Miss Latina US - the first national Latina beauty pageant in the USA selecting winners to the Miss Latin America of the World Pageant since 1983! |
| All state and local preliminaries in the Miss Latina US™ pageant system are required to conform to established rules and regulations for participants in this program; however, these contests are licensed events operated separately and independently of the Miss Latin America Organization. Organizacion Miss America Latina, Inc. owns all the tradenames in the Miss Latina America® / Miss Latina US™ Pageant system. Their unauthorized used is strictly prohibited in exact form or in any similarly confusing manner. |
How old are the competitions?
The MISS LATIN AMERICA® OF THE WORLD and MISS LATINA US™ competitions began as concurrent events in
1983 in Miami, Florida; MISS TEEN US LATINA™ made its debut in September 2003 in Riviera Maya-Cancun, Mexico.
Are these competitions different from others in the USA for Latinas?
Yes. MISS LATINA US™ (originally named “MISS LATINA USA” until 2001 revision per agreement with Miss Universe
Organization) is the first national competition established in the country exclusively for Latinas and it continues to be
the ONLY one whose winner advances to a world competition—the MISS LATIN AMERICA® OF THE WORLD Pageant.
It is the most prestigious and famous pageant in the world for U.S. Latinas, as well as the longest-running. (See
history since 1983.) It is also the only national Latina pageant in the USA that follows traditional pageant guidelines
for participants and affiliate preliminary competitions, among which is that delegates may not be married or have
children, and only one delegate can represent each state.
What are the competitions about?
In 1981, legendary Mexican TV host Raul Velasco produced the first national pageant for Latinas in the USA and the
franchise to select the representative from Miami was awarded to entertainer and musical show producer Acirema
Alayeto. When that competition closed after two years, Acirema Alayeto established the international MISS LATIN
AMERICA® pageant system to showcase the beauty and culture of Latin American women and support their personal
and professional pursuits, while also contributing to the promotion of tourism and goodwill in the Americas.
Who produces these competitions?
Organizacion Miss America Latina, Inc., a Florida corporation in good-standing, produces the pageants annually and
directs a network of affiliates nationally and internationally. Pageant licenses are awarded to operate state and
national pageants around the world to select winners to the MISS LATINA US™ and MISS LATIN AMERICA® OF THE
WORLD Pageants, respectively. It is the largest and oldest pageant system exclusively for Latinas in the world. The
Pageant Organization and its President/Founder have received awards and recognitions from Presidents, Tourism
Ministers, Governors, and Mayors here and abroad for their distinguished work and objectives. (See some published
at the “Organization” page of this website.)
Where are these competitions held?
Initially held in Miami, Florida, since 1986 both MISS LATIN AMERICA® of the World and MISS LATINA US™ have taken
place in exotic locations in different Latin American countries each year. For USA delegates, this has represented an
exciting opportunity to identify more firmly with their heritage and provide them with an enriching cultural experience.
Host countries in the past have been Costa Rica, Bolivia, Mexico, El Salvador, Argentina, Guatemala, Nicaragua and
Dominican Republic. In 2006, Miss Latina US was brought back to the US for its first performance in the Northeast,
hosted by the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA. (See history for more details and celebrity photos.)
How do the delegates get to the national competition?
For MISS LATINA US™ and MISS TEEN US LATINA™ some cities and states have preliminary competitions, which
are produced by local and state directors. The winner of the local competition goes on to compete in the state event for
her hometown; state winners go on to the national competition. A delegate may also enter a state competition without
having won a city or local title, and where there are no state preliminaries, she may apply for her state’s representation
as an at-large delegate. The MISS LATIN AMERICA® OF THE WORLD international delegates must win their
respective competitions in the countries where they reside in order to be able to compete in this worldwide event. In
the case of the United States, MISS LATINA US™ goes on to represent the USA at the annual MISS LATIN AMERICA®
of the World Pageant.
Must delegates be US citizens to participate in the National competition?
No. The competition is open to anyone residing legally in the USA and meets all of the other eligibility requirements for
participation.
Can someone born in another country and living in the US represent that country in the MISS LATIN AMERICA® OF
THE WORLD Pageant?
No. Delegates to the MISS LATIN AMERICA® OF THE WORLD Pageant must participate in the competition of their
respective countries of residence to win that representation. However, “nationality” representation is available in the
MISS LATINA US™ and MISS TEEN US LATINA™ competitions for those living in the USA that want to represent their
birth place or that of their parents/grandparents.
What prizes do the winners receive?
Each title winner is awarded cash and prizes from the event's official sponsors.
Who sponsors the events?
Barceló Hotels & Resorts has been the major sponsor of the MISS LATIN AMERICA®, MISS LATINA US™ and MISS
TEEN US LATINA™ competitions since 2000. Eastern States Exposition sponsored the Miss Latina US™ and Miss
Teen US Latina™ Pageants in 2006. Past sponsors have also included Univision, Pepsi-Cola, Max Factor, Wella,
Meadow Gold Dairy, Daewoo, Sheraton, Azteca America and Macy’s, just to name a few.
