Venezuela's glorious years at Miss Universe pageant

With an impressive seven winners so far, Venezuela can be considered a powerhouse country when it comes to the Miss Universe pageant. There is no doubt that the annual Miss Venezuela is also regarded as one of the most prestigious and anticipated national pageants in the world. Although the first titleholder was named in the early 1900s, the competition was officially established in 1952 — that same year the country debuted at Miss Universe. Prior to its first victory in 1979 courtesy of Maritza Sayalero, Venezuela had already achieved several placements and runner-up finishes that seemed to herald glorious decades ahead. Three more winners emerged during the 80s and 90s with Miss Universe 1981 Irene Sáez, Miss Universe 1986 Bárbara Palacios, and Miss Universe 1996 Alicia Machado On top of that, from 1983 until 2003, the country achieved a total of 21 consecutive placements — the second-longest streak next to the USA. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ste