WAPA América to broadcast Miss Universe from Puerto Rico

WAPA América announced its exclusive Miss Universe Puerto Rico broadcast from San Juan. As the proud owners of the franchise led by current Miss Universe Puerto Rico director –and Noticentro al Amanecer host – Yizette Cifredo, WAPA will bring the highly anticipated pageant to viewers across the United States. The event will take place at the Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré and will air live on WAPA América as well as WAPA TV in Puerto Rico. Former Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2020 Estefanía Soto, and NotiCentro al Amanecer’s José Santana, will be the official hosts of the main event, along with special guest presenters throughout the evening.

This year’s edition of Miss Universe Puerto Rico promises to be a celebration of diversity like never before. Featuring 30 contestants, the pageant showcases the beauty and talent of Puerto Rican women from all walks of life. This remarkable class of candidates includes the first openly transgender woman to compete in Miss Universe Puerto Rico.

A group of women wearing sashes and dresses Description automatically generatedThis year’s contestants also include for the very first time mothers and wives, highlighting a wider range of modern Puerto Rican women, who will be judged by a panel of distinguished experts in Modeling, Performance, Philanthropy, Image, Culture and Communications / Marketing. The winner of Miss Universe Puerto Rico will receive the newly designed “Evolution” crown. Created by Gabriela Rodriguez and Lido Jewelers, the beautiful piece features a base of 18-carat white gold and silver, mounted with 10 carat diamonds, five aquamarine stones, and a pearl in its center. The winner of Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023 will have the honor of representing the island in the prestigious global Miss Universe pageant, set to take place in November in El Salvador.

Puerto Rico has a rich history of success in the Miss Universe competition, having brought home five coveted titles. The esteemed winners include the late Marisol Malaret (1970), Deborah Carthy-Deu (1985), Dayanara Torres (1993), Denise M. Quiñones (2001), and Zuleyka Rivera (2006). In addition, under the auspices of WAPA, during the previous five years, Puerto Rico’s candidates in the Miss Universe contest have secured two Top-10, two Top-5 and 1 runner-up positions, a result unmatched by any other country in the world and a testament to the beauty, charisma, uniqueness, talent, and grace of Puerto Rican women.

This year’s Miss Universe Puerto Rico holds special significance as it marks the 30th anniversary of Dayanara Torres’s historic victory. Torres’s triumph in 1993 not only brought pride to Puerto Rico, but also served as an inspiration for generations of young women.