 beauty contest held annually.">Miss America Latina, known in English as Miss Latin America, is an international beauty contest held annually. It is organized by the Miss America Latina Organization. Despite its name, the contest is not restricted to only Latin American nations. It is designed for women of Latina descent across the globe. There is an average of about 20 contestants every year. It has two sister pageants: Miss Latina US (which selects the US delegate to Miss America Latina) and Miss Teen US Latina.
History
The Miss America Latina pageant was founded in the early 1980s. The first edition was held in 1981, when it was open to only Latina contestants in Miami, Florida, United States. In 1983, the contest went international.
Winners
| Year |
Name |
Country |
Venue |
| 1983 |
María Rosa |
Puerto Rico |
Miami, Florida, USA |
| 1984 |
Mirla Ochoa |
Venezuela |
Miami Beach, Florida, USA |
| 1985 |
Victoria Mauríz |
Dominican Republic |
Miami Beach, Florida, USA |
| 1986 |
Lucia Collado |
Dominican Republic |
San Jose, Costa Rica |
| 1987 |
Lorenia Burruel |
Mexico |
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia |
| 1988 |
NOT HELD |
| 1989 |
Suzanne Hannaux |
El Salvador |
Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico |
| 1990 |
Vanessa Holler |
Venezuela |
San Salvador, El Salvador |
| 1991 |
María Elena Bellido |
Peru |
Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| 1992 |
Ana Sofía Pereira |
Nicaragua |
Guayaquil, Ecuador |
| 1993 |
María Fernanda Morales |
Guatemala |
Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| 1994 |
Priscila Furlan |
Brazil |
Guayaquil, Ecuador |
| 1995 |
NOT HELD |
| 1996 |
Jeannette Chávez |
Costa Rica |
Lima, Peru |
| 1997 |
NOT HELD |
| 1998 |
Aline Resende |
Brazil |
Costa del Sol, El Salvador |
| 1999 |
NOT HELD |
| 2000 |
Dania Prince |
Honduras |
Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| 2001 |
Grace Martins |
Brazil |
Montelimar Beach, Nicaragua |
| 2002 |
Claudia Cruz |
Dominican Republic |
Bávaro Beach, Dominican Republic |
| 2003 |
Maria Carolina Casado |
Venezuela |
Playa Tambor, Costa Rica |
| 2004 |
Gamalis Fermín |
Puerto Rico |
Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico |
| 2005 |
Mariela Candia |
Paraguay |
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic |
| 2006 |
Melissa Quesada |
United States |
Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico |
| 2007 |
Giannina Silva |
Uruguay |
Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico |
| Heidi Garcia |
Guatemala |
Trivia
- Only two nations, the United States and Puerto Rico, have attended all 21 events. The following countries missed only once: Costa Rica (2006), Dominican Republic (2003), Guatemala (1992), Honduras (2005), Mexico (1983), Peru (1983), and Venezuela (1993).
- Three countries are tied for the most wins: Brazil (1994-95, 1997-98 and 2001), Dominican Republic (1985, 1986 and 2002) and Venezuela (1984, 1990, and 2003). The Dominican Republic is also the only country to have won the title consecutively in 1985 and 1986.
- In 1994, Brazil became the first country whose official language isn't Spanish to win the title. The only other country to accomplish this feat is the United States, who won in 2006.
- Guatemala was the first country to have a winner crowned on home soil. This happened when Miss America Latina 1993, María Fernanda Morales, of Guatemala, was crowned in Guatemala City. Later on the Dominican Republic's Claudia Cruz was crowned Miss America Latina 2002 in Bávaro Beach, Dominican Republic.
- With four first runners-up, Colombia is the country with the most second-place girls. However, the country has yet to capture the title. (They were 1st runner-up in 1986, 2000, 2001 and 2003).
- Brazil and Colombia are tied for the most placements, with 13 each. However, Brazil has won three times while Colombia has yet to win. Tied for second are Peru and Venezuela with 11 each, and then Chile, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States are all tied for third with 10 placements each.
- Two winners have also competed at Miss Universe. Dania Prince (2000) also represented Honduras at Miss Universe 1998 and later won Miss Earth 2003. Giannina Silva, the original 2007 winner, had just competed at Miss Universe 2007 just two weeks prior to being crowned.
- In 1983, 1984 and 1985, various states of the United States competed individually. They had a large impact. In 1983, Texas was second runner-up and Florida, Arizona and California were finalists. Florida later had two first runners-up in 1984 and 1985. Arizona was also second runner-up in 1985. Ironically, the U.S. wouldn't place after sending just one representative until 2001.
- Because the events held in 1981 and 1982 were restricted to Latina contestants in Miami, Florida, the winners aren't generally regarded as official Miss America Latinas. However, the official website does note them as winners. Miss America Latina 1981 was Lesley Quintana and Miss America Latina 1982 was Martha Alvarez.
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