Puerto Rico's Top 10 Beauty Queens You Need To Know

The island of Puerto Rico may be small geographically but Puerto Ricans know how to shine, and one sphere in which they have been standouts throughout the years, is beauty pageants. To date there have been two Miss World and five Miss Universe winners, making Puerto Rico the country with the third most Miss Universe queens. Get to know some of the fantastic women who have represented the island nation internationally by checking out the following guide.

Marisol Malaret

In 1970 and at the age of 19, Marisol Malaret was the first woman from Puerto Rico to be crowned Miss Universe. It was a momentous occasion for the island, whose queens had never reached the semi-finals. Once her reign was over Malaret continued to work in entertainment, by hosting a television show, appearing on radio shows, and editing a magazine. She is still beloved in Puerto Rico.

Zuleyka Rivera

Zuleyka Rivera was the fifth representative of Puerto Rico to win the Miss Universe crown, in 2006. After winning the competition, she has acted in soap operas, hosted her own television show and created her own swimsuit line, according to Miss Universe. Recently Rivera appeared in the music video for the international hit “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, which was filmed in Puerto Rico.

Desiree Lowry

Desiree Lowry was a contestant in the 1995 Miss Universe competition and finished in the top five. She owns a modeling and refinement school in Puerto Rico and with businessman Luisito Vigoreaux, Lowry is in charge of the local Puerto Rican competition for Miss Universe.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BR3RVsODhNI/?taken-by=desireelowryreal

Wilnelia Merced

Wilnelia Merced was the first Miss World winner from Puerto Rico, having been crowned in 1975 as an 18 year-old. She was the only Puerto Rican Miss World winner until 2016 when Stephanie del Valle won. Merced is still involved in the Puerto Rican branch of the Miss World competition and also does charity work. She is currently called Lady Wilnelia Forsyth, due to her husband’s title; he is British entertainment legend, Sir Bruce Forsyth.

Denise Quiñones

Miss Universe 2001, Denise Quiñones was the fourth Puerto Rican contestant to win the crown. She also won Miss Photogenic. Quiñones studied at a two-year acting conservatory program after her time as Miss Universe, and has acted in various movies, including “Aquaman” and “La soga”. A beauty pageant pro, she was a coach on a Spanish-language reality television pageant a couple of years ago.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSUVoKLh5mO/?taken-by=denisequinones9

Dayanara Torres

Miss Universe 1993, Dayanara Torres was the third Puerto Rican Miss Universe. After her reign, she enjoyed popularity in the Philippines where she worked and released two albums. She has modelled in magazines like Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan, hosted television shows and acted in movies such as “Linda Sara” and Hataw Na (Dance Now).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUBC11glHM-/?taken-by=dayanarapr

Roselyn Sanchez

Known for her work as an actress in films like Rush Hour 2 and The Game Plan, many don’t know that Roselyn Sanchez has a beauty pageant past. According to IMDb, she won Miss America Petite 1994 after becoming Miss Puerto Rico Petite in 1993. She has also appeared on various television shows and released an album.

Mariana Vicente

An up-and-coming model and actress, Mariana Vicente competed in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant. Her acting credits include the movies Hot Tub Time Machine 2 and Self/less, and the television show American Horror Story. She’s based out of Los Angeles and New Orleans, and is actively going to auditions so you might see her on your screen soon.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BR4LoMNgvsr/?taken-by=marianavicente&hl=es

Deborah Carthy-Deu

The second Miss Universe from Puerto Rico, Deborah Carthy-Deu worked as an actress, television host and model internationally after finishing her reign. Crowned in 1985, she is an alumna of the University of Puerto Rico. In recent years Carthy-Deu has been a fashion correspondent for a television show in Puerto Rico.

Stephanie del Valle

Puerto Rico’s most recent big winner is Stephanie del Valle, who was crowned Miss World 2016. An emerging model, she is currently busy fulfilling her duties as Miss World and taking a break from her university studies. Del Valle won the competition at 19 years old, so expect big things from this beauty queen, who knows three languages and is just getting started.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.