Miss América Latina
Miss América Latina or Miss América Latina del Mundo, known in English as Miss Latin America or Miss Latin America of the World, is an international beauty contest held annually. It is organized by the Miss América Latina Organization. Despite its name, the contest is not restricted to only Latin American nations. It is designed for women of Latina descent around the globe. There is an average of about 20 contestants every year. It has two sister pageants: Miss Latina US (which selects the US delegate to Miss América Latina) and Miss Teen US Latina.
The current titleholder is Yanire Ortiz from Spain after Nicole Pinto from Panama gave up her title.
History
The Miss América Latina pageant was founded in the early 1980s. The first edition was held in 1981, when it was open to only Latina contestants in Miami, Florida, United States. In 1983, the contest went international.
Miss Latin America 2011
Miss Latin America 2011 took place on June 4, 2011, in the Grand Theater at the Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. 30 delegates participated in the event. At the conclusion of the final event - which was televised in some areas - Colombia's Carolina Lemus crowned Ecuador's Estefani Chalco. Chalco became the first Ecuadoran woman to win the contest. The runners-up were Andrea Sandoval (Venezuela), Cintia Regert (Brazil), Johana Diaz (Colombia) and Yaneth Garcia (Mexico). The semifinalists were the delegates from the Dominican Republic, Philippines, Spain, Portugal, Guatemala, Uruguay and Bolivia.
Titleholders
League Tables
| Country/Territory | Titles | Winning/Title Years |
|---|---|---|
 Brazil |
4 | 1994-95, 1998–99, 2001, 2013 |
 Guatemala |
3 | 1993, 2007, 2012 |
 USA |
1981, 1982, 2006 | |
 Venezuela |
1984, 1990, 2003 | |
 Dominican Republic |
1985, 1986, 2002 | |
 Costa Rica |
2 | 1996-97, 2009 |
 Puerto Rico |
1983, 2004 | |
 Panama |
1 | 2014 |
 Spain |
2014 | |
 Ecuador |
2011 | |
 Colombia |
2010 | |
 Italy |
2008 | |
 Paraguay |
2005 | |
 Honduras |
2000 | |
 Nicaragua |
1992 | |
 Peru |
1991 | |
 El Salvador |
1989 | |
 Mexico |
1987-88 |
*^ - The first two Miss Latin America contests were only open to women living in Miami. Although the winners of both contests are regarded as official Miss Latin America titleholders, their wins do not count on the USA's tally.
Trivia
- Only the USA has attended all 25 events. The following countries missed only once: Peru (1983), Guatemala (1992), Venezuela (1993), Dominican Republic (2003), Costa Rica (2006) and Puerto Rico (2008).
- Three countries are tied for the most wins: Brazil (1994–95, 1997–98 and 2001), Dominican Republic (1985, 1986 and 2002) and Venezuela (1984, 1990, and 2003). The Dominican Republic is also the only country to have won the title consecutively in 1985 and 1986.
- It should be noted that the USA also has had three titleholders in 1981, 1982 and 2006. While both 1981 and 1982 count as official titleholders, they are not counted as part of the USA's placement tally.
- In 1994, Brazil became the first country whose official language isn't Spanish to win the title. Two other nations have also done this: the United States in 2006 and Italy in 2008.
- Italy is the only nation that isn't located on an American continent to have won the title.
- Guatemala was the first country to have a winner crowned on home soil. This happened when Miss América Latina 1993, María Fernanda Morales was crowned in Guatemala City. Later on the Dominican Republic's Claudia Cruz was crowned Miss América Latina 2002 in Bávaro Beach, Dominican Republic.
- Both Colombia and the USA have the highest number of first runners-up: four apiece (Colombia in 1986, 2000, 2001 and 2003 and the USA in 1984, 1985, 2005 and 2009).
- Colombia and Brazil are tied for the highest number of placements, with 18 each. Venezuela is third with 15. Peru is next with 14. Tied for fourth are the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the USA with 13 each. Other countries that have placed often are Mexico, Spain (12 placements each), Ecuador (11 placements), Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama (10 placements each) and Chile (9 placements).
- Guatemala has the longest placement streak, with 7 consecutive placements from 2006-2012. Both Colombia and Brazil have the second most consecutive placements, with 6 each (1996-2003 and 2001-2006 respectively.)
- Four winners have also competed at Miss Universe. Ana Sofía Pereira (1992) represented Nicaragua at Miss Universe 1991. Dania Prince (2000) also represented Honduras at Miss Universe 1998 and later won Miss Earth 2003. Giannina Silva, the original 2007 winner, had just competed at Miss Universe 2007 two weeks prior to being crowned. Johanna Solano (2009) competed at Miss Universe 2011, where she managed to place in the Top 10, becoming the first Miss Latin America winner to place at Miss Universe.
- In 1983, 1984 and 1985, various states of the USA competed individually. They had a large impact. In 1983, Texas was second runner-up and Florida, Arizona and California were finalists. Florida later had two first runners-up in 1984 and 1985. Arizona was also second runner-up in 1985. These placements count officially as placements by the USA, rather than the individual states. Ironically, the USA wouldn't place after sending just one representative until 2001.
Notes
- ↑ The 1988 event was postponed until 1989 because of the Mexican presidential inauguration, and thus Lorenia Burruel was named Miss América Latina 1987-88
- ↑ The 1995 event was canceled due to a national crisis in the host city. Priscila Furlan was then named Miss América Latina 1994-95.
- ↑ The 1997 event was postponed for unknown reasons. Thus, Jeannette Chávez's title was extended to Miss América Latina 1996-97
- ↑ The 1999 event was renamed to Miss América Latina 2000 in order to post-date the titles. Aline Resende's title was changed to Miss América Latina 1998-99.