Miss Universe History

Who would have thought that a local "bathing beauty" competition spearheaded by Catalina Swimwear in Long Beach, CA would metamorphose into an international annual tradition with countless young women around the world vying to become Miss Universe?

Who would have thought that a local "bathing beauty" competition spearheaded by Catalina Swimwear in Long Beach, CA would metamorphose into an international annual tradition with countless young women around the world vying to become Miss Universe? As hundreds of millions of fans have watched in 125 different countries, the homegrown contest has evolved into a powerful, year-round, international organization that advances and supports opportunities for these role models. Becoming what is now considered Universal royalty is still an obtainable dream for young women 50 years later. Today, Miss Universe has become a fixture of pop culture, ingrained in the landscape of our minds. These women are savvy, goal-oriented and aware. The delegates who become part of the Miss Universe Organization display those characteristics in their everyday lives, both as individuals, who compete with hope of advancing their careers, personal and humanitarian goals, and as women who see to improve the lives of others. Currently, Miss Universe is experiencing a rebirth, playing a critical role in making the next 100 years "The Century of Women." Click on the past title holders links below and let some of the most beautiful women in the Universe take your breath away.
1952 - Armi Kuusela, Finland	1953 - Christiane Magnani (Martel), France	1954 - Miriam Stevenson, USA	1955 - Hellevi Rombin, Sweden	1956 - Carol Morris, USA
1957 - Gladys Zender, Peru	1958 - Luz Marina Zuluaga, Colombia	1959 - Akiko Kojima, Japan	1960 - Linda Bement, USA	1961 - Marlene Schmidt, Germany
1962 - Norma Nolan, Argentina	1963 - Ieda Maria Vargas, Brazil	1964 - Kiriaki (Corinna) Tsopei, Greece	1965 - Apassara Hongsakula, Thailand	1966 - Margareta Arvidsson, Sweden
1967 - Sylvia Hitchcock, USA	1968 - Martha Vasconcelos, Brazil	1969 - Gloria Diaz, Philippines	1970 - Marisol Malaret, Puerto Rico	1971 - Georgina Rizk, Lebanon
1972 - Kerry Anne Wells, Australia	1973 - Margarita Moran, Philippines	1974 - Amparo Munoz, Spain	1975 - Anne-Marie Pohtamo, Finland	1976 - Rina Messinger, Israel
1977 - Janelle Commissiong, Trinidad and Tobago	1978 - Margaret Gardiner, South Africa	1979 - Maritza Sayalero, Venezuela	1980 - Shawn Weatherly, USA	1981 - Irene Saez, Venezuela
1982 - Karen Dianne Baldwin, Canada	1983 - Lorraine Downes, New Zealand	1984 - Yvonne Ryding, Sweden	1985 - Deborah Carthy-Deu, Puerto Rico	1986 - Barbara Palacios Teyde, Venezuela
1987 - Cecilia Bolocco, Chile	1988 - Porntip Nakhirunkanok, Thailand	1989 - Angela Visser, Holland	1990- Mona Grudt, Norway	1991 - Lupita Jones, Mexico
1992 - Michelle McLean, Namibia	1993 - Dayanara Torres, Puerto Rico	1994 - Sushmita Sen, India	1995 - Chelsi Smith, USA	1996 - Alicia Machado, Venezuela
1997 - Brook Mahealani Lee, USA	1998 - Wendy Fitzwilliam, Trinidad and Tobago	1999 - Mpule Kwelagobe, Botswana	2000 - Lara Dutta, India	2001 - Denise Quinones, Puerto Rico