Miss Universe Kosovo
| Motto | Beauty and Charisma |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2008 |
| Type | Beauty Pageant |
| Headquarters | Pristina |
| Location | |
Membership | Miss Universe |
Official language | Albanian |
Presidents | Agnesa Vuthaj and Fadil Berisha |
| Website | www.misskosova.net |
Miss Universe Kosovo is a national beauty pageant that sends representatives from Kosovo to the Miss Universe pageant.
History
In 2008, On 4 April 2008, Fadil Berisha - photographer of Miss Universe’s official photos - hosted Kosovo's inaugural pageant where Zana Krasniqi was crowned. She went on represent Kosovo at the Miss Universe pageant.[1] This was the first appearance in a Miss Universe pageant for Miss Kosovo following the country's declaration of independence on February 17, 2008.
In 2013 Fadil Berisha and Agnesa Vuthaj took control of Miss Kosovo and retrieved the Miss Universe franchise. This happened after the previous Miss Universe Kosovo director, Agron Selimi and team made the decision to send their winner to Miss World. Thus, winners for Miss Earth and Miss Universe pageant is being held under single pageant.
Titleholders
Miss Universe Kosovo
- Color key
- Declared as Winner
- Ended as runner-up
- Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
The first titleholder in Zana Krasniqi who eventually placed as a Top 10 finalist at the 2008 Miss Universe pageant. She is the first ever Kosovar woman to enter and place in the contest, finishing 6th, just two tenths of a point from the top five.[2]
The following year turned out to be another success for the Miss Universe Kosovo pageant: Marigona Dragusha, known as "Gona Dragusha", placed second runner-up to Miss Universe 2009 in the Bahamas making her to be the first delegate from Kosovo to make it top the top five.[3]
In terms of placements, Kosovo has been one of the most successful entrants into the Miss Universe pageant. Ever since debuting in 2008, Kosovo has missed the semi-finals only twice, in 2010 and 2014, beating many other countries that have been competing for decades.
One of the winners of Miss Kosovo represents her country at Miss Universe. On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a runner-up is sent.
| Year | Miss Universe Kosovo | Municipality | Placement | Special Awards |
 2008 |
Zana Krasniqi[2][1] | Pristina | Top 10 | |
 2009 |
Marigona Dragusha[3] | Pristina | 2nd Runner-Up | |
 2010 |
Kështjella Pepshi[4] | Pristina | Unplaced | |
 2011 |
Afërdita Dreshaj[5] | Pristina | Top 16 | |
| 2012 |
Diana Avdiu | Pristina | Top 16 | Miss Photogenic |
 2013 |
Mirjeta Shala | Vučitrn | Did not compete | |
| 2014 |
Artnesa Krasniqi | Pristina | Unplaced | |
| 2015 |
Mirjeta Shala | Vučitrn | Unplaced | |
Notes
In 2013 the former Miss Universe Kosovo team pulled out of Miss Universe and decided to send their winning girl to Miss World 2013. Instead Fadil Berisha held a separate Miss Universe Kosovo edition in which Mirjeta Shala was crowned. However, in October Kosovo withdrew from the Miss Universe 2013 pageant because the security of Kosovo's contestant could not be assured in Russia.
See also
References
- 1 2 "Zana Krasniqi will represent Kosovo in Miss Universe 2008". Kosfusion.com. April 7, 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
- 1 2 "Zana Krasniqi among the 10 most beautiful in Miss Universe". Malesia.org. July 15, 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
- 1 2 "The World’s Third Most Beautiful Woman". Balkan Insight. September 21, 2009. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
- ↑ "Beautiful trio: Three Swiss women at Miss Universe". Blick. August 8, 2010. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
- ↑ "Miss Universe Kosova 2011". Bayrak. January 18, 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2011.