Complete List of Miss Universe Winners from 1952 to 2024

Miss Universe Winners (1952-2024): Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that showcases contestants from more than 190 countries and promotes beauty, confidence and humanitarian advocacy. It was founded in Long Beach, California on June 28, 1952 and has grown to become one of the most prestigious beauty pageants in the world.

Among the 190 countries, India has been an active participant in the Miss Universe pageant since 1952, with several Indian contestants winning the coveted title along the way.

Rhea Singh was recently crowned Miss Universe India 2024 and will now represent India in the international Miss Universe beauty pageant. Previously, Harnaz Sandhu was the last Indian contestant to win the Miss Universe 2021 title, bringing pride and recognition to India on the global stage.

JKN Global Group currently owns the pageant, which is hosted by the Miss Universe Organization based in Thailand and Mexico. Contestants competed in evening gown and swimsuit competitions and interviews.

The judging criteria focus not only on physical beauty but also on intelligence, personality and social awareness. The reigning Miss Universe selects her successor at the end of each competition. The current titleholder is Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua, who was crowned on November 18, 2023.

key details

  • Date: November 16, 2024
  • Venue: CDMX Arena, Mexico City
  • Crowning: Reigning Miss Universe Sinise Palacios of Nicaragua will crown her successor at the end of the event.
  • Preliminary round: scheduled for November 14, 2024, will include swimsuit and evening gown segments and closed-door interviews.

Complete list of Miss Universe winners from 1952 to 2024

Below is the complete list of Miss Universe winners from 1952 to 2024. The list includes notable recipients such as Olivia Culpo, Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Grey. Each recipient has represented their country with grace and poise on the international stage.

2024 To be determined
2023 Xenis Palacios (Nicaragua)
2022 R’Bonney Gabriel (USA)
2021 Harnaz Sandhu (India)
2020 Andrea Mesa (Mexico)
2019 Zozibini Tunzi (South Africa)
2018 Catriona Gray (Philippines)
2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters (South Africa)
2016 Iris Mittenauer (France)
2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (Philippines)
2014 Paulina Vega Diepa (Colombia)
2013 Gabriella Isler (Venezuela)
2012 Olivia Culpo (USA)
2011 Leila Lopez (Angola)
2010 Ximena Navarrete (Mexico)
2009 Stephania Fernandez (Venezuela)
2008 Dayana Mendoza (Venezuela)
2007 Moriyo (Japan)
2006 Zuleika Riviera Mendoza (Puerto Rico)
2005 Natalie Glebova (Canada)
2004 Jennifer Hawkins (Australia)
2003 Amelia Vega Polanco (Dominican Republic)
2002 Justin Pasek (Panama)
2002 Oksana Fedorova (Russia)
2001 Denise M. Quiñones (Puerto Rico)
2000 Lala Dutta (India)
1999 Mpule Kwelagobe (Botswana)
1998 Wendy Fitzwilliam (Trinidad and Tobago)
1997 Brooke Lee (USA)
1996 Alicia Machado (Venezuela)
1995 Chelsea Smith (USA)
1994 Sushmita Sen (India)
1993 Dayanara Torres (Puerto Rico)
1992 Michelle McLean (Namibia)
1991 Lupita Jones (Mexico)
1990 Mona Groot (Norway)
1989 Angela Visser (Netherlands)
1988 Porntip Nakhirunkanok (Thailand)
1987 Cecilia Bolocco (Chile)
1986 Barbara Palacios Tedder (Venezuela)
1985 Deborah Casey-Deu (Puerto Rico)
1984 Yvonne Reding (Sweden)
1983 Lorraine Downs (New Zealand)
1982 Karen Baldwin (Canada)
1981 Erin Saez (Venezuela)
1980 Sean Weatherly (USA)
1979 Maritza Sayalero (Venezuela)
1978 Margaret Gardner (South Africa)
1977 Janelle Commissiong (Trinidad and Tobago)
1976 Lina Messinger (Israel)
1975 Anne Marie Putamo (Finland)
1974 Amparo Muñoz (Spain)
1973 Maggie Moran (Philippines)
1972 Kelly Anne Wells (Australia)
1971 Georgina Rizk (Lebanon)
1970 Marisol Mararete (Puerto Rico)
1969 Gloria Diaz (Philippines)
1968 Martha Vasconcelos (Brazil)
1967 Sylvia Hitchcock (USA)
1966 Margarita Alvesson (Sweden)
1965 Apasra Honsakula (Thailand)
1964 Corinna Tsope (Greece)
1963 Creative Maria Vargas (Brazil)
1962 Norma Nolan (Argentina)
1961 Marlene Schmidt (Germany)
1960 Linda Bement (USA)
1959 Akiko Kojima (Japan)
1958 Luz Marina Zuluaga (Colombia)
1957 Gladys Zander (Peru)
1956 Carol Morris (USA)
1955 Halevi Robin (Sweden)
1954 Miriam Stevenson (USA)
1953 Christian Martel (France)
1952 Almi Kusela (Finland)

Source: Miss Universe

Beyond beauty standards, the Miss Universe pageant also aims to empower women and address humanitarian issues. Contestants often engage in advocacy work that reflects their personal missions and cultural backgrounds.

The upcoming Miss Universe 2024 pageant will be held on November 16, 2024 at the CDMX Arena in Mexico City. The number of semi-finalists will be increased this time (30) and the age limit for contestants over 18 years old will be removed. The selection committee included Emilio Estefan (music producer), Lele Pons (singer and actor) and other well-known personalities.

This year’s competition promises to be a vibrant showcase of beauty and talent, reflecting different cultures and backgrounds from around the world. According to reports, including bonuses and benefits, Miss Universe’s total prize money is about $250,000.

In case you missed it | Rhea Singha: Beauty from Gujarat, crowned Miss Universe India

Quick Facts About the Miss Universe Pageant

  1. The Miss Universe beauty pageant was founded on June 28, 1952.
  2. The first championship was won by Armi Kuusela from Finland.
  3. The event attracts approximately one billion viewers worldwide each year.
  4. It is held annually, with the next one scheduled for November 16, 2024.
  5. The 2024 pageant will be held at the CDMX Arena in Mexico City, marking the first time since 2007 that Mexico has hosted the event.
  6. Contestants are assessed on their beauty, intelligence, personality and social awareness.
  7. As of 2023, there is no age limit for entrants over the age of 18.
  8. The number of semi-finalists in the upcoming beauty pageant has increased to a record 30.
  9. The 2024 version will debut in countries such as Belarus and Eritrea, and return in Cuba and Fiji.
  10. The reigning Miss Universe selects her successor after each competition, currently held by Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua.
  11. In addition to the main winner, four continental queens will also be nominated.
  12. The pageant highlights humanitarian advocacy and social issues through contestants
  13. Well-known personalities often serve as judges; for example, Emilio Estefan and Lele Pons are members of the 2024 selection committee.
  14. Countries hold their own national competitions to select representatives for Miss Universe.
  15. The first Miss Universe India beauty pageant crowned Rhea Singha on September 22, 2024, and she will participate in the upcoming global event.

Also Read | List of Miss India Female Winners (1947-2024)