PAGEANT Circle

Mara Topic Verduga was crowned Miss Universe Ecuador 2024 on Saturday, June 8 at Parque Zoila Ugarte de Landívar in Machala, El Oro. The 29-year-old, representing Guayaquil, bested 24 other contestants to win the national title. She will now prepare to represent Ecuador at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico later this year. Former Miss California USA Nadia Mejía-Webb of Comunidad USA and former Miss Earth Katherine Espín Gómez of Cañar were the first and second runners-up, respectively. The rest of the Top 6 finalists were Shiomara Pico Mendoza of Región Costa, Karla Jiménez Urrutia of Los Rios, and Ana Isabel Cobo of Tungurahua. Completing the Top 13 were Esmeraldas, Maholy Ortíz Quintero, Guayas, Gissela Flores Cadena, Manabí, Fiorella Velez Delgado, Morona Santiago, Andrea Quito Torres, Pichincha, Carolina Cobo Vallejo, Quito, Lorena Argüello Salazar, and Santo Domingo, Yomaira Torales Moreira. The new Miss Universe Ecuador is an actress, model, and producer of Ecuadorian-Croatian descent

This year's Miss Universe Ecuador pageant under the Concurso Nacional de Belleza (CNB) has officially kicked off with the contestants' arrival on May 15 in the city of Guayaquil. The following day, May 16, the 25 beauties vying for the national title were officially sashed in a special presentation gala held in Machala. Major favorites include former Miss Grand Ecuador and Miss Grand International 2019 Top 10 finalist Mara Topic Verduga; former Miss California USA and Miss USA 2016 Top 5 finalist Nadia Mejia-Webb; and former Miss Earth winner Katherine Espin. The next Miss Universe Ecuador to be crowned on June 8 will represent the "country of four worlds" at Miss Universe 2024 (73rd Miss Universe) in Mexico. Who will take home the crown? Meet the contestants: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Concurso Nacional de Belleza® (@cnbecuador) Azoques - Paula Chérrez González Azuay - María José Córdova Abud Babahoyo - Daysi Laman Dumani Bol

Former Miss Earth Katherine Espin has officially auditioned for CNB Ecuador 2024 (Miss Universe Ecuador 2024). The 31-year-old is a lawyer, mother, and currently the president of the Miss Earth Ecuador organization. Following Olga Alava who clinched Ecuador's first Miss Earth title in 2011, Katherine won Miss Earth 2016 among 83 contestants at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines. Previously held by Maria del Carmen de Aguayo, this year's Miss Universe Ecuador franchise has been acquired by Tahiz Panus of the Concurso Nacional de Belleza (CNB Ecuador) organization. Several other top-caliber beauties are also aiming for the opportunity to represent the "country of four worlds" at Miss Universe 2024 to be held in Mexico later this year. They are Nadia Mejia-Webb (Miss California USA 2016 and Miss USA 2016 Top 5 finalist), Mara Topic (Miss Grand Ecuador 2019 and Miss Grand International 2019 Top 10 ), and Amar Pacheco Ibarra (Miss World Ecuador 2020 and 70th

Andrea Aguilera touched down in Ecuador on Monday, July 24 for her homecoming since winning the 14th Miss Supranational pageant in Poland. The 22-year-old received a warm welcome from her supporters at the José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport. She then hopped on a red sports car for her victory parade through the streets of Guayaquil. Following her arrival, an official press conference was hosted for her homecoming at Courtyard by Marriott Guayaquil. "I want to say thank you to everyone who sent me words of kindness and support. It's teamwork and you are my team. Without you, I probably would not be standing here today, feeling so happy and excited," she shared. Andrea was crowned Miss Supranational 2023 from a field of 65 competitors last July 14 at the Strzelecki Park Amphitheater, Nowy Sącz, in the Polish region of Małopolska. Her victory was historic as it was the first time for an Ecuadorian representative to take home the title. She was also the second South

Andrea Aguilera of Ecuador was crowned Miss Supranational 2023 in a glittering event held on Friday, July 13 at the Strzelecki Park Amphitheater in Nowy Sącz, Małopolska, Poland. The 22-international business student bested 64 other competitors to win her country's first Miss Supranational title. She succeeds last year's winner Lalela Mswane of South Africa. Pauline Amelinckx of the Philippines was named first runner-up while Sancler Frantz of Brazil, Emma Rose Collingridge of the United Kingdom, and Ngan Dang Thanh of Vietnam were announced as the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. The continental queens were from Zimbabwe, Sakhile Dube, India, Pragnya Ayyagari, Peru, Valeria Flórez, Curacao, Andreina Pereira, and Gibraltar, Michelle Lopez Desoisa. No stranger to pageantry, the new Miss Supranational previously held the title of Miss Grand Ecuador and went on to participate in Miss Grand International 2021 in Bangkok, Thailand where she placed first runner-up.

