Miss Puerto Rico

Miss Puerto Rico is the common name or sash used to identify a Puerto Rican representative in an international pageant. Currently, Miss Universe Puerto Rico, Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico and Miss Earth Puerto Rico are the official national preliminaries to the Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Earth international pageants. Each year both events are held to select representatives from the island to both contests.

In addition, Miss Puerto Rico International and the Miss Puerto Rico Scholarship Program select official representatives to the Miss International and Miss America pageants, respectively.

Miss Universe Puerto Rico

Miss Universe Puerto Rico
Logo of the Miss Universe Puerto Rico event.
Formation	1952
Type	Beauty Pageant
Headquarters	San Juan, PR
Location	Puerto Rico
Official languages	Spanish
President	Desiree Lowry
Key people	Desirée Lowry Luis Vigoreaux
Website	Official website

History

Denise Quiñones, Miss Puerto Rico 2001

Zuleyka Rivera, Miss Puerto Rico 2006

In its various forms, the "Miss Puerto Rico" beauty pageant has been almost held every year since the 1950s. The winner of the contest represents Puerto Rico at the Miss Universe pageant each year.

The selection of Miss Puerto Rico commences the year before the winner advances to participate in the Miss Universe pageant. Each Puerto Rican city 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 three changes in the organization that led to modifications in the pageant's name. "Miss Puerto Rico" was held from 1952 until 1998 under the direction of Anna Santisteban, in 1996 the pageant lost the franchise for Miss Universe. From 1996 to 1998 Telemundo organized the event, under the name "Miss Universe Puerto Rico". From 1999 to 2002 TeleOnce (now Univision Puerto Rico) obtained the franchise and renamed it "Miss Puerto Rico Universe". Magali Febles organized the pageant between 2003 and 2009 and the pageant title has remained the same. In 2009, Desireé Lowry and Luisito Vigoreaux obtained the Miss Universe franchise and renamed the pageant "Miss Universe Puerto Rico".

Ingrid Marie Rivera, Miss Puerto Rico 2008

The Miss Puerto Rico beauty pageant has now turned to technology to reach more people through the use of podcasting. Starting with the 2006 pageant, Miss Puerto Rico Universe became the first pageant of the Miss Universe franchise to have a podcast.^[1] In this, Wilton Vargas, an international multi-media and technology personality, interviews all contestants with the goal of helping people get to know them better so that they can participate in the voting process using cell phones. This podcast is published as a section in technology news and information website Tecnetico.com and various podcast directories, including iTunes.

Delegates are allowed to compete more than once at the Miss Puerto Rico Universe pageant, the caveat being that they are not allowed to compete again after they have won. For example, Cynthia Olavarria placed first runner-up in 2003 and returned in 2005, winning the title and placing first runner-up at Miss Universe. A number of delegates and winners have competed in the "Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico" (Miss World Puerto Rico) pageant, a preliminary to the Miss World pageant. There are frequently crossovers between the two pageants: for example Joyce Giraud was crowned Miss Puerto Rico twice by Ana Rosa Brito, first in 1994 as Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico, then in 1998 as Miss Universe Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico is one of the most successful competitors in the history of the Miss Universe pageant, having won five times. Marisol Malaret, Miss Puerto Rico 1970, was the first Puerto Rican to win the Miss Universe title. The four other Puerto Rican delegates who have won the Miss Universe title are Deborah Carthy Deu (1985), Dayanara Torres (1993), Denise Quiñones (2001), and Zuleyka Rivera (2006).

In November 7, 2011 Miss Universe Puerto Rico makes history, by selecting the first woman that is not born in Puerto Rico and will represent it in Miss Universe. Bodine Koehler Peña was crowned as Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2012. Koehler was born in the Netherlands to a Dutch father and a Dominican mother, but grew up in Puerto Rico.^[2]

Recent titleholders

Main article: List of Miss Puerto Rico titleholders

Year	Miss Puerto Rico Universe	Town Represented	Host City	Placement at Miss Universe
2012	Bodine Koehler Peña	Río Grande	San Juan, Puerto Rico	TBD
2011	Viviana Ortiz Pastrana	Corozal	San Juan, Puerto Rico	Semi-finalist (Top 16)
2010	Mariana Paola Vicente Morales	Río Grande	San Juan, Puerto Rico	Finalist (Top 10)
2009	Mayra Matos Pérez	Cabo Rojo	Hato Rey, Puerto Rico	4th Runner-up
2008	Ingrid Marie Rivera Santos	Dorado	Santurce, Puerto Rico	-
2007	Wilmadilis "Uma" Blasini Pérez	Guayanilla	San Juan, Puerto Rico	-
2006	Zuleyka Jerrís Rivera Mendoza	Salinas	San Juan, Puerto Rico	Winner
2005	Cynthia Enid Olavarría Rivera	Salinas	San Juan, Puerto Rico	1st Runner-up
2004	Alba Giselle Reyes Santos	Cidra	San Juan, Puerto Rico	2nd Runner-up
2003	Carla Tricoli Rodríguez	Vieques	San Juan, Puerto Rico	-
2002	Isis Marie Casalduc González	Utuado	San Juan, Puerto Rico	-

Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico

Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico
Logo of the Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico event.
Formation	1959
Type	Beauty Pageant
Headquarters	San Juan, PR
Location	Puerto Rico
President	Julia Morley
Key people	Delia Cruz

Jennifer Guevara, Miss World Puerto Rico 2007

History

Along with Miss Puerto Rico Universe, Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico is one of the two most important national pageants in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico debuted in Miss World in 1959, then 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 and sent the first runner-up of Miss Puerto Rico to Miss World until 1995.

Ivonne Orsini, Miss World Puerto Rico 2008

In 1996, Delia Cruz, mother of Puerto Rico's only Miss World Wilnelia Merced Cruz, obtained the franchise and began organizing the Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico pageant whose winner has been competing ever since in the international pageant. Puerto Rico has produced one winner (1975), two 2nd runners-up (2005, 2011) and ten semifinalists (1976, 1978, 1980, 1985, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010). In 2011, Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico is Amanda Victoria Vilanova Pérez, who was crowned by Yara Lasanta.

Titleholders

Main article: List of Miss Puerto Rico titleholders

Year	Titleholder	City	Placement	Awards
2011	Amanda Victoria Vilanova Pérez	San Juan	2nd Runner-up	Miss World Caribbean 2011
2010	Yara Liz Lasanta Santiago	Barranquitas	Semi-finalist	Miss World Beach Beauty
2009	Jennifer Colón Alvarado	Bayamón	-	-
2008	Ivonne Marie Orsini López	San Juan	Semi-finalist	-
2007	Jennifer Guevara Campos	Orocovis	Semi-finalist	-
2006	Thebyam Carrión Álvarez	Arecibo	Semi-finalist	-
2005	Ingrid Marie Rivera Santos	Dorado	2nd Runner-up	Miss World Caribbean 2005
2004	Cassandra Castro Holland	Luquillo	-	-
2003	Joyceline Montero García	Bayamón	Semi-finalist	-
2002	Cassandra Polo Berríos	Guaynabo	Semi-finalist	-
2001	Bárbara Serrano Negrón	Vieques	-	-

Miss International

The first Puerto Rican delegate in Miss International was Carmen Sara Látimer, sent in 1960. Since 1960, Puerto Rico has produced one winner (Laurie Tamara Simpson in 1987), one 3rd Runner-up and nine semifinalists. The Miss Puerto Rico pageant had the Miss International franchise from 1960 to 1997, after a two-year hiatus, a new pageant was created called Miss Puerto Rico Turismo that sent representatives until 2007 when a new organization acquired the franchise (Creative Options Inc. - Mr Fernando Oquendo Vega).

Representatives

Main article: List of Miss Puerto Rico titleholders

Year	Titleholder	City	Placement at Miss International	Awards
2011	Desireé Del Río De Jesús	Bayamón	3rd Runner-up	Miss Active
2010	Aideliz Hidalgo Betances	San Juan	Semi-finalist	-
2009	Mónica Cristina Pastrana González	Manatí	-	-
2008	Miriam Ivette Pabón Carrión	Juncos	Semi-finalist	-
2007	Haydil Rivera Escobales	Adjuntas	Semi-finalist	-
2006	Sharon Haydée Gómez Díaz	Mayagüez	Semi-finalist	Miss Goodwill
2005	Dinorah Collazo	Orocovis	-	-
2004	Meredith Herrera Morales	Toa Alta	-	-
2003	Dignelis Taymí Jiménez Hernández	Arecibo	-	-
2002	Mariela Lugo Marín	Yauco	-	-
2001	Lorena Otero Pérez		-	-

Miss Earth

Puerto Rico sent its very first representative to Miss Earth in 2001 with Amaricelys Reyes Guzmán. A Puerto Rican delegate is yet to win the title but it has produced one finalist in Miss Earth 2005 edition. The Miss Puerto Rico Universe organization sent representatives to Miss Earth between 2002–2004.

