Miss Puerto Rico is a national title bestowed on the women representing the archipelago and island of Puerto Rico in international beauty pageants.
Although an American territory, Puerto Rico participates in international sports competitions and beauty pageants under the flag of Puerto Rico as an entity separate from the United States. As in the Olympic Games since 1948 and the Pan American Games since 1955, it has competed independently in beauty pageants since 1952, when its representative debuted in Miss Universe as Miss Puerto Rico.
In 1987, Puerto Rico became the ninth nation to win Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International, the three oldest pageants. In 2019, it won Miss Earth, becoming the fourth nation to win the major Big Four pageants aforementioned. In 2019, having previously won Miss Supranational and Miss Grand International, the contests constituting the six major together with the Big Four, it also became the first nation to win all said pageants. When , the oldest minor pageant, is included, Puerto Rico is also the first nation to win all said seven pageants.
With 17 combined wins in the aforementioned groups of contests as of 2024, Puerto Rico is considered a powerhouse in the industry of beauty pageants. It is the fourth nation globally with the most combined wins in these groups except in the Grand Slam, where it is the fifth nation globally. It is also the second Ibero-American nation with the most combined wins in these groups.
Beauty pageants are a part of the culture of Puerto Rico. The businesswoman in the modeling and beauty industry in charge of many Puerto Rican representatives competing internationally between 1952 and 1998, Anna Santisteban, popularly known as the Hacedora de Reinas (Maker of Queens), is often recognized as the most influential promoter of pageants in the archipelago. As the holder of the Miss Universe franchise in Puerto Rico, Santisteban produced three international winners: 1970, 1985, and 1993.
As of 2025, the following nations, in order of achievement year, have won Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International:
As of 2025, the following nations, in order of achievement year, have won Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth, often collectively known as the Big Four:
As of 2025, the following nations, in order of achievement year, has won Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational and Miss Grand International, often collectively known as the :
As of 2025, the following nations, in order of achievement year, has won Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational, Miss Grand International and :
As of 2025, the nations of Ibero-America, in order of number of titles won, have performed as follows in Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International:
As of 2025, the 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, often collectively known as the Big Four:
As of 2025, the nations of Ibero-America, in order of number of titles won, have performed as follows in Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational, and Miss Grand International, often collectively known in the as the Grand Slam:
As of 2025, the nations of Ibero-America, in order of number of titles won, have performed as follows in Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational, Miss Grand International and :
As of 2025, the following nations, in order of number of titles won, have won more times in Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International:
As of 2025, the following nations, in order of number of titles won, have won more times in Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth, often collectively known as the Big Four:
As of 2025, the following 69 nations, in order of number of titles won, have managed to win at least once in Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational or Miss Grand International, often collectively known as the Grand Slam:
As of 2024, the following 75 nations, in order of number of titles won, have managed to win at least once in Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational, Miss Grand International or :
Hundreds of beauty competitions are held every year, but the oldest major pageants of Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth, often collectively known as the Big Four, are historically considered the most widely covered and broadcast by the international media.
Puerto Rico has won Miss Universe five times: 1970 with Marisol Malaret, 1985 with Deborah Carthy-Deu, 1993 with Dayanara Torres, 2001 with Denise Quiñones and 2006 with Zuleyka Rivera; Miss World twice: 1975 with Wilnelia, Lady Forsyth-Johnson and 2016 with Stephanie Del Valle; Miss International twice: 1987 with Laurie Simpson and 2014 with Valerie Hernández; and Miss Earth once: 2019 with Nellys Pimentel.
In 1987, Puerto Rico became the ninth nation globally to win Miss World, Miss Universe and Miss International. With 9 titles, Puerto Rico is the fourth nation globally with the most combined titles in these pageants. In 2019, Puerto Rico became the to win Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth. With 10 titles, Puerto Rico is the fourth nation globally with the most combined titles in these pageants.
The six major pageants of Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational and Miss Grand International are often collectively known as the Puerto Rico has won both Miss Supranational and Miss Grand International once, winning the former in 2018 with Valeria Vázquez Latorre, and the latter in 2013 with Janelee Chaparro Colón in the first edition of the pageant. In 2019, Puerto Rico became the first nation in the world to win all six pageants. With 12 titles, Puerto Rico is the fifth nation globally with the most combined titles won in these pageants.
is the oldest minor international beauty pageant. Puerto Rico has won Miss Intercontinental five times: 1986 with , 1991 with , 2010 with , 2016 with and 2024 with . In 2019, Puerto Rico became the first nation in the world to win all seven pageants aforementioned. With 17 titles, Puerto Rico is the fourth nation globally with the most combined titles won in these pageants.
As of 2024, Puerto Rico has won the following important international titles:
In 2006, Puerto Rico placed for the first time in the oldest major pageantsâÂÂMiss Universe, Miss World and Miss InternationalâÂÂduring the same year. In 2010, Puerto Rico placed for the first time in the Big Four pageantsâÂÂMiss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss EarthâÂÂduring the same year. In 2019, Puerto Rico placed for the first time in the Grand Slam pageantsâÂÂMiss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational and Miss Grand InternationalâÂÂduring the same year. In 2023, Puerto Rico placed for the first time in the Grand Slam and Miss Intercontinental, the oldest minor pageant, during the same year.
