Miss Universe pageant began in 1952 as one of the Top 4 International Beauty Pageants, holding an estimate audience of over 500 million across the globe. The Miss Universe Organization is currently owned by JKN Global Group. The Miss Universe queens advocate for humanitarian issues and become a voice to affect positive change in the world.
While all the countries that participate at Miss Universe try to bring the prestigious crown to their home, there are a few countries that hold dominance at the pageant with winning the maximum number of crowns and high placements since the Miss Universe began.
Read about the Top performing countries of Miss Universe –
United States – 8 Crowns
USA tops the chart with eight Miss Universe crowns. The country won the first Miss Universe crown in 1954 when Miriam Stevenson won the crown for USA. The country created a sandwich win when Carol Morris was crowned in 1956. Linda Bement was the third winner from USA who won in 1960. Seven years later, in 1967, Sylvia Hitchcock took home the crown. Shawn Weatherly was crowned Miss Universe in 1980. Fifteen years later, in 1995, Chelsi Smith was crowned Miss Universe from USA. The country made another sandwich win when Brook Lee was crowned Miss Universe in 1997. The last crown was won by Olivia Culpo in 2012. The country also holds 22 runners-up placements.
Venezuela – 7 Crowns
Venezuela comes second holding seven Miss Universe titles. It pioneered its win in 1979 when Maritza Sayalero was crowned Miss Universe. Creating its first sandwich win, Irene Sáez was crowned Miss Universe in 1981. Bárbara Palacios from Venezuela was crowned Miss Universe in 1986, thus bringing home the third crown. Alicia Machado won the fourth crown in 1996 while the fifth and sixth crowns were back-to-back won by Venezuela in 2008 and 2009 by Dayana Mendoza and Stefania Fernandez. The seventh crown was won by Gabriela Isler in 2013. The country also holds 19 runners-up placements at Miss Universe.
Puerto Rico – 5 Crowns
Puerto Rico comes third in the ranking holding five Miss Universe crowns. The country debuted its win at Miss Universe in 1970 when Marisol Malaret won. In 1985, Deborah Carthy-Deu from Puerto Rico was crowned Miss Universe. Dayanara Torres won the third crown for her country in 1993 while the fourth crown was won by Denise Quiñones in 2001. Zuleyka Rivera brought home the fifth crown in 2006. The country holds 7 runners-up positions at Miss Universe.
Philippines – 4 Crowns
Philippines stands fourth in the ranking holding four Miss Universe crowns. Gloria Diaz pioneered Philippines’ win at Miss Universe in 1969. The country won the second crown in 1973 when Margie Moran won the crown. Pia Wurtzbach won the Miss Universe crown for her country in 2015, breaking a four decade old drought for the country. Catriona Gray won the Miss Universe crown three years later in 2018 becoming the fourth Filipina to hold the crown.
