PAGEANT Circle

Over two weeks after winning the coveted Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023, Karla Guilfú Acevedo has returned to her hometown Patillas. The 24-year-old beauty originally from Esmeralda del Sur, was overjoyed to receive a heartwarming welcome upon her return on Saturday following her successful stint in the national competition. Karla is set to represent Puerto Rico in the upcoming 72nd Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2023) in El Salvador this November. Known for her incredible first runner-up finish at Miss Supranational 2021, the psychology graduate student is expected to do very well at Miss Universe and hopefully bring home the sixth crown for Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico's past Miss Universe winners were Zuleyka Rivera (2006), Denise Quiñones (2001), Dayanara Torres (1993), Deborah Carthy (1985), and the late Marisol Malaret (1970). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Puerto Rico (@muniversepr) Photos: Jalimar Febo, Brandon Cruz / Wapa.TV RELAT

Karla Inelisse Guilfú Acevedo  was crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023 in a glittering competition held on Thursday, August 24 at the Centro de Bellas Artes de Santurce in San Juan. The 24-year-old psychology graduate hailing from Esmeralda del Sur, Patillas bested 29 other competitors to win the national title. She also bagged the Mujer de Valor award from L'Oréal Paris. Xarimar Acevedo Pabón of Río Grande was named first runner-up while  Kiara Rivera Escudero of Toa Baja,  Fiorella Medina Pérez of Isabela, and Isarel Marielis Román Almeda of San Lorenzo were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Last year's winner, Ashley Cariño, a Top 5 finalist at Miss Universe 2022, handed over the new crown "Evolución" to her successor at the end of the event. No stranger to pageantry, the new Miss Universe Puerto Rico previously won the title Miss Supranational Puerto Rico at Nuestra Belleza Puerto Rico 2020 and went on to compete in Miss Supranational 2021

Following weeks of pre-pageant activities, the Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023 grand final and coronation is taking place tonight at the Centro de Bellas Artes de Santurce in San Juan. At the end of the event, one of the 30 contestants will be crowned by outgoing queen Ashley Cariño and take home the opportunity to represent Puerto Rico at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador this November. Hosted by entertainer José Santana and Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2020 Estefanía Soto Torres, tonight's glittering show presented by L'Oréal Paris is broadcasting live on Wapa TV. Guest performers consist of Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, and record producer Tommy Torres, two-time Latin Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter of Latin pop and tropical music genres Luis Figueroa, and Colombian singer, songwriter, and actor Carlos Vives. An esteeemed panel of judges who will choose the winner includes former titleholder and Miss Universe 2018 Top 5 finalist Kiara Liz Ortega, journalist Aixa Vázque

Tonight, 30 contestants will battle it out to win the coveted national title of Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023 at the Centro de Bellas Artes de Santurce in San Juan. One of them will have the opportunity to represent the Caribbean island of enchantment at the 72nd Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2023) pageant in El Salvador this November. Who will receive the "Evolución" crown from last year's winner Ashley Cariño? Based on their performances during the preliminary competition last Sunday, here are our final Top 10 favorites: TOP 10 (in alphabetical order) CATAÑO - Gina Lee García Colón CAYEY - Neysha Marie Mendoza Castro FAJARDO - Camila Molina García ISABELA - Fiorella Medina PATILLAS - Karla Inelisse Guilfú Acevedo PONCE - Natalia Elena Zayas Morales RÍO GRANDE - Xarimar Acevedo SALINAS - Gabriela Veguilla Cotto SAN LORENZO - Isarel Marielis Román Almeda TOA BAJA - Kiara Rivera Escudero Special mentions: Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Canóvanas, Culebra, Hatillo Pho

The Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023 pageant held its crucial preliminary competition on Sunday, August 20 at Teatro Tapia in San Juan. Television and radio host, writer, actress, and entrepreneur Nicole Chacón hosted the event that will help determine this year's semifinalists. Thirty contestants sashayed onstage wearing their official swimsuits by Mare Cheia and glittering evening gowns to impress a distinguished panel of judges consisting of professionals from various industries. The judges were hematologist-oncologist Anna Di Marco, former Mr World Puerto Rico Fernando Álvarez Soto, performing arts director Ismanuel Rodríguez, blogger Uka Green, aesthetic doctor Wanda González, and De La Cruz president Carlos Thompson. Presented by L'Oréal Paris, the preliminary event culminated with six contestants taking home the special awards. Mejor Cabello L'Oréal (Best Hair) - Miss Cayey, Neysha Marie Mendoza Castro Mejor Piel Radiante de Ceravé y Vichy (Best Radiant Skin) - Miss

After five years, the Miss Universe Puerto Rico organization and Wapa Televisión officially presented a new crown named "Evolución" (Evolution). The new masterpiece was designed by Gabriela Rodríguez and Lido Jewelers, the same creators of the "Renacer" (Renaissance) crown that was worn from 2018 until 2022. With the presence of 31 contestants vying for Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023, the unveiling ceremony took place on Wednesday, August 2 at the Lido Jewelers venue in the Mall of San Juan. Modernity, simplicity, and elegance describe the design of the new crown for the national pageant. It is made of 18-carat white gold and silver, 10-carat channel-mounted diamonds, aquamarine stones, and a pearl. According to Yizette Cifredo, national director of Miss Universe Puerto Rico, "The new crown represents the continued development of the platform and each woman who is part of it." "Just as the ribbon symbolizes wearing Puerto Rico on the chest, wearing th

Following weeks of anticipation, the 33 beautiful women vying for the title of Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023 have been officially presented on Tuesday, May 16. The special presentation took place at the iconic Casa Alcaldía del Municipio de San Juan (San Juan City Hall) with the presence of the city mayor Miguel Romero who believes the pageant can help boost the tourism and economic development of the island's capital. This year's national competition will have its final night at Centro de Bellas Artes de San Juan on Tuesday, August 24, and will broadcast live from 7 p.m. on Wapa TV and Wapa América. Reigning Miss Universe Puerto Rico, Ashley Cariño, who placed in the Top 5 at Miss Universe 2022 last January in New Orleans, will crown her successor at the end of the event. The next winner will go to Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador later this year. "I feel very proud of this group of 33 candidates who are betting on such a powerful project that allows them, as women, to