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Miss Universe 1970 Marisol Malaret Contreras from Puerto Rico passed away at the age of 73 on Sunday. The former beauty queen turned television personality became the first Puerto Rican and Caribbean woman to win the Miss Universe pageant on July 11, 1970, at the Miami Beach Auditorium in Miami Beach, Florida. She was only 20 years old, an executive secretary in the Puerto Rico Telephone Company, when she was crowned by her predecessor Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1969 from the Philippines. Following her historic victory, she was honored with what was considered until then one of the biggest welcomings ever at San Juan. It was reported that around 50,000 people turned out to her homecoming. Marisol appeared on the covers of countless international and Puerto Rican magazines and took part in numerous advertising campaigns. The auburn-haired, blue-green-eyed beauty was married three times. Her first marriage was to former male model Butch James, the second was to musician Corky Stroman wit

Daniela Victoria Arroyo González becomes the first-ever transgender contestant at Miss Universe Puerto Rico pageant Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023 pre-qualified contestants were recently announced and one of the most talked about is Daniela Victoria Arroyo González. The transgender beauty and advocate for the rights of her own community made history by qualifying as one of the contestants in one most prestigious national pageants in Puerto Rico. "Following my intuition most definitely and manifesting this is a start. I trust my heart and what the universe has written for me," she wrote on her social media. "I have felt your support and I know that your emotion is just as strong as mine. I thank you all for the unconditional love," she added. "Grateful and excited to take you with me on this journey. Let's make history together," she wrote in another post. If Daniela succeeds in winning Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023, she will be the second transgender

Following rounds of auditions, thirty-eight contestants have been pre-selected to take part in the Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023 competition. This year's pageant will be the 67th edition whose winner will represent the Caribbean island later this year at Miss Universe 2023 in San Salvador, El Salvador. For the first time in history, a transgender contestant (Daniela Arroyo González) qualified to compete for the coveted national title. Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022 and Miss Universe Top 5 finalist Ashley Cariño will crown her successor at the end of the competition with the final date and venue yet to be announced. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ashley Cariño (@ashleyanncarino) Here are the pre-selected contestants: Andrea Sofía Collazo Molina Karina M. Rivera Camacho Natalia Elena Zayas Morales Gabriela Veguilla Cotto   Camila Yari Molina García Luisa A. Vázquez Fiorella Medina Angela Escalera Kiara Rivera Rocío del Mar Avilés Juanita Polanco Ir

The search for Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023 has begun and one notable aspirant who went to audition is former Miss Supranational Puerto Rico Karla Inelisse Guilfú Acevedo. From Supranational to Universe, Karla hopes to represent Puerto Rico at Miss Universe 2023, and with the strong track record she holds in pageantry, she could be the one. The 24-year-old hails from Culebra and holds a bachelor's degree in psychology. She was named Puerto Rico's representative for Miss Supranational during Nuestra Belleza Puerto Rico 2020 and went on to bag first runner-up at Miss Supranational 2021 in Poland. Prior to her success on the global stage, she also held the title Miss Teen Mundial Puerto Rico 2018 and finished in the Top 12 at the international Miss Teen Mundial pageant held in El Salvador. In May last year, she stood alongside Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu, and Miss International 2019 Sireethorn Leearamwat during a visit to Indonesia for the 25th Puteri Indonesia pageant. Wi

The 16 contestants vying for Nuestra Belleza Puerto Rico 2023 have been officially revealed in a presentation held on Friday, February 10 at the Popular Plaza in Distrito T-Mobile, San Juan. They will be competing for the three crowns at stake and the opportunity to represent Puerto Rico at the next Miss International, Miss Supranational, and Miss Grand International editions. Who will succeed last year's Miss International Puerto Rico Paola González, Miss Supranational Puerto Rico Ariette Banchs, and Miss Grand Puerto Rico Oxana Rivera? Meet the 16 contestants: Miss Bayamon - Mafe Amador Rivera Miss Caguas - Cristina Ramos Miss Carolina - Yamilka Desirée Miss Cataño - Camille Fabery Miss Dorado - Stephanie Lugo Santiago Miss Fajardo - Gabriela Santana Quiñones Miss Guaynabo - Keyla Nicol Miss Humacao - Edith Miriam Miss Jayuya - Samarys Barbot Arroyo Miss Patillas - Trisha Gonzalez Miss Ponce - Stephanie Quiles Miss Rio Grande - Amanda Paola Pérez Solís Miss Salinas

