Miss Latin America 2008

Miss América Latina 2008 was the twenty-second international edition of the Miss América Latina contest, and the twenty-fourth overall. The final event was held on June 28, 2008 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. At the conclusion of the pageant, Daniele Sampaio of Italy was crowned by outgoing titleholder, Heidi Garcia of Guatemala.^[1]

Results

Contestants^[2]

Nations

Returning territories

Withdraws

Historical Significance

• Italy placed for the first time. It was also the country's first win. Italy became the first European territory and the first territory not located on an American continent to win the title.
• Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Panama and Peru also placed in 2007.
• Peru earned their highest placement (third runner-up) since 1993, when Jessica Tapia was second runner-up. Tapia was the country's last finalist.
• Guatemala placed for the third time in a row, a first for the territory. (Prior to their streak beginning in 2006, the Central American nation had never placed consecutively.)
• Dominican Republic earned their highest placement since Claudia Cruz won in 2002.
• Panama earned back-to-back placements for the first time since 1989-1990.
• Colombia last placed in 2003. The gap from 2003 to 2008 (5 years) was the longest gap in placement for the South American nation. This was largely due to the fact that in that gap, they sent only one delegate, Yuliet Silva in 2005.
• El Salvador last placed in 2004.
• Brazil, Catalonia, Mexico and Nicaragua all last placed in 2006.
• Catalonia earned their highest placement to date, second runner-up.
• This was the first and (as of 2012) only, time Puerto Rico did not send a delegate. With the failure of Puerto Rico to participate, this made the USA the only territory to send a delegate to every edition.

References