The MISS LATIN AMERICA® OF THE WORLD and MISS LATINA US™ competitions began as concurrent events in
1983 in Miami, Florida; MISS TEEN US LATINA™ made its debut in September 2003 in Riviera Maya-Cancun, Mexico.
Are these competitions different from others in the USA for Latinas?
Yes. MISS LATINA US™ (originally named “MISS LATINA USA” until 2001 revision per agreement with Miss Universe
Organization) is the first national competition established in the country exclusively for Latinas and it continues to be
the ONLY one whose winner advances to a world competition—the MISS LATIN AMERICA® OF THE WORLD Pageant.
It is the most prestigious and famous pageant in the world for U.S. Latinas, as well as the longest-running. (See
history since 1983.) It is also the only national Latina pageant in the USA that follows traditional pageant guidelines
for participants and affiliate preliminary competitions, among which is that delegates may not be married or have
children, and only one delegate can represent each state.
What are the competitions about?
In 1981, legendary Mexican TV host Raul Velasco produced the first national pageant for Latinas in the USA and the
franchise to select the representative from Miami was awarded to entertainer and musical show producer Acirema
Alayeto. When that competition closed after two years, Acirema Alayeto established the international MISS LATIN
AMERICA® pageant system to showcase the beauty and culture of Latin American women and support their personal
and professional pursuits, while also contributing to the promotion of tourism and goodwill in the Americas.
Who produces these competitions?
Organizacion Miss America Latina, Inc., a Florida corporation in good-standing, produces the pageants annually and
directs a network of affiliates nationally and internationally. Pageant licenses are awarded to operate state and
national pageants around the world to select winners to the MISS LATINA US™ and MISS LATIN AMERICA® OF THE
WORLD Pageants, respectively. It is the largest and oldest pageant system exclusively for Latinas in the world. The
Pageant Organization and its President/Founder have received awards and recognitions from Presidents, Tourism
Ministers, Governors, and Mayors here and abroad for their distinguished work and objectives. (See some published
at the “Organization” page of this website.)
Where are these competitions held?
Initially held in Miami, Florida, since 1986 both MISS LATIN AMERICA® of the World and MISS LATINA US™ have taken
place in exotic locations in different Latin American countries each year. For USA delegates, this has represented an
exciting opportunity to identify more firmly with their heritage and provide them with an enriching cultural experience.
Host countries in the past have been Costa Rica, Bolivia, Mexico, El Salvador, Argentina, Guatemala, Nicaragua and
Dominican Republic. In 2006, Miss Latina US was brought back to the US for its first performance in the Northeast,
hosted by the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA. (See history for more details and celebrity photos.)
How do the delegates get to the national competition?
For MISS LATINA US™ and MISS TEEN US LATINA™ some cities and states have preliminary competitions, which
are produced by local and state directors. The winner of the local competition goes on to compete in the state event for
her hometown; state winners go on to the national competition. A delegate may also enter a state competition without
having won a city or local title, and where there are no state preliminaries, she may apply for her state’s representation
as an at-large delegate. The MISS LATIN AMERICA® OF THE WORLD international delegates must win their
respective competitions in the countries where they reside in order to be able to compete in this worldwide event. In
the case of the United States, MISS LATINA US™ goes on to represent the USA at the annual MISS LATIN AMERICA®
of the World Pageant.
Must delegates be US citizens to participate in the National competition?
No. The competition is open to anyone residing legally in the USA and meets all of the other eligibility requirements for
participation.
Can someone born in another country and living in the US represent that country in the MISS LATIN AMERICA® OF
THE WORLD Pageant?
No. Delegates to the MISS LATIN AMERICA® OF THE WORLD Pageant must participate in the competition of their
respective countries of residence to win that representation. However, “nationality” representation is available in the
MISS LATINA US™ and MISS TEEN US LATINA™ competitions for those living in the USA that want to represent their
birth place or that of their parents/grandparents.
What prizes do the winners receive?
Each title winner is awarded cash and prizes from the event's official sponsors.
Who sponsors the events?
Barceló Hotels & Resorts has been the major sponsor of the MISS LATIN AMERICA®, MISS LATINA US™ and MISS
TEEN US LATINA™ competitions since 2000. Eastern States Exposition sponsored the Miss Latina US™ and Miss
Teen US Latina™ Pageants in 2006. Past sponsors have also included Univision, Pepsi-Cola, Max Factor, Wella,
Meadow Gold Dairy, Daewoo, Sheraton, Azteca America and Macy’s, just to name a few.
| Miss Latina US - the first national Latina beauty pageant in the USA selecting winners to the Miss Latin America of the World Pageant since 1983! |
| COPYRIGHT 2010 ORGANIZACION MISS AMERICA LATINA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. |
