| 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 1981 in Miami, Florida; MISS TEEN US LATINA™ made its debut in September 2003 in Riviera
Maya, Mexico but it has not been held again since 2008.
Are these competitions different from others in the USA for Latinas?
Yes. MISS LATINA US™ (originally named “MISS LATINA USA,”) is the first national competition
established in the country exclusively for Latinas and it continues to be the ONLY one whose winner
advances in representation of the USA to the international MISS LATIN AMERICA® OF THE WORLD
Pageant. It is the most prestigious and famous pageant in the world for 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, 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
US and the franchise to select the representative from Miami, FL was awarded to entertainer and
musical show producer Acirema Alayeto. When that competition closed after two years, Ms. Alayeto
established the international MISS LATIN AMERICA® pageant system to showcase Latin American
women and support their personal and professional pursuits, contributing also to the promotion of
tourism and goodwill in the Americas.
Who produces these competitions?
Organizacion Miss America Latina, Inc., a Florida corporation, 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 US
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. (See HISTORY
for more details and photos.)
How do the delegates get to the national competition?
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 and 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. 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 US 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 Miss Latin
America® of the World?
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™ competitions for those living in the US 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 pageant and its sponsors.
Who sponsors the events?
Barceló Hotels & Resorts has been the major sponsor of the MISS LATIN AMERICA® and MISS LATINA
US™ competitions since 2000. Eastern States Exposition sponsored the Miss Latina US™ and Miss
Teen US Latina™ Pageants in 2006. Past sponsors have also included Namaste Laboratories, Pepsi-
Cola, Max Factor, Wella, Meadow Gold Dairy and Macy’s, to name a few.
The MISS LATIN AMERICA® OF THE WORLD and MISS LATINA US™ competitions began as concurrent
events in 1981 in Miami, Florida; MISS TEEN US LATINA™ made its debut in September 2003 in Riviera
Maya, Mexico but it has not been held again since 2008.
Are these competitions different from others in the USA for Latinas?
Yes. MISS LATINA US™ (originally named “MISS LATINA USA,”) is the first national competition
established in the country exclusively for Latinas and it continues to be the ONLY one whose winner
advances in representation of the USA to the international MISS LATIN AMERICA® OF THE WORLD
Pageant. It is the most prestigious and famous pageant in the world for 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, 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
US and the franchise to select the representative from Miami, FL was awarded to entertainer and
musical show producer Acirema Alayeto. When that competition closed after two years, Ms. Alayeto
established the international MISS LATIN AMERICA® pageant system to showcase Latin American
women and support their personal and professional pursuits, contributing also to the promotion of
tourism and goodwill in the Americas.
Who produces these competitions?
Organizacion Miss America Latina, Inc., a Florida corporation, 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 US
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. (See HISTORY
for more details and photos.)
How do the delegates get to the national competition?
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 and 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. 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 US 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 Miss Latin
America® of the World?
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™ competitions for those living in the US 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 pageant and its sponsors.
Who sponsors the events?
Barceló Hotels & Resorts has been the major sponsor of the MISS LATIN AMERICA® and MISS LATINA
US™ competitions since 2000. Eastern States Exposition sponsored the Miss Latina US™ and Miss
Teen US Latina™ Pageants in 2006. Past sponsors have also included Namaste Laboratories, Pepsi-
Cola, Max Factor, Wella, Meadow Gold Dairy and Macy’s, to name a few.
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| An Official National Preliminary to Miss Latin America® of the World |