Miss Latina US

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Miss Latina US, formerly known as Miss Latina USA, is an American beauty pageant exlusively for Latina women in the United States. It is open to those born in Latin American countries, or descended from them. Titles are available for all states, but typically those with larger Latin populations compete every year (such as Texas, California, Florida, New Mexico, etc.). It was founded originally in 1986, as an official preliminary to the Miss Latin America pageant. It is also a sister pageant to the Miss Teen US Latina pageant. All three pageants are owned and operated by the Miss América Latina Organization, similar to the way the Miss Universe Organization operates the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants.

1 History
2 Winners
3 Trivia
4 Notes

[edit] History

Originally, the Miss Latin America pageant was founded to provide scholarships for Latin American women living in the Miami, Florida region. Only five women participated in the original pageant, held in 1981. In 1982, the number expanded. In 1983, it went international, but individual states were represented at that pageant. As a matter of fact, Cira Sanchez of Texas was the second runner-up, while the representatives from Florida, Arizona and California were top ten finalists (Nevada also competed.) In 1984, ten state representatives participated at the Miss Latin America 1984 pageant, held in Miami Beach, with Florida's representative, Yolanda Fernandez, placing as the first runner-up to Venezuela's Mirla Ochoa. Florida again placed as first runner-up in 1985, and Arizona was third runner-up. In 1986, a separate pageant was founded, the Miss Latina USA contest. The winner went on to represent the United States at Miss Latin America. This has happened every year since. In 2001, as per agreement with the Miss Universe Organization, who owns the rights to the Miss USA title, the pageant changed its name from Miss Latina USA to Miss Latina US. Additionally, Miss Latin America became post-dated in 1999, changing the contest from Miss Latin America 1999 to Miss Latin America 2000. However, Miss Latina US had not, so Miss Latina USA 1999 went to Miss Latin America 2000, and this has happened ever since.

[edit] Winners

Year	Name	State	Placement at Miss Latin America
1986	Sandra Luz Cedillos	Texas
1987	Sdenka Dobronic	District of Columbia
1988	NOT HELD^[1]
1989	Hany Valdes	Florida
1990	Carola Garfias	Arizona
1991	Yvette Gonzalez	New York
1992	Carla Morales	Rhode Island
1993	Dailin Garcia	Florida
1994	Joanne Morales-George	Florida
1995	NOT HELD^[2]
1996	Iris Almario^[3]	New York
1997	NOT HELD^[4]
1998	Katherine Rodriguez	Florida
1999	Dilania Inoa	Rhode Island
2000	Katherine Gonzalez	New York	Semi-Finalist at Miss Latin America 2001.
2001	Karla Vargas	California
2002	Elynor Martinez	Utah
2003	Lydia Acuña	Utah
2004	Graciela Stanley	Kansas	First Runner-Up at Miss Latin America 2005.
2005	Melissa Quesada	New York	Miss Latin America 2006
2006	Melissa Marin^[5]	Rhode Island
2006	Yalena Matos^[5]	Oregon
2007	Yalena Matos^[5]

[edit] Trivia

With four wins, Florida has the most wins of any state. Their wins came in 1989, 1993, 1994, and 1998. Technically, New York also has four titles (1991, 1996, 2000 and 2005), but has only won three times.^[3] Rhode Island is tied with New York, with three wins (1992, 1999 and 2006). Utah also won twice, and is one of only two states, along with Florida, to have won the title consecutively.
Thirteen of the titleholders were born outside of the United States.
Ironically, although Florida placed as first runner-up at Miss Latin America 1984 and 1985, no Miss Latina US from Florida ever placed at Miss Latin America.
Despite having numerous placements in 1983, 1984 and 1985 as individual states, the United States didn't place at Miss Latin America until 2001.
The United States is one of only two nations to have won Miss Latin America that doesn't officially speak Spanish. The other country is Brazil.

[edit] Notes

^ The 1988 event was postponed until 1989 because of the Mexican presidential inauguration. It was renamed Miss Latina USA 1989.
^ The 1995 event was canceled because of a national crisis in the host nation.
^ ^a ^b There was no Miss Latina USA 1996 pageant held. Iris Almario was selected by a panel of judges to represent the United States at Miss Latin America. Almario had competed before, however, having placed first runner-up at Miss Latina USA 1993.
^ No reason has been given officially for the cancellation of Miss Latin America 1997 or Miss Latina USA 1997. The Miss América Latina Organization, however, has stated that they were researching the pageant.
^ ^a ^b Originally, Melissa Marin was crowned Miss Latina US 2006. However, Marin resigned the title to focus on her studies. Her first runner-up, Yalena Matos, was crowned the new Miss Latina US, but has been billed as Miss Latina US 2007, as opposed to assuming the duties of Miss Latina US 2006. Matos competed at Miss Latin America 2007, while Marin didn't compete at the international pageant.