Miss Peru

Peru has been competing in the Miss Universe pageants for over 50 years.

Their first representative was Ada Gabriela Bueno who was crowned as the first Miss Peru for Miss Universe in 1952, in a ceremony held in the Lawn Tennis Club in Lima. Ada Gabriela travelled to Long Beach but didn't place in the semifinalist group. The year after Mary Ann Sarmiento Hall of Lima won the coveted title, she was one of the semifinalist in Miss Universe.

In 1954 Isabella Leon Velarde won the title in a magnificent ceremony held at the Teatro Municipal de Lima. Days after her election Isabella traveled to Long Beach to compete in the Miss Universe Pageant. She was one of the semifialist. 1955 was a year of political changes in Peru so the Organization decie not to run the pageant.

Two years later, Perú became the first Latin American and Spanish-speaking country to win the Miss Universe crown when Gladys Zender became Miss Universe 1957. In the 21st century. Peru started to have some new international beauty pageant successes. Claudia Ortiz De Zevallos was a semi-finalist in the 2003 Miss Universe competition held in Panama. Liesel Holler failed to land in the semi-finals in 2004 but Debora Sulca made Peru's name come back in the contest of 2005 placing 6th. Peru has a total of 14 semi-finalists, 1 finalist, and 1 winner in this annual world-wide contest.

Miss Peru World missed the annual pageant in the first few decades. Therefore Peru has not had many finalists in the Miss World contest although Peru has won the Miss World crown twice. In 2002, Marina Mora placed third, Claudia Hernández made to the semifinalists and also won the Best Designed Evening Gown Award in 2003, just one year before Maria Julia Mantilla got the crown in 2004, making a great come back for Peru in this contest. Candidates who participate in Miss Peru and make the top 10 will be sent to compete in other minor pageants from now on, such as Miss Asia Pacific, Miss Maja Mundial, etc.