1952: Long Beach, California. Miss Finland was the first Miss Universe.Miss Hawaii was the 1st Runner-Up.

1953:Long Beach, California. Christiane Martell became the first Miss France to win the Miss Universe title.

1954:Miriam Stevenson became the first American to win the Miss Universe Pageant.

1955: Long Beach, California. Miss Sweden was crowned Miss Universe. Miss El Salvador, Maribel Arrietta, was the big favorite.Miss El Salvador was compared to Marilyn Monroe by American journalists.

1956: Miss USA,Carol Morris, was crowned Miss Universe.

1957:Long Beach (California). Miss Peru, Gladys Zender Urbina was elected Miss Universe. She was the first Latin woman to win the Miss Universe.

1958:Long Beach, California.Marina Luz Zuloaga became the first woman from Colombia to win the Miss Universe title. Miss Brazil was the 1st Runner-Up.

1959: Long Beach, California. Miss Italy,Maria Grazia Buccella, was the big favourite…but she did not qualify for the semifinals.Next day, Italian newspapers criticized Akiko Kojima. Miss Universe from Japan….

1960: Lynda Bennett, Miss USA and Miss Utah, became the third American to win the Miss Universe title…

1961:Long Beach, California.Marlene Schmidt became the first German to win the Miss Universe title.

1962: Miss Argentina, Norma Nolan, won the Miss Universe title. Miss Haiti, Evelyn Miot, was the first black woman to be a semifinals at Miss Universe.

1963: Miss Brazil, Ieda Maria Vargas, won the Miss Universe title. She became the first Brazilian to win the Miss Universe.

1964: Long Beach,California. Corina Tsopie was the first person from Greece to win the Miss Universe Pageant.

1965: Miss Thailand, Aspara Hongsakula, was elected Miss Universe.

1966: Miss Sweden, Margaret Arvidsson, won the Miss Universe.

1967: Miss USA, Sylvia Hitchcok (20 years/1,71/ 91-61-94m) was elected Miss Universe.

1968:Miami Beach, Florida.Martha Vasconcelos became the second Brazilian to win the Miss Universe title.

1969:Miami Beach, Florida. Miss Philippines, Gloria Diaz, became the third Miss Universe from the Asia.

1970:Miami Beach, Florida, Miss Puerto Rico, Marisol Malaret won the Miss Universe.

1971: Miami Beach, Florida. Miss Lebanon, Georgina Rizk became the fourth Miss Universe from the Asia.

1972:Dorado, Puerto Rico. Miss Australia, Anne Kery Wells, was elected Miss Universe.

1973: Athens,Greece.Miss Philippines, Margarita Moran, was elected Miss Universe.

1974: Under the leadership of Imelda Romualdez Marcos, First Lady of Philippines, Manila, Philippines´s capital, hosted Miss Universe. Miss Spain, Amparo Muñoz was elected Miss Universe.

1975: San Salvador (El Salvador).The winner was Anne Pohtamo, Miss Finland.She looks like Grace Kelly, who was an American actress and Princess of Monaco (a small country in Europe).During her reign, she went to the USA,Australia, Hong Kong, Dominican Republic and other countries in the Third World.She was crowned in El Salvador, the birthplace of Maribel Arrieta, one of the most beautiful delegates in the chronology of MU. Jackeline Gammarra, Miss Bolivia, was big favourite in San Salvador.Ironically, she had been eliminated in the semifinals. Miss Bolivia 1975 was one of the best South American delegates in the history of Miss Universe.

1976:Victory City, Hong Kong.Miss Israel, Rina Messinger, was crowned Miss Universe. For the first time, Miss USA, Barbara Peterson, did not qualify for the semifinals.

