Motto Elegance and Beauty Type Beauty Pageant Location Italy | Formation 1951 Headquarters Milan Membership Miss Universe | |
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Miss Universo Italia is a national pageant that currently selects the Italian representative for the Miss Universe pageant. The pageant was first organized in 1951 and it is not related to Miss Italia, although some delegates have crossed over from one format to the other throughout the years.
Contents
History
Since 1951, the official winner of Miss Italy represented at the Miss Universe until 1999 with the exception of a few select years in which a delegate was selected by casting or an independent pageant.
In 2005, Miss Universo Italia was created. From 2000 to 2004, the Italian representative was selected by the now defunct The Miss for Miss Universe pageant. Maria Teresa Francville had already won the right to represent Italy that year by virtue of winning The Miss for Miss Universe. When that pageant lost the franchise and was discontinued, she entered the newly created Miss Universo Italia competition and won again.
The most notable winners of the Miss Universo Italia pageant are Claudia Ferraris, who finished 9th at Miss Universe 2008, and Valentina Bonariva, who advanced to the Top 15 at the Miss Universe 2014 pageant.
Titleholders
Notes
The Miss for Miss Universe
Delegates between 2000 and 2004 were chosen by The Miss for Miss Universe pageant. In 2005, Maria Teresa Francville competed in both The Miss for Miss Universe and Miss Universe Italy, which was created when The Miss for Miss Universe lost the franchise. She won both pageants.
Miss Italia 1951-1998
Before the creation of Miss Universo Italia, the winner of Miss Italia represented her country at Miss Universe. On occasion, when the winner did not qualify (e.g. due to age) for either contest, a runner-up was sent.