As of 2024, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements in the most important international pageants:
As of 2024, Puerto Rico has produced the following placement positions in the most important international pageants:
x Placement position no longer awarded and/or does not exist
As of 2024, Puerto Rico has produced the following unplacements in the most important international pageants:
As of 2024, Puerto Rico has produced the following absences in the most important international pageants:
As of 2024, Puerto Rico has produced the following winners, placements, unplacements and absences 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. 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 1995 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 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 2010, 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.
The Miss Universe franchise in Puerto Rico has hosted or is scheduled to host the following editions of the international competition:
In 1972, Puerto Rico became the first area outside the contiguous United States to host Miss Universe, making it the first country or territory in Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania to host the pageant. In 2001, Puerto Rico became the first participating country or territoryâÂÂand only one as of 2025âÂÂto win the international title of Miss Universe as a host.
As of 2025, the following nations, in order of number of finalists, semifinalists and quarterfinalists, have placed more times in the final night of the competition:
As of 2025, the following nations, in order of number of finalists, have placed more times in the final group of finalists:
As of 2025, the following nations, in order of number of titles, have won the largest number of titles:
As of 2025, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements in Miss Universe:
As of 2025, Puerto Rico has produced the following placement streaks lasting at least three years:
As of 2025, Puerto Rico has placed consecutively in the last eight editions of the international competition, becoming the longest uninterrupted streak in the history of Puerto Rico, and the longest uninterrupted streak in the international competition currently. In Miss Universe 2024, United States broke its streak of 13 years, ending the longest ongoing streak in Miss Universe.
Source: Reinas de Puerto Rico by the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.
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, with Tania Collazo as her first Miss World delegate. Santisteban produced Miss World Puerto Rico until 1995.
In 1996, Delia Cruz, mother of Miss World Wilnelia Merced, Lady Forsyth-Johnson, obtained the franchise and began organizing the Miss Mundo Puerto Rico pageant with Tania Collazo as organizer for a few years before Desiree Lowry, and later on Shanira Blanco. Currently, the pageant is presided by Wilnelia Merced, and directed by Ana Esther Avilés and Barbara Serrano.
Puerto Rico has held the following Miss World edition:
In 2021, Puerto Rico became the first nation in Latin America to host Miss World. It marked the third time the pageant was held in the Americas, after having been celebrated in the contiguous United States in 1991 and 2016.
Puerto Rico has two winners in Miss World 1975 and Miss World 2016. As of 2025, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:
Source: Reinas de Puerto Rico by the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.
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 charge of the franchise, which was directed for a while by Desireé Del RÃÂo 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.
Puerto Rico has two winners in Miss International 1987 and Miss International 2014. As of 2024, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:
Source: Reinas de Puerto Rico by the Interamerican University of 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.
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 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 2024, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:
Source: Reinas de Puerto Rico by the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico's representatives in the major Big Four beauty pageants of Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth. As of 2024, Puerto Rico has performed in these contests as follows:
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.
Puerto Rico has one winner in Miss Supranational 2018. As of 2025, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:
Source: Reinas de Puerto Rico by the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.
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.
The first Puerto Rican delegate to win the international title of Miss Grand International was Janelee Chaparro in 2013 at the pageant's first edition.
In 2023, there were two candidates of full Puerto Rican descent participating: Cristina Ramos of Puerto Rico, who finished in the top 20, and Sthephanie Miranda of United States of America, who finished as 3rd runner-up.
Puerto Rico consecutively placed in the first 11 editions of the pageant from 2013 to 2023. As of 2025, Puerto Rico has the second-most placements along with Brazil. Puerto Rico was unplaced in the 2024 and 2025 editions.
As of 2025, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:
Source: Reinas de Puerto Rico by the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.
Currently, a pageant is not being held to choose the representative of Puerto Rico for Miss Intercontinental. The delegate is chosen from the group of finalists in Miss World Puerto Rico and prepared by the Miss World Puerto Rico organization, which is presided by Miss World 1975, Wilnelia Merced Forsyth, and directed by Ana Esther Avilés.
Puerto Rico has won Miss Intercontinental five times in 1986, 1991, 2010, 2016, and 2024, but the current organization of the pageant only recognizes four winners. Miss Intercontinental does not include Puerto Rico's 1991 win in their official archive.
Miss Intercontinental was held twice in 1991. Carmen Lynda DÃÂaz 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.
Having produced five winners as of 2024, Puerto Rico is the country with the most crowns, along Venezuela and United States, which have 5 winners each.
Since it began to be awarded in 2008, Puerto Rico is the country with the most Miss North America titles, winning it 2024.
As of 2025, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:
Source: Reinas de Puerto Rico by the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico's representatives in the two pageants of Miss Supranational and Miss Grand International, which together with the Big FourâÂÂMiss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, and Miss EarthâÂÂmake up the major beauty pageants. Also included is the oldest minor pageant, Miss Intercontinental. As of 2024, Puerto Rico has performed in these contests 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.
The first Puerto Rican delegate to win the international title of Miss Global was Ashley Meléndez in January 2024 at the pageant's 2023 edition, where she competed against 70 other delegates. She was the first candidate from the Puerto Rican mainland to have participated in the contest, making her one of the few women in history who have won an international beauty pageant title as a debuting delegate.
As of 2025, 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.
Until 2025, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:
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.
Until 2025, 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 DÃÂaz Villegas.
Until 2025, Puerto Rico has produced the following placements:
Puerto Rico sends a delegate to the Miss America competition. 2010 was the first time Puerto Rico had done so since 1961.