1978:Acapulco, Mexico. Miss South Africa won the title.The favorites were : 1-El Salvador, 2-Peru, 3-USA, 4-South Africa, 5-Israel, 6-Sweden, 7-Wales, 8-Costa Rica. The great surprise was Miss Chile.Marianne Muller spoke three languages fluently: English, French and German)… Miss Peru, Olga Roxana Zumaran Burga was a huge favorite in Miss Universe,but she did not speak English. Another eliminated was Miss El Salvador, Iris Yvette Mazorra, one of the best Latin American delegates in Miss Universe.

1979: Perth (Australia). Miss Brazil was a big favorite until last minute. Miss Venezuela, Maritza Sayalero won the Miss Universe title.

1981:New Yor City. Under the leadership of Osmel Sousa, President of Miss Venezuela Organization, Venezuela´s Irene Saez was crowned Miss Universe.The final ranking:1-Venezuela, 2-Canada, 3-Sweden, 4-Brazil, 5-Belgium. After the Miss Universe, Miss Brazil, Adriana Alves de Oliveira had worked as a professional model in Paris.In 1984 she went to London, the United Kingdom, where she was favourite by international journalism and houses of best.She had a perfect body and European profile…But she only came between 7 semifinalists.She was the best delegate from Brazil since Magdalena Sbairini, other big favourite in Miss World 1977…

1982:Lima ,Peru. The favorites were: 1-Miss Chile, 2-Miss South Africa, 3-Miss Brazil, 4-Miss Finland 5-Miss Canada 6-Miss Austria 7-Greece 8-Miss Wales 9-Miss Italy 10-Miss Australia. Miss South Africa, Odett Octavia Scrooby (18 years old, 173m, blue eyes and 54 k), was born in Skeerpoort. She had been a professional model in Johannesbourg, a city in SA.Her hobbies were drawing and painting. Her dream was to become an international supermodel. She did not win because her country was the birthplace of Apartheid…However, Miss Canada won the title. Karen Baldwin was a student at University in Canada.Her dream was to become a businesswoman.Her hobbies were water sports and playing tennis, squash and racquetball. Like Gladys Zender, one of the judges, Karen was a sportswoman.”My idol is the Mother Theresa of Calcutta”, said in an interview with Mario Vargas Llosa ( judge).Karen had had the support of Rod Duguay(judge), her countryman and a famous hockey player…

1984:Miami, Florida. Miss South Africa, Leticia Snyman, was a big favorite, but she did not win Miss Universe. After 1984,Miss Universe Company did not accept South Africa contestants until 1995,when Namibia hosted the Miss Universe.

1985:Miami, Florida. The final ranking was: 1-PR,2-Spain,3-Zaire,4-Venezuela,5-Uruguay. Miss Zaire, Benita Mureka, was the first black African finalist in Miss Universe. Miss Zaire had her own style and very beautiful. Miss Puerto Rico, a girl very common, was elected Miss Universe…very strange result.

1986:Panama City. Miss Venezuela, Barbara Palacios Teyde, was elected Miss Universe. Venezuela has had many judges in the Miss Universe since 1984:Carolina Herrera (1984 and 1997); Irene Saez (1983 and 1995); Maria Consuelo Alonso Bustillo (1993 and 1998); Lupita Ferrer (1986); Barbara Palacios Teyde (1988); and Jose Luis Rodriguez (1991). Different from Venezuela, Jamaica has not had a judge in Miss Universe history…as Bolivia, Paraguay, Portugal,Austria, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Namibia,Curacao, Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Ireland…

1987: Singapoore City. Miss Chile, Cecilia Bolocco was crowned Miss Universe Pageant. She had a sensational interview with judges. Miss Colombia, Patricia Lopez, did not qualify for the semifinals.She won both titles: Miss South America-Universe and Miss Photogenic. Patricia Lopez became the big favorite to win the Miss Universe, but she did not speak English very well. Good bye Colombia.

1989:Cancun,Mexico. Andrea Stelzer was Miss South Africa 1985, but when she arrived at Miami Airport Immigration did not accept her entrance to Miami.Reasons: Radical protests by American Anti-Apartheid activists.Like many South African, she became German citizen. In 1989 she won the Miss Germany title. She went to Cancun and was semifinalist at the Miss Universe.

