universe pageant on May 8, 1992 and placed fourth after being the leader of the competition that night.
Miss Gay America is a national pageant for female impersonators. Established in 1972, the pageant is based on the Miss America contest and follows a similar format.
Rachel Renee Smith is an American actress, tv host, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won the Miss USA 2007 pageant and who previously had competed in the Miss Teen USA 2002 pageant. She represented the United States at Miss Universe 2007 and placed 4th Runner-Up.
Miss USA 1998 was the 47th Miss USA pageant, held in Shreveport, Louisiana in March, 1998. The preliminary competition was held on March 6, 1998, and the final competition on March 10, 1998. The event was won by Shawnae Jebbia of Massachusetts, who was crowned by outgoing titleholder Brandi Sherwood of Idaho.
Miss Nicaragua was a Nicaraguan beauty pageant. It was held from 1955 until 2023, when the organization cancelled it for political reasons.
Riyo Mori is a Japanese actress, dancer, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 2007 in Mexico City.
Miss USA 2009 was the 58th Miss USA pageant, held at the Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 19, 2009. At the conclusion of the final night of competition, Kristen Dalton of North Carolina was crowned by outgoing titleholder Crystle Stewart of Texas.
Paola Laura Ruggeri Ghigo is Venezuelan athlete and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Venezuela 1983. She placed 7th in Miss Universe 1983 as the only Latin American among the Top 12 semifinalists.
Nuestra Belleza México 1995, the 2nd Nuestra Belleza México beauty pageant, was held at the Teatro Morelos of Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico on October 22, 1995. Thirty-two contestants of the Mexican Republic competed for the national title, which was won by Vanessa Guzmán from Chihuahua, who later competed at Miss Universe 1996 in US where she was finalist in the Top 6. Guzmán was crowned by outgoing Nuestra Belleza México titleholder Luz María Zetina. She is the first blonde and only Chihuahuense to win this title.
Nuestra Belleza México 1996, the 3rd Nuestra Belleza México pageant, was held at the Centro de Convenciones of Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico on September 22, 1996. Thirty-two contestants of the Mexican Republic competed for the national title, which was won by Rebeca Tamez from Tamaulipas, who later competed at Miss Universe 1997 in the US. Tamez was crowned by outgoing Nuestra Belleza México titleholder Vanessa Guzmán and Miss Universe 1996 Alicia Machado from Venezuela. She was the first Tamaulipeca and winner of foreign descent to win this title.
Nuestra Belleza México 2011, the 18th annual Nuestra Belleza México beauty pageant, was held at the Centro Internacional de Convenciones in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico on August 20, 2011. Thirty-four contestants from the Mexican Republic competed for the national title, which was won by Karina González from Aguascalientes who later competed in Miss Universe 2012 in the United States, where she was a Semifinalist in the Top 10. González was crowned by outgoing Nuestra Belleza México titleholder Karin Ontiveros and Miss Universe 2010 titleholder Ximena Navarrete. She was the first Hidrocalida to win this title.
Miss USA 2013 was the 62nd Miss USA pageant, held on June 16, 2013 at The AXIS in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 50 states and the District of Columbia competed for the title and the pageant was televised live on NBC. Outgoing titleholder Nana Meriwether of Maryland crowned her successor Erin Brady of Connecticut at the end of the event. This was Connecticut's first ever Miss USA crown.
Nastassja Isabella Bolívar Cifuentes is a Nicaraguan-American actress, tv host and beauty queen who won Nuestra Belleza Latina 2011 and was crowned Miss Nicaragua 2013 and represented Nicaragua at Miss Universe 2013.
Jessica Xue, also known as Xue Yun Fang is a Chinese radio host, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned as Miss Universe China in 2015 and represented her country at the Miss Universe 2015 pageant.
Paula Andrea Betancur Arroyave is a Colombian model and beauty pageant titleholder. Betancur represented the department of Amazonas in the 1992 National Beauty Contest and was crowned Miss Colombia 1992.
Gazini Christiana Jordi Acopiado Ganados is a Filipino model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2019. She represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2019 pageant and finished as a Top 20 semifinalist along with the Best National Costume award.
Rabiya Occeña Mateo is a Filipino model, host, actress, entrepreneur and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020. She represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2020 pageant and finished as a top 21 semifinalist.