Representatives

Year	Titleholder	City	Placement at Miss Earth	Awards
2001	Amaricelys Reyes Guzmán	Isabela	-	-
2002	Deidre Rodríguez Santiago	Santa Isabel	-	-
2003	Norelis Ortíz Acosta	Toa Baja	-	-
2004	Shanira Mariette Blanco Colón	Carolina	-	-
2005	Vanessa De Roide Toledo	Carolina	Top 8	Best in Long Gown
2006	Camille Collazo Ortíz	Orocovis	-	-
2007	No Contestant
2008	Nathalie Del Mar Cuevas Suárez	Salinas	Did not compete
2009	Dignelis Taymi Jiménez Hernández	Arecibo	-	Face of New Placenta
2010	Yeidy Enid Bosques Pérez	Mayagüez	3rd Runner-Up	Miss Earth Fire
2011	Agnes Eileen Benítez Santiago	Cataño	TBA	TBA

Miss Puerto Rico Scholarship Program

As of 2010, Puerto Rico will send a delegate to the Miss America pageant,^[3] this will be the first time Puerto Rico will do so since 1961.

Representatives

Year	Titleholder	Placement at Miss America [4]	Special Awards
1948	Irma Nydia Vasquez	-	-
1949	Marlene Carozzo	-	-
1950	Avelina Medrallo	-	-
1951	Evangelina Moragon	-	-
1952	Otilia Jimenez, Evangelina Moragon	-	Miss Congeniality
1953	Helga Edmee Monroig	-	-
1954	Nydia Power	-	-
1955	Maria del Carmen Mejias	-	-
1956	Gladys Rodríguez	-	-
1958	Winnie Rodriguez	-	-
1961	Rosita Giusti	-	Best in Talent Competition (Classical Vocal) Miss Congeniality
2009	Miriam Ivette Pabón Carrión	-	Lifestyle and Fitness Preliminary Award
2010	Mariselle Morales	-	-
2011	Laura Ramirez

Nuestra Belleza Latina

The first Puerto Rican to get the crown was Melissa Marty in 2008.

Representatives

Year	Titleholder	City	Placement at Nuestra Belleza Latina	Before/After NBL
2007	Yara Liz Lasanta Santiago	Barranquitas	2nd Runner-Up	Miss World Puerto Rico 2010
2007	Madelis Soto Martínez	Bayamón	Semifinalist	Miss Puerto Rico Teen 2002 contestant
2008	Melissa Marty Caro	Caguas	Winner	Miss Caguas Universe 2008
2008	Natalia Rivera Piñero	Toa Alta	Semifinalist	Miss Puerto Rico Teen 2006
2008	Aideliz Hidalgo Betances	Cayey	Semifinalist	Miss Puerto Rico International 2010
2009	Mónica Cristina Pastrana González	Arecibo	Semifinalist	Miss Puerto Rico International 2009
2009	Chastelyn Rodriguez	San Juan	Semifinalist	Model
2009	Stephanie Figueroa	Bayamón	Expelled	Miss Bayamón Universe 2009
2010	Tatiana Marie Delgado Quiñones	Canóvanas	2nd Runner-Up	Miss Universe Canóvanas 2010
2011	Darla Delgado	Camuy	Semifinalist	Objetivo Fama 2005
2011	Gredmarie Colón	Caguas	1st Runner-Up	Miss Cayey Teenage 2005
2011	Patricia Corcino	Caguas	Semifinalist	Miss Universe Caguas 2010

Additional pageants

There are other international pageants that do not receive as much publicity as the Big Four, but that nevertheless have given Puerto Rico some additional beauty queens:

Miss Intercontinental Elizabeth Robinson - 1986 Carmen Linda Díaz - 1991 Maydelise Columna - 2010 Miss América Latina María Rosa - 1983 Gamalis Fermín - 2004 Miss Turismo Teen International Zailyn Matos - 2008

Miss Teen International Katherine González Rivera - 1997 Yara Liz Lasanta Santiago - 2001 Mayra Matos - 2006 Nuestra Belleza Latina Melissa Marty - 2008

A Puerto Rican delegate is yet to win a Miss Globe International or Miss Tourism Queen International pageant. Another pageants are Miss Puerto Rico Petite and Miss Puerto Rico Teen managed by Luis Santiago Productions. The Miss America Puerto Rico Scholarship Program also celebrates its Teen version, Miss Puerto Rico Outstanding Teen. Some women of Puerto Rican descent have competed at Miss USA such as Susie Castillo who won the title of Miss USA 2003 and then later placed as a semi-finalist at the Miss Universe 2003 pageant. Gloria Almonte competed at the Miss USA 2007 pageant but did not place, however she had previously placed 1st Runner-up at the Miss Teen USA 2001 pageant. Since 2000, created the male beauty contest, Misters of Puerto Rico. This is the male version of female beauty contest Miss Universe Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico portal

References

1. ^ Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2007 Podcast
2. ^ [1]
3. ^ http://www.missamerica.org/news/press-releases.aspx?id=406
4. ^ http://www.pageantopolis.com/international/America_1950.htm

External links

• Miss Universe Puerto Rico
• Miss Earth Puerto Rico
• El Podcast de Miss Puerto Rico Universe
• Miss Puerto Rico Scholarship
• Miss Universe
• Miss Earth
• Nuestra Belleza Latina