1990: Venezuela was the dominant force in Miss Universe Pageant in the 1990s.

1991: Las Vegas,USA. Lupita Jones became the first Mexican to win the Miss Universe title.

1992:Bangkok, Thailand. Miss Namibia, Michelle MacLean, was elected Miss Universe.

1993:Mexico City. Maria Consuelo Alonso, international judge, did not support Miss Venezuela, Milka Chulina during Miss Universe contest. In Caracas, there was many critics towards Maria Consuelo.She was born in Cuba.

1994:Manila, Philippines. The ranking finalwas: 1-Miss India, 2-Miss Colombia,3-Miss Venezuela. Many people think that Colombia never winner Miss Universe…mainly for narcotrafic.Colombia have had spectacular girls like Aura Maria Mojica and Paloma Turbay Ayala…

1995:Windhoek, Namibia (Africa). Miss USA and Miss Texas, Chelsy Smith, was elected Miss Universe.

1996:Las Vegas, Nevada. Miss Venezuela, Alicia Machado, won the Miss Universe Pageant.She was always controversial and charismatic…

1998: Honolulu, Hawaii.Wendy Fitzwilliam became the second Afro-Trinidadian to win the Miss Universe title.

1999: Trinidad Tobago. Miss Botswana, Mpule Kwelagobe, became Miss Universe. Since 1999, she is an Anti-AIDS activist in the Third World.

2000: Nicosia, Cyprus, the birthplace of Aphrodite.Miss India, Lara Dutta, was crowned Miss Universe. Miss France, Sonia Rolland, who speaks French, English and Spanish, was another bi-racial beauty. She has a Rwandan mother and a French father. Sonia was a child who lived at the time of the Rwandan War.

2001:Bayamon, Puerto Rico.Miss Puerto Rico, Denise Quiñones was crowned Miss Universe. She became the first person to win the Miss Universe Pageant in her country…

2002:San Juan de Puerto Rico. Miss Russia, Oxana Federova was crowned Miss Universe. The People´s Republic of China made its debut at the Miss Universe. Oxana Federova was dethroned by Miss Universe Organization.In New York City,Miss Panama, Justine Paseak, was elected Miss Universe. She was 1st Runner-Up.

2003:Panama City.Miss Dominican Republic, Amelia Vega, won the Miss Universe Pageant.

2004:Quito, Ecuador. Miss Australia, Jennifer Hawkins, was elected Miss Universe.

2005:Bangkok, Thailand. Miss Canada, Natalia Glebova, was crowned Miss Universe.

2006: Los Angeles, California. Miss Puerto Rico, Zuleyka Rivera, was crowned Miss Universe Pageant… Did you know that… Puerto Rico has had several judges in Miss Universe History: Mapy Cortes (actress/1972); Marisol Malaret (former Miss Universe: 1977 and 2002);Deborah Carthy-Deu (ex-Miss Universe: 1987 and 2003); Dayanara Torres (2001);Marc Anthony (2001); and Maria Celeste Arraras (journalist/2003 and 2006).However, Chile only has had two judges: Cecilia Bolocco (1996) and Christian de la Fuente (20001).

2007:Welcome to Mexico…Miss Universe 2007

By: Alejandro Guevara Onofre

About the Author:

MISS UNIVERSE 2000

SITE: Nicosia, Cyprus.

HISTORY. Representatives from 79 countries, territories and dependencies attended the Miss Universe contest. Certainly, India became the most powerful country in the Beauty World.Miss India, Lara Dutta, has all the qualities to be a Miss Universe-intelligence, beauty, personality, charisma and determination. Finally, Ms. Dutta was the new Miss Universe. It was one of her lifelong dreams to become Miss Universe. Few misses have had careers as long and varied as Lara Dutta.

