From the shore to the mountain heights, Venezuela is a country of stunning scenery and unexpected surprises. Also, the abode of some of the most good-looking women on earth, the picturesque country is considered to be the pageant powerhouse of the world. Let us dive into the rich history of Venezuelan women making it big in the big four international beauty competitions of the world.
Venezuela is the only country in the world to have won all the four major titles of the beauty world, at least twice. Holding a whopping 23 titles to its name, the country has been placed a 130 times in the big four titles, 44 placements alone at the Miss Universe pageant. Miss Venezuela's winners have won seven Miss Universe crowns, six Miss World crowns, and eight Miss International crowns, among many other titles in celebrated beauty contests around the world.
History was created on 23rd August 2019 at the Imperial Ballroom in Atlantis Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas as Stefania Fernández, a Venezuelan, was crowned as Miss Universe 2009 by her countrymate Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008. Thus, setting a Guinness World Record by being the first and only woman in the history of Miss Universe to be crowned by a fellow countrywoman.
The Venezuelan titleholders and their wins at the Big Four:
Miss Universe (44 placements)
Venezuela comes second only to the United States of America when it comes to holding the most number of Miss Universe titles. It currently holds seven Miss Universe wins.
Maritza Sayalero, Miss Universe 1979
Irene Sáez, Miss Universe 1981
Bárbara Palacios Teyde, Miss Universe 1986
Alicia Machado, Miss Universe 1996
Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008
Stefanía Fernández, Miss Universe 2009
Gabriela Isler, Miss Universe 2013
Miss World (34 placements)
Venezuela and India both have six winners as the countries with most victories in the history of the Miss World pageant.
Carmen Susana Duijm, Miss World 1955
Pilín León, Miss World 1981
Astrid Carolina Herrera, Miss World 1984
Ninibeth Leal, Miss World 1991
Jacqueline Aguilera, Miss World 1995
Ivian Sarcos, Miss World 2011
Miss International (38 placements)
With 8 wins at the Miss International pageant, Venezuela is the undisputed frontrunner followed by Philippines with 6 Miss International titles to its name.
Nina Sicilia, Miss International 1985
Consuelo Adler, Miss International 1997
Vivian Urdaneta, Miss International 2000
Goizeder Azúa, Miss International 2003
Daniela di Giacomo, Miss International 2006
Elizabeth Mosquera, Miss International 2010
Edymar Martínez, Miss International 2015
Mariem Velazco, Miss International 2018
Miss Earth (14 placements)
Coming second only to Philippines, Venezuela holds two Miss Earth titles tying with Ecuador and Brazil who also boast of two crownings.
Alexandra Braun, Miss Earth 2005
Alyz Henrich, Miss Earth 2013
Luiseth Materán continued the strong performance streak of the nation and placed in the Top 16 of the recently held Miss Universe 2021 competition. Alejandra Conde is to be watched out for at the 70th edition of the Miss World now set to be held on 16th March, 2022. Philippines is still 8 title wins behind to come at par with Venezuela for most number of wins at major beauty titles, leaving Venezuela as the uncontested champion of the industry.