26/10/2025
Debut Countries who won Miss Universe crowns! Did you know in the 74 years only three countries (Finland, Colombia, and Botswana) have won their first Miss Universe crown on their first participation.
In 1952, Armi Kuusela became the first Finish woman to win the Miss Universe crown held in Long Beach, California, United States. Contestants from thirty countries and territories participated in the inaugural Miss Universe pageant. She was only 17 years old and stood at 5 feet 5 inches tall, Armi was crowned by Hollywood actress Piper Laurie in the spectacular Romanov Imperial Nuptial Crown which was previously owned by a Russian Czar - it contained 1,535 diamonds, 300 carats and was valued at $500,000 dollars.
In 1958, Luz Marina Zuluaga competed at Miss Universe 1958 and ended up winning the crown becoming the first Colombian woman to win this title. Luz Zuluaga finished as first runner-up at Miss Colombia 1957. However the winner, Doris Gil Santamaria got married. Due to Miss Universe rules stating that no contestant can be married, Santamaria was forced to resign, making Zuluaga Miss Colombia by default.
In 1999, Mpule Kwelagobe was crowned Miss Universe in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago. In 1997, she entered Miss Botswana while still a high school student. She became the youngest woman to win Miss Botswana, at only 17. As Miss Botswana, Kwelagobe represented Botswana at Miss World 1997 in Mahé, Seychelles, where she was unplaced. She is the first black African woman to win one of the Big Four international beauty pageants, the first woman from Botswana to win, and the first from a nation making their debut in nearly four decades.
This year we have 6 new countries and territories who have debuted at the 74th Miss Universe beauty pageant.
Cape Verde
Latina
Mayotte
Niger
Palestine .m.ayoub
Rwanda
Will one of them clinch the title on their first participation?