In a career of more than seven years, she has been professional model, ambassador and actress. Lara once said, “Winning the Miss Universe title is the culmination of a dream”.
Like Miss Universe 2000, she went to Saint Marteen, Puerto Rico, USA, Colombia,Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Switzerland, Venezuela, Mexico, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.
Ms. Dutta became well-known to millions as a women´s rights activist in India. Lara Dutta was one of the best known misses of the 21st century.

MISS UNIVERSE 2001

SITE: Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

HISTORY. Representatives from 77 countries and dependencies attended the Miss Universe. Osmel Sousa, president of Miss Venezuela Organization, wanted to win the Miss Universe title. People who have worked with him say he´s a perfectionist preparing carefully for each project. He is a very private man, who rarely gives interviews.

At the onset, Venezuela´s Eva Monica Ekvall Johnson was the favourite by experts and journalists. Miss Venezuela reached the finals, but surprisingly, she only came fourth place. Many people felt that the decision was unfair.
A Puerto Rican won the Miss Universe contest again.Like Margarita Moran (Miss Philippines and Miss Universe 1973) and Janelle Penny Commissiong (Miss Trinidad Tobago and Miss Universe), Miss Puerto Rico, Denisse Quiñones, was crowned also Miss Photogenic Universe.Denisse´s ambition was to become a professional singer.

MISS UNIVERSE 2002

SITE: San Juan de Puerto Rico.

HISTORY.San Juan de Puerto Rico hosted the pageant.
The favorites were Colombia (Vanesa Alexandra Mendoza Bustos), India (Neha Dhupia), Panama (Justine Paseak), China (Zhuo Ling), and Russia (Oksana Federova). All made the semi-finalists except for Colombia. Ms. Mendoza became the first black woman to be named Miss Colombia. Miss Colombia will always be remembered as the first black woman representing her country in this contest.

For the first time since 1990, communist bloc sent a Miss China to compete in the Miss Universe. Ironically, Miss Cuba pageant has been forbidden since 1960 by Cuban dictatorship.
At the onset, China´s Zhuo Ling was one of the most popular delegates. Finally, Miss China was the 1st runner-up.
Russia´s Oxana Federova was elected Miss Universe. However, she was obligated to give back the title of Miss Universe. Ms. Federova was a controversial woman. Certainly, her popularity declined in her own country.

During the next months in New York City, Miss Panama, Justine Lissette Pasek Patiño, was crowned Miss Universe 2002. Ms. Pasek was long considered one of the most intelligent women in the Miss Universe history. Panama´s Justine Paseak was born in Kharkov, Ukrania. She had a very happy childhood there with her parents. Next years, her family moved to Panama City. Justine had several years experience as professional model.

MISS UNIVERSE 2003

SITE:Panama City, Panama.

HISTORY.For the second time, Panama City hosted the pageant. One of the most enthusiastic fans was Panamanian president Mireya Elisa Moscoso Rodriguez. On September1, 1999, Mireya Moscoso became Panama´s first female head of state.
The favourites were Miss Dominican Republic (Amelia Vega), Miss Japan (Miyako Miyazaki), Miss Brazil (Gislaine Rodrigues Ferreira) and the Miss USA (Susie Castillo Cintrom). Ms. Castillo has Puerto Rican descent. Miss Japan was undoubtedly one of the great beauties of the 2000s.
Under the leadership of two Venezuelans, Miss Dominican Republic became Miss Universe. Amelia Vega became Dominican Republic´s first Miss Universe. For the first time since 1992, Miss India did not qualify for the semi-finals.
Like Miss Universe 2003, she went to Indonesia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Ecuador, Thailand, Vietnam, Guyana, USA, India, Saint Maarten and the People´s Republic of China.

MISS UNIVERSE 2004

SITE:Quito, Ecuador.

HISTORY. Ecuadorian newspapers reported that misses Ukraine (Okelsandra Nikolayenko) , Venezuela (Ana Karina Añez Delgado), Australia (Jennifer Hawkins), USA (Shandi Ren Finnessey), Paraguay (Yanina Alicia Gonzalez Jorgge), and Ecuador(Susana Rivadeneira Simbal) were the most favored to win the contest.

