Miss Latin America 2002

Miss América Latina 2002 was the sixteenth international edition of the Miss América Latina contest, and the eighteenth overall. The final event was held on November 22, 2001 in Bávaro Beach, Dominican Republic. At the conclusion of the pageant, Claudia Cruz of the Dominican Republic was crowned by outgoing titleholder, Grace Martins of Brazil^[1].

Results

Final Results	Contestant
Miss América Latina 2002	Dominican Republic - Claudia Cruz
1st runner-up	Guatemala - Florecita Cobián
2nd runner-up	Nicaragua - Karla Lecleir
Semi-finalists (in order of placement)	Costa Rica - Shakira McDonald  Argentina - Grisel Hitoff  Brazil - Francine Eickemberg  Colombia - Johanna Cañizares

Contestants^[2]

Argentina - Grisel Hitoff  Bolivia - Carlicia Pereira  Brazil - Francine Eickemberg  Canada - Heidy Rodríguez  Chile - Paola Cornejo  Colombia - Johanna Cañizares  Costa Rica - Shakira McDonald  Dominican Republic - Claudia Cruz  El Salvador - Sandra Glower

Guatemala - Florecita Cobián  Honduras - Aurora Laffite  Mexico - Claudia Mújica  Nicaragua - Karla Lecleir  Peru - Maria Alicia Costa  Puerto Rico - Windy Pagán  Spain - Susana Fialho  USA - Karla Vargas  Venezuela - Yerllis González

National Notes

Debuts

•  Canada

Returning Territories

Last competed in 1996:  Spain

Last competed in 1998:  Argentina

Withdraws

•  Panama
•  Paraguay
•  Uruguay

Historical Significance

• The Dominican Republic earned its third victory, tying them with Brazil for the most wins by a territory. Venezuela would catch up to both in 2003.
• The Dominican Republic also became the second territory to have a winner crowned on home soil, after Guatemala's Maria Fernanda Morales was crowned Miss Latin America 1993 in Guatemala City.
• Colombia placed for the fifth consecutive time, matching their previous record placement streak from 1983-1987.
• Brazil and also placed in 2001.
• Argentina last placed in 1993.
• Costa Rica last placed in 1996, when Jeannette Chávez won.
• The Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Nicaragua all last placed in 2000.
• This marked the first time that Brazil placed in the contest as a defending territory.
• Guatemala earned its highest placement since winning in 1993. They would later match the placement (first runner-up) in 2007 with Heidi García, who would later assume the title of Miss Latin America 2007.
• Nicaragua earned its highest placement since winning in 1992. They would later match the placement (second runner-up) in 2006.

References

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ [2]