Miss Universe Canada


Miss Universe Canada or The Beauties of Canada is an annual national beauty pageant that selects Canada's official representative to Miss Universe—one of the Big Four beauty pageants
The Beauties of Canada Organization gained the exclusive rights to send a Canadian representative to the Miss Universe Pageant in 2002. The company President is Nicaraguan-born Canadian Denis Dávila.
WWW Official Site

Background

The Miss Universe Canada contest was first held in 2003, with the first winner being Leanne Marie Cecile. Cecile made the Top 10 in Miss Universe 2003.
Natalie Glebova was crowned the winner in 2005 and went on to become Miss Universe 2005. Glebova's successor Alice Panikian was viewed as a strong contender to win the 2006 Miss Universe crown and placed in the Top 10.
As of 2022, Canada along with France remain the only countries to send a delegate to every edition of Miss Universe since its inaugural year. Germany shared this distinction until 2020, when it withdrew due to the COVID-19 pandemic

International Crowns

Winner Of International Crowns:

Controversy

In 2010, Miss Universe Canada made headlines when Maria Al-Masani, the first beauty pageant contestant of Yemeni origin, competed. This was controversial due to accommodating her religious beliefs by allowing her to wear a semi-transparent sarong over her swimsuit. In 2012, CNN World News named her one of its eight "agents of change" to follow, the only Canadian to receive that designation.
The 2012 contest was accused of transphobia after disqualifying a transgender contestant, Jenna Talackova, for not being a "naturally born female". A spokesperson from Miss Universe Canada released a statement saying she was disqualified because on her entry form she stated she was born a female, which was not the case. Eventually, Talackova was let back into the competition.
After this, Sahar Biniaz dropped out of the Miss Universe pageant a few days prior to it starting, having allegedly hurt her foot. Adwoa Yamoah, the first runner-up, replaced her and competed in Miss Universe 2012.
On May 27, 2013, two days after the Miss Universe Canada 2013 pageant, it was announced that Denise Garrido was the winner. As it turned out, Garrido was actually 3rd runner-up and due to a mathematical error was named the winner. Calgary's Riza Santos was the actual winner. During the validation of the computerized scoring results, a typo was discovered in the top five entries, which significantly impacted the final results of the competition.
Due to the pandemic, the 2021 Miss Universe Canada pageant was cancelled and the titles Miss Universe Canada 2021 and Miss International Canada 2021 were appointed to the delegates next in line. Therefore, Miss Universe Canada 2020's first runner-up Tamara Jemuovic was awarded the title of Miss Universe Canada 2021 and competed in Eilat, Israel at the 70th Miss Universe pageant. Respectively, Miss Universe Canada 2020's second runner-up Jaime VandenBerg was awarded the title of Miss International Canada 2021, although the 2020 & 2021 Miss International pageants were cancelled.

Titleholders

Miss Universe Canada

YearHometownAgePlacement at Miss UniverseSpecial Award
2025LethbridgeJaime VandenBerg28Top 30
2024EnochAshley Callingbull34Top 12
2023Manitoulin IslandMadison Kvaltin25Unplaced
2022VancouverAmelia Tu20Top 16
2021TorontoTamara Jemuovic27Unplaced
2020VancouverNova Stevens28Unplaced
2019TecumsehAlyssa Boston24Unplaced
2018WindsorMarta Stępień24Top 10
2017TorontoLauren Howe24Top 10
  • Best National Costume
2016Moose JawSiera Bearchell23Top 9
2015TorontoPaola Núñez Valdez24Unplaced
2014CaledonChanel Beckenlehner25Unplaced
  • Best National Costume
    • 2013CalgaryRiza Santos26Unplaced
    2012VancouverSahar Biniaz26Did not compete
    2012CalgaryAdwoa Yamoah26Unplaced
    2011TecumsehChelsae Durocher20Unplaced
    2010TorontoElena Semikina26Unplaced
    2009Richmond HillMariana Valente23Unplaced
    2008Richmond HillSamantha Tajik25Unplaced
    2007TorontoInga Skaya21Unplaced
    2006TorontoAlice Panikian20Top 10
    2005TorontoNatalie Glebova23Miss Universe 2005
    2004WaterdownVenessa Fisher18Unplaced
    2003TecumsehLeanne Marie Cecile25Top 10
    Image:Elena Semikina.jpg|thumb|right|Elena Semikina - Miss Universe Canada 2010

    Miss International Canada

    The following is a list of all Miss International Canada titleholders in under Beauties of Canada or Miss Universe Canada since 2003.

    Miss Canada 1952—2002

    1993–2002

    The Canadian Search Miss Universe or Miss Canadian Universe was hosted by Chan International Models of Edmonton until 2002. While the 2002 event was held in August 2001 in Toronto, all previous events from 1993 to 2001 were held in Edmonton.
    YearRepresentedMiss CanadaAgePlacement at Miss UniverseSpecial Awards
    2002EtobicokeNeelam Verma25Top 10
    2001Montreal, QuebecCristina Rémond21Unplaced
    2000EdmontonKim Yee23Top 5
    1999Western OntarioShannon McArthur26Unplaced
    1998Calgary, AlbertaJuliana Thiessen18Unplaced
    1997Red Deer, AlbertaCarmen Kempt18Unplaced
    1996Vancouver, British ColumbiaRenette Cruz25Unplaced
    1995Calgary, AlbertaLana Buchberger202nd Runner-up
    1994Dawson Creek, British ColumbiaSusanne Rothfos18Unplaced
    1993Calgary, AlbertaNancy Ann Elder21Unplaced

    1979—1992

    The Miss Canada pageant obtained the franchise for the Miss Universe Pageant in 1978, when that year's first runner-up, Andrea Leslie Eng, competed internationally. From 1979 to the final contest, the winners of Miss Canada went on