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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How old are the competitions?
The MISS LATIN AMERICA® 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® 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 U.S. 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® 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® 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® 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 United States at
the annual MISS LATIN AMERICA® Pageant.
Must delegates be US citizens to participate in the National
competition?
No. The competition is open to any legal resident
of the USA who meets all of the other eligibility requirements for
participation.
Can someone born in another country and living in the USA represent
that country in the MISS LATIN AMERICA® Pageant?
No. Delegates to the MISS LATIN AMERICA® 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 2006 Miss Latina US™ and Miss
Teen US Latina™ Pageants in 2006. Past sponsors have also included
Univision, Pepsi-Cola, Max Factor, Meadow Gold Dairy, Wella, and Daewoo,
just to name a few.
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