Miss Universe: Which countries won the most crowns?

We’re just days away from one of the most highly anticipated events of 2024: the 73rd Miss Universe competition. This iconic pageant, in which Sheynnis Palacios’ successor will be crowned, is set to take place on November 16th in Mexico City. As contestants gear up for the big night, fans around the world are rallying behind their favorites, hoping that they will see their country take home the crown.

© Hector Vivas

As we wait for the big day to arrive, we gathered the below list so you can learn about which countries have won the most crowns in this iconic pageant that’s been around since 1952.

United States

As the birthplace of Miss Universe, it’s no surprise that the United States tops the leaderboard with an impressive nine crowns. Beauty pageants are a big deal here, with competitions spanning numerous categories and age groups. The most recent win came in January 2023 when R’Bonney Gabriel brought the title home, representing the 2022 edition of the pageant.

© TIMOTHY A. CLARY

Here are the names of the U.S. queens:

• Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson (1954)
• Carol Ann Laverne Morris (1956)
• Linda Jeanne Bement (1960)
• Sylvia Louise Hitchcock (1967)
• Shawn Nichols Weatherly (1980)
• Chelsi Mariam-Pearl Smith (1995)
• Brook Antoniette Mahealani Lee (1997)
• Olivia Culpo (2012)
• R’Bonney Gabriel (2023)

Venezuela

With a total of seven crowns, Venezuela has solidified its reputation as a powerhouse of beauty, charisma, and intelligence. This South American nation last claimed the Miss Universe title in 2013, thanks to the stunning María Gabriela de Jesús Isler. In addition, Venezuela has a Guinness Record, because in 2009, Stefanía Fernández Krupij became the first and only queen to be crowned by a compatriot, that is, it was a successive triumph. 

Here are the names of the Venezuelan queens:

• Maritza Salayero Fernández (1979)
• Irene Lailín Sáez Conde (1981)
• Bárbara Pérez Hernández (1986)
• Yoseph Alicia Machado (1996)
• Dayana Sabrina Mendoza Moncada (2008)
• Stefanía Fernández Krupij (2009)
• María Gabriela de Jesús Isler (2013)

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is the third on the list with a total of five winners. In the image, Dayanara Torres can be seen being crowned in 1993. The last time Puerto Rico won a crown was in 2006 with the beautiful Zuleyka Rivera. 15 years later, Puerto Ricans are looking for their sixth title.

© HECTOR MATA

Here is a list of the beauties that have represented the ‘Isla del Encanto’ with pride:

• Marisol Malaret Contreras (1970)
• Deborah Fátima Carthy Deu (1985)
• Dayanara Torres Delgado (1993)
• Denise Marie Quiñones (2001)
• Zuleyka Jerris Rivera (2006)

Philippines

After Puerto Rico, the Philippines has won four crowns. 

© FOX

Thanks to these beauty queens:

• Gloria Maria Aspillera Diaz (1969)
• Maria Margarita Roxas Moran (1973)
• Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (2015)
• Catriona Eliza Magnayon Gray (2018)

Mexico

This year’s Miss Universe host country is home to many stunning and talented women. With three crowns to its name, Mexico is tied with three other nations in the rankings. However, the country has often come close to victory, frequently landing contestants among the finalists in various editions of the pageant.

© Ethan Miller

These are the three beauty queens that have represented Mexico:

• Lupita Jones Garay (1991)
• Ximena Navarrete (2010)
• Andrea Meza (2020)

South Africa

South Africa has proven it’s a hub for stunning and accomplished women, earning three Miss Universe crowns throughout its history, the most recent just five years ago.

© Paras Griffin

The beauties that made this nation proud are:

• Margaret Gardiner (1978)
• Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters (2017)
• Zozibini Tunzi (2019)

© GettyImages

Sweden with three crowns

Sweden has also distinguished itself by being one of the countries that has repeated winners on this competition.

The European country has so far three crowns thanks:

• Hillevi Rombin (1955)
• Margareta Ingrid Arvidsson (1966)
• Yvonne Agneta Ryding (1984), who appears in the image.

India

India has also claimed the Miss Universe crown three times, with the most recent win in 2021 by Harnaaz Sandhu.

© MENAHEM KAHANA

These are the three Indian beauties that have earned a crown:

• Sushmita Sen (1994)
• Lara Dutta (2000)
• Harnaaz Sandhu (2021)

Sweden

While Latin American countries have long dominated Miss Universe, every continent has had its share of queens. Sweden has proudly represented Europe, earning three crowns throughout the history of this iconic pageant.

© Bettmann

These are the contestants from Sweden that have represented their country and the European continent:

• Hillevi Rombin (1955)
• Margareta Ingrid Arvidsson (1966)
• Yvonne Agneta Ryding (1984)

Miss Universe 2024

The 73rd edition of Miss Universe will take place on November 16 at the renowned Arena Ciudad de México. This marks the first time Mexico has hosted the iconic pageant since May 2007, when the event was held at the historic Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. That year, Riyo Mori from Japan took home the crown. Mexico also hosted the pageant in 1993, a year that saw Puerto Rico’s Dayanara Torres claim the title.