Surprisingly, Miss Ukraine did not enter the semi-finals.Before she went to Ecuador, Okelsandra Nikolayenko competed in Miss World 2001, where she was semi-finalist. Venezuela´s Ana Añez admired Mahatma Gandhi. “Mahatma Gandhi has been a big influence in my life thanks to his political and religious influence he gave to the world”, she said
For the first time since 1982, Miss Venezuela did not qualify for the semi-finals. It was sadness for Venezuela´s Osmel Sousa. He once said: “If Venezuela does not make it in the finals, I will have a heart attack!”

Miss Australia was elected Miss Universe. She became Australia´s second Miss Universe.The next day her photo was see all over the world and from that moment the name Jennifer Hawkins was known everywhere. Ms. Hawkins is perhaps the most beautiful woman in Miss Australia history.
The judges were Petra Nemcova (Czech fashion model), Monique Menniken (German fashion model), Elsa Benitez (Mexican super-model), Bo Derek (American actress), Bill Rancic (American entrepreneur), Anne Martin (vice-president of Global Cosmetics and Marketing of Proctor & Gamble Cosmetics), Emilio Estefan (music producer), Jon Tutolo (president of Trump Model Management), and Jefferson Perez ( 1996 Ecuadorian olympic gold medalist).

MISS UNIVERSE 2005

SITE: Bangkok, Thailand.

HISTORY. Among the most popular delegates in the pageant were Canada`s Natalie Glebova, Dominican Republic´s Renata de Jesus Soñe Savery, Mexico´s Laura Elizondo Erhard, Venezuela´s Monica Spear, India´s Amrita Thapar, South Africa´s Claudia Henkel, and Switzerland´s Fiona Hefti.

A naturalized Canadian citizen who was born in Russia and came to Canada, Natalie Glebova was elected Miss Canada and Miss Universe 2005.Her beauty was loved by millions of people.She became well-known to millions as an anti-AIDS activist in the Third World.
The judges were Carson Kressley (American designer), Cassie Lewis (American model), Bryan Dattilo (American actor), Jean Georges Vongerichten (French chef), Okelsandra Nikolayenko (actress and former Miss Ukraine), Porntip “Bui” Nakhirunkanok (former Miss Thailand and Miss Universe 1988), Mario Cimarro (Mexican actor), Anne Martin (vice-president of Global Cosmetics and Marketing of Proctor & Gamble Cosmetics) Kevin S.Bright (American television executive producer),Heidi Albertsen (Danish model), and Khun Rom Pakdi (Thai actor).
Like Miss Universe 2005, she went to Greece, Canada, India, USA, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapoore, Ecuador and Brazil.

MISS UNIVERSE 2006

SITE: Los Angeles, California (USA).

HISTORY.At the onset, Japan´s Kurara Chibana was the favourite.Like Miss Japan 2003,Miyako Miyazaki, she was a beautiful exotic girl from Okinawa, the birthplace of the karate. Certainly, Miss Japan had several fans. However, Miss Puerto Rico, Zuleyka Rivera, made history by becoming the fifth Puerto Rican winner of the contest.She was one of the most famous models in her country. During the Miss Universe, Miss Puerto Rico was bilingual in English and Spanish.
Miss Universe 2006 was dominated by Latin America: Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico and Trinidad-Tobago.

The judges were Amelia Vega (former Miss Dominican Republic and Miss Universe), Marc Cherry (American writer), Claudia Jordan (Miss Rhode Island 1997), Tom Green (Canadian sock comic), Emmitt Smith (former American football player), James Lesure (American actor), Maria Celeste Arrras (Puerto Rican journalist), Patrick McMullan (American designer), Santino Rice (American fashion designer), Bridgette Wilson-Sampras (actress and former Miss Teen USA) and Sean Yazbeck (British actor).

By: Alejandro Guevara Onofre

About the Author: