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National beauty title in Puerto Rico competing internationally

Miss Puerto Rico is a national title bestowed on the women representing Puerto Rico in international beauty pageants. In 1987, Puerto Rico became the ninth nation to win the Big Three pageants of Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International. In 2019, Puerto Rico won Miss Earth, becoming the fourth nation to win the Big Four pageants. Having also won Miss Supranational, Miss Grand International, and Miss Intercontinental by 2019, Puerto Rico became the first nation—and only one as of —to win the Big Six or Grand Slam and the Big Seven pageants. As the second Ibero American nation and fourth nation globally with the most titles in the Big Three, Big Four, Grand Slam, and Big Seven pageants, Puerto Rico, which has won 17 major titles as of 2023, is considered a powerhouse in the industry of beauty pageants, alongside Venezuela, United States, Philippines, and India. In Puerto Rico, beauty queens are an important part of the culture. The businesswoman in the modeling and beauty industry in charge of many Puerto Rican representatives in international pageants between 1952 and 1998, Anna Santisteban, popularly known as the Hacedora de Reinas (Maker of Queens), is recognized as the figure who established the fervent enthusiasm for beauty queens in Puerto Rico. As the holder of the Miss Universe franchise in Puerto Rico, Santisteban produced three international winners in 1970, 1985 and 1993. Despite being an American territory as a commonwealth (lang es) with democratic self governance, Puerto Rico competes in international beauty competitions as a separate and independent nation from the United States since 1952, as it does in the Olympic Games since 1948 and the Pan American Games since 1955.

Hundreds of beauty contests are held every year, but those known as the Big Four are considered the most prestigious, widely covered and broadcast by the international media. These three competitions are: Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International. Puerto Rico has won Miss Universe five times: 1970 with Marisol Malaret, 1985 with Deborah Carthy Deu, 1993 with Dayanara Torres, 2001 with Denise Quiñones, and 2006 with Zuleyka Rivera; Miss World twice: 1975 with Wilnelia, Lady Forsyth Johnson, and 2016 with Stephanie Del Valle; and Miss International twice: 1987 with Laurie Simpson, and 2014 with Valerie Hernández. In 1987, Puerto Rico became the ninth nation globally to win all three competitions. With 9 titles, Puerto Rico is the fourth nation globally with the most titles won in these pageants. Miss Earth is historically considered the next most important pageant. Puerto Rico has won the title once with Nellys Pimentel in 2019. Along with the three aforementioned competitions, Miss Earth composes Big Four (Big Four) pageants. In 2019, Puerto Rico became the fourth nation to win the four contests. With 10 titles, Puerto Rico is the fourth nation globally with the most titles won in these pageants. The two most prestigious and relevant pageants after the Big four are: Miss Supranational and Miss Grand International. Puerto Rico has won both competitions once, winning Miss Supranational in 2018 with Valeria Vázquez Latorre, and Miss Grand International in 2013 with Janelee Chaparro Colón in the first edition of the pageant. These six beauty competitions—Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Supranational, and Miss Grand International—are considered the Big Six or Grand Slam, as they are the most important in the world of beauty pageants. In 2019, Puerto Rico became the first nation in the world to win all six. As of , Puerto Rico is the only nation to have achieved this feat. With 12 titles, Puerto Rico is the fourth nation globally with the most titles won in these pageants. Together with Miss Intercontinental, the oldest minor international beauty competition, these major pageants are collectively known as the Big Seven. Puerto Rico has won Miss Intercontinental four times: 1986 with Elizabeth Robinson, 1991 with Carmen Lynda Díaz, 2010 with Maydelise Columna, and 2016 with Heylimar Rosario. In 2019, Puerto Rico became the first nation in the world to win all seven. As of , Puerto Rico is the only nation to have achieved this feat. With 16 titles, Puerto Rico is the fourth nation globally with the most titles won in these pageants. With a decade of history, a high quality production, and more than sixty competing delegates, Miss Global is one of the most relevant international beauty pageants following the seven mentioned above. Puerto Rico earned its first Miss Global crown with Ashley Meléndez, who won the title in the pageant’s 2023 edition.

In its various forms, the Miss Puerto Rico beauty pageant has been held almost every year since the 1930s. The winner of the contest represents Puerto Rico at the Miss Universe pageant each year. The selection of Miss Universe Puerto Rico commences the year before the winner advances to participate in the Miss Universe pageant. Each Puerto Rican municipality may choose a representative who then enters the Miss Puerto Rico finals, traditionally held at a San Juan area hotel. The winner is crowned at the conclusion of the final competition. There have been several changes to the pageant's ownership and name. Miss Puerto Rico was held from 1952 until 1998 under the direction of Anna Santisteban. From 1996 to 1998, Telemundo organized the contest under the name Miss Universe Puerto Rico. From 1999 to 2002, TeleOnce (now Univision Puerto Rico) obtained the franchise, renaming it Miss Puerto Rico Universe. Magali Febles organized the pageant between 2003 and 2009 and the pageant title remained the same. In 2009, Luisito Vigoreaux and Desireé Lowry obtained the franchise and renamed the pageant Miss Universe Puerto Rico. In 2018, WAPA TV obtained ownership of the franchise, keeping the name of Miss Universe Puerto Rico and hiring Denise Quiñones as the pageant’s director. In 2022, host, motivational speaker, Miss Puerto Rico Petite 2000 (national title), and Miss Global Petite 2000 (international title), Yizette Cifredo Hernández, became the new national director of the pageant.

Puerto Rico debuted in Miss World in 1959, then it was absent from 1960 to 1969. In 1970, a new organization took the responsibility of sending contestants until 1985 via castings. Puerto Rico did not compete in Miss World from 1986 to 1988. The Miss Puerto Rico organization, directed by Anna Santisteban, obtained the Miss World franchise in 1989, Tania Collazo was her first Miss World delegate. Santisteban produced Miss World Puerto Rico until 1995. In 1996, Delia Cruz, mother of Miss World Wilnelia Merced, Lady Forsyth Johnson, obtained the franchise and began organizing the Miss Mundo Puerto Rico pageant with Tania Collazo as organizer for a few years before Desiree Lowry, and later on Shanira Blanco.

This contest is considered the third most important female beauty event in the world. The Miss Puerto Rico pageant had the rights to this franchise from 1960 to 1997. Then, from 1998 to 2003, the Miss Puerto Rico Tourism pageant, led by Jorge Manrique, and later by former Miss Puerto Rico Tourism and Miss World Puerto Rico Tania Collazo. In 2004, the new Bellezas del Turismo (Tourism Beauties) pageant, also directed by Tania Collazo, obtained the rights until 2006. From 2007 to 2015, the firm Creative Options Inc. chaired by Fernando Oquendo Vega, was in charged of the franchise, which was directed for a while by Desireé Del Río De Jesús, Miss International Puerto Rico 2011. Currently, Nuestra Belleza Puerto Rico (Our Beauty Puerto Rico) organization chaired by Miguel R. Deliz has ownership of the franchise with Miss Supranational Puerto Rico, and Miss Grand Puerto Rico, and Miss Charm Puerto Rico.

The Miss Puerto Rico Universe organization sent representatives to Miss Earth between 2001 and 2004 under Magaly Febles. From 2005 to 2013, Puerto Rico's representative to Miss Earth was selected through the Miss Puerto Rico Earth pageant. Under the direction of Shanira Blanco in 2014, the representative was selected through the Miss Mundo Puerto Rico pageant with the 1st Runner Up being sent to Miss Earth. In 2018, Vanessa de Roide and Joe Amhed took control of the franchise. Currently, Amhed is the sole national director of Miss Earth Puerto Rico.

The Miss Supranational representative from Puerto Rico is chosen at the Nuestra Belleza Puerto Rico (Our Beauty Puerto Rico) national beauty pageant. Miss Supranational was established in 2009, but Puerto Rico did not send a representative for the pageant’s first edition.

Miss Grand International Puerto Rico is the title of the female beauty contest in Puerto Rico created since 2013 to compete at Miss Grand International. The winner of the title carries it for a period of about a year, and they give meaning and importance to this beauty competition by promoting a stop to war and violence, a campaign which is the slogan of the pageant. The Miss Grand International candidate from Puerto Rico is chosen at the Nuestra Belleza Puerto Rico (Our Beauty Puerto Rico) national beauty pageant.

Currently, a pageant is not being held to choose the representative of Puerto Rico for Miss Intercontinental. In recent years, the delegate has been chosen from the group of semifinalists in Miss World Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico sends a delegate to the Miss America competition. 2010 was the first time Puerto Rico had done so since 1961.