Guayaquil's Delary Stoffers was crowned Miss Universo Ecuador 2023 (Miss Universe Ecuador 2023) during the Miss Ecuador 2023 final competition held on Saturday, July 1 at the Recinto Ferial Dr. Alfonso Torres Ordóñez in Santo Domingo. The 23-year-old model and business administration student will now prepare to represent Ecuador at the 72nd Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2023) in El Salvador later this year. She succeeds last year's winner Nayelhi González. Paulethe Cajas Vela of Quito was named first runner-up and was awarded the title Miss Ecuador Internacional 2023 (Miss International Ecuador 2023). She succeeds Georgette Kalil and is expected to compete in Miss International 2024. María José Barzallo, Nicole Pinilla, Nahomi Guzmán, and Sulay Mora were announced as the second, third, fourth, and fifth runners-up, respectively, while Emily Quelal, Naomi Viteri, Daniela Romero, and Sullay Gatti rounded out the Top 10 semifinalists. Meet the new Miss Universe Ecuador: Vie

Véronique Michielsen Marcillo, representing Comunidad Europa, was crowned Miss Grand Ecuador 2023 in a national competition held on Saturday, April 15 in Guayaquil. The 21-year-old Belgian-Ecuadorian beauty bested 6 other finalists to win the national title. She is a model and a marketing and communication student from Antwerp, Belgium. Andrea Ojeda Fernandez of Guayaquil and Alyson Flores Lozano of Santo Domingo were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. Former Miss Grand International winner from Peru, María José Lora, attended the glittering event as a special guest. The new Miss Grand Ecuador succeeded last year's titleholder Lisseth Naranjo and will now prepare to represent her country at Miss Grand International 2023 in Vietnam this October. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Concurso Nacional de Belleza® (@cnbecuador) Photos: CNB Ecuador / Instagram

Paola Vergara Farez of Ecuador was crowned Reina Mundial del Banano 2022 (World Banana Queen) on Saturday, September 24 in Machala, El Oro Province. The 23-year-old social communication graduate bested 13 other contestants to succeed Ellen Pimienta Glen during the 57th edition of the international pageant for banana producing countries. She also bagged the Miss Photogenic awards. In second place and named Virreina Mundial del Banano was the representative of Alemanya (Germany), an 18-year-old student Taya Wolf. Miss Colombia, Geraldine Quiroz Bermudes was announced the second runner-up, while Miss Honduras, Ana Grisell Romero Najera, and Miss Brazil, Maria Rita Dos Santos, were the third and fourth runners-up, respectively. "This achievement is very important in my life, reaching the top of my dreams in beauty pageants fills me with happiness and pride," said the new Reina Mundial del Banano on social media. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rei

After several weeks of pre-pageant activities, the final competition of Miss Ecuador 2022 will take place on Saturday, September 3 at Malecón de Quevedo, Los Ríos. A total of 18 contestants will be competing for the national title and last year's winner, Susy Sacoto Mendoza, will crown her successor at the culmination of the event. The next Miss Ecuador will represent her country at the 71st Miss Universe pageant in the first quarter of 2023 while the first runner-up is expected to compete in Miss International 2023. Hosted by former Miss Ecuador Claudia Schiess and communication expert Roberto Rodríguez, the show will stream live on the official  Facebook page  of the Miss Ecuador organization from 7:30 p.m. This year's pageant also introduced a new crown designed by Catalina Salcedo. Crafted in 18-karat gold and natural stones the "Alaja Ashpa" crown which means beautiful nature was inspired by the flora of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Get to know the 18 contestants vying

Lisseth Naranjo Goya has been appointed to replace previously crowned Miss Grand Ecuador 2022 Emilia Vásquez Larrea as the new titleholder. The 24-year-old business administration student from Cuenca also held the title in 2020 but was also replaced for unknown reasons. She will finally represent Ecuador at Miss Grand International 2022 in Indonesia this October. In addition to working in her family's company where bananas are produced for export, she is part of an economics circle called Adam Smith and owns her personal brand called Lisstology, based on cosmetic skin care products. Lisseth is also a professional makeup artist and nail technician (nails artist). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Grand Ecuador (@missgrandecuador) Photos: Opia Photo Studio / Miss Grand Ecuador / Concurso Nacional de Belleza - Ecuador

The Concurso Nacional de Belleza Ecuador 2022 (CNB Ecuador) pageant was held on Saturday, April 30 at the Teatro Sánchez Aguilar in Samborondón. Miss Santa Elena, Annie Zambrano, was proclaimed Señorita Ecuador 2022 (Miss World Ecuador). The 22-year-old entrepreneur who is pursuing her bachelor's degree in languages will represent Ecuador at Miss World 2022 later this year. Another winner of the competition is Valery Carabalí who was named Miss Supranational Ecuador 2022. She will travel to Nowy Sacz in Malopolska, Poland to compete for the Miss Supranational 2022 title this July. Gabriela Andrade and María Paula López were proclaimed Virreina Nacional and first princess, respectively. Last year's titleholders Amar Pacheco and Justeen Cruz successfully relinquished their reigns to their respective successors at the end of the event. Reigning Miss World Karolina Bielawska of Poland and Miss Supranational Chanique Rabe of Namibia were special guests at the national competition.