Miss Earth Caguas Victoria Arocho was crowned Miss Earth Puerto Rico 2023 on Sunday, January 29 at the Centro de Bellas Artes de Caguas. The 20-year-old model representing Caguas bested 21 other competitors to win the national title. She succeeds Paulina Avilés — Miss Earth Puerto Rico 2022 and Miss Earth 2022 Top 8 finalist. Rounding out the Top 4 were Miss Earth Rincón Nashaly Muñiz, Miss Earth Fajardo Ashley Melendez, and Miss Earth Cayey Jaimar Cruz. They were named Miss Earth Air, Water, and Fire, respectively. Miss Earth Camuy Lizmarie Rodríguez and Miss Earth Guaynabo Monika Zayas completed the Top 6 finalists. The representatives of Bayamón, María Amador; Isabela, Andrea Arteaga; Loíza, Alondra Martínez; Manatí, Monique Alarcón; Ponce, Cynthia Goenaga; and Villalba, Jovanska Santiago were the rest of the Top 12 semifinalists. Puerto Rico has won the Miss Earth pageant once with Nellys Pimentel in 2019. The new Miss Earth Puerto Rico will now prepare to represent Puerto Rico at

Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022 Ashley Cariño's national costume for the forthcoming 71st Miss Universe pageant has been officially revealed. The costume created by Puerto Rican musical artist and mechanical engineer DJ King Arthur features 42 pieces of biodegradable plastic designed and 3D printed. Inspired by the Arecibo Observatory Radio Telescope, it pays homage to important Puerto Rican names in the field of pageantry (former Miss Universe winners) and sports, the national flag, and coquí, an unofficial national symbol of Puerto Rico. Ashley will showcase this futuristic ensemble during the 71st Miss Universe national costume competition in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA this coming January. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Puerto Rico (@muniversepr) Photo: Brandon Cruz González / Wapa.tv RELATED POSTS: Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022 is Miss Fajardo, Ashley Ann Cariño Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022 Ashley Cariño shares her favorite co

Former Miss Universe Argentina Mariana Valera and fellow beauty queen from Puerto Rico, Fabiola Valentín, revealed they had secretly tied the knot after keeping their relationship private for a long time. Their intimate wedding ceremony took place last Friday, October 28 in San Juan, Puerto Rico where same-sex marriage has been legal since 2015. Back in 2019, they both tried to join Miss Universe but while Mariana won her national title and went on to compete in the prestigious pageant in Atlanta, Georgia, Fabiola was not lucky enough to take home the Miss Universe Puerto Rico title as she only placed in the Top 3. Their paths crossed a year later when their pageant journey brought them together in Miss Grand International 2020 which was held in Bangkok, Thailand where they both placed in the Top 10 and fell in love. "Congratulations to both of you. MGIO always support “LOVE” without boundaries," Miss Grand International Organization posted about them on social media. The Mi

Miss Universe front-runner from Puerto Rico Ashley Cariño squeezed in a few latest photos while she is busy preparing for the competition of her life in just three months. Photographed by Fani Miranda, the proud boricua went to social media on Saturday, September 24 to share the stunning shots of her wearing a gown by Laura Saez and the crown by Lido Jewelers. "My favorite color is purple," she captioned in Spanish with a purple heart emoji and added: "It's no coincidence that purple is the mix of blue with red, the colors of my flag. Let violet be a balance between intensity and calm. It stands for dignity, creativity and magic." The 28-year-old aerospace engineer and women in STEM advocate also continued by sharing how grateful she is for how her country has remained calm amid intensity and how they rise together as brothers. Ashley was crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022 on August 11 in San Juan and this January, she will attempt to win her country's s

Miss Earth Puerto Rico 2023 pageant has officially kicked off with the sashing ceremony on Sunday, August 14 at the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel in Carolina. This year's edition introduced a total of 28 contestants representing various towns, municipalities, and cities of Puerto Rico. Reigning Miss Earth Puerto Rico Paulina Avilés is expected to compete at Miss Earth 2022 in the Philippines this November, while her successor will go to Miss Earth 2023 in Vietnam. Meet the 28 official contestants: Miss Earth Aguada - Keyshali Orama Miss Earth Aibonito - Emira Dominguez Miss Earth Arecibo - Adriana Mercado Miss Earth Bayamón - María Amador Miss Earth Caguas - Victoria Arocho Miss Earth Camuy - Lizmarie Rodríguez Miss Earth Canóvanas - Paola Torres Miss Earth Carolina - Aimee Candelaria Miss Earth Cayey - Jaimar Cruz Miss Earth Dorado - Valerie Classseb Miss Earth Fajardo - Ashley Meléndez Miss Earth Guaynabo - Monika Zayas Miss Earth Isabela - Andrea Arteaga Miss Earth Juncos - Juliani

Miss Fajardo, Ashley Ann Cariño, was crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022 in a glittering competition that took place on Thursday, August 11 at the Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré, also known as Bellas Artes de Santurce in San Juan. The 27-year-old beauty succeeds last year's winner Michelle Colón of Loíza and will represent Puerto Rico at the 71st Miss Universe pageant (Miss Universe 2022) later this year. Leonela González De Jesús of Dorado and Camille Fabery Diana of Cataño were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. The representatives of Aguadilla,  Graciela Berrios and Toa Alta, Valeria Pagán Masini, completed the Top 5 finalists. This year's national competition was the 66th edition of Miss Universe Puerto Rico. The event was hosted by former titleholder Estefanía Soto and Puerto Rican journalist Julio Rivera-Saniel while international stars Gloria Trevi, Jencarlos Canela, and Víctor Manuelle were the special guest performers. The new Miss Universe P

Puerto Rico, a small beautiful island territory in the Caribbean, will crown a new queen tonight during the 66th Miss Universe Puerto Rico edition at Centro de Bellas Artes de Santurce (Santurce Fine Arts Center). The “Isla del Encanto” (Island of Enchantment) is a "powerhouse" in the Miss Universe pageant after winning five editions courtesy of Marisol Malaret (1970), Deborah Carthy (1985), Dayanara Torres (1993), Denise Quiñones (2001), and Zuleyka Rivera (2006). This year, a total of 28 contestants will battle it out for the coveted national title and the opportunity to represent Puerto Rico at Miss Universe 2022. Who will be the next Miss Universe Puerto Rico? Meet our Top 8 favorites for the crown: Miss Adjuntas , Mariana Torres-Bernard , 24, is a volleyball player and aspiring health professional. She studied biology with a concentration in biotechnology at the University of Puerto Rico. Miss Aguadilla , Graciela Berrios Barreto , 18, is also a volleyball player, and an

The preliminary competition of Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022 took place on Sunday, August 7 from the historic Teatro Tapia (Tapia Theater) Theater in San Juan. Hosted by "NotiCentro" journalist Jorge Gelpí Pagán and "Viva la tarde" presenter Nicole Chacón, with musical numbers from Lenny Tavárez and  Christian Daniel, the colorful event featured 28 contestants competing in their preliminary swimsuits and evening gowns. The judges were veteran journalist Luz Nereida Vélez; lawyer and businesswoman Vivian Santiago; specialist in oral rehabilitation doctor Carlos Izcoa; journalist, writer and columnit for local and Latin American media Ana Teresa Toro; executive producer and casting film director Germán Legarreta; entrepreneur and Women Who Lead founder Frances Ríos; and actor Eli Cay. Special awards for Best L'Oreal Hair, Best Ceravé and Vichy Skin, Miss Photogenic, and Miss Friendship were respectively awarded to Miss Adjuntas, Mariana Torres Bernard, Miss Fajar

Toa Baja representative Elena Rivera was crowned Miss Mundo Puerto Rico 2022 (Miss World Puerto Rico 2022) during the national competition held on Thursday, June 30 at Centro de Bellas Artes de Caguas. Amanda Pérez Solis of Río Grande and Andrea Carolina Rivera of Lares were the first and second runners-up, respectively. A total of 30 contestants competed for the coveted national title and the right to represent Puerto Rico at the 71st Miss World pageant. Last year's titleholder Aryam Díaz Rosado crowned her successor at the end of the event. The new Miss World Puerto Rico is an 18-year-old fashion model and marketing student. She will now prepare to win her country's third Miss World next to Wilnelia Merced and Stephanie del Valle. Photos: Miss Mundo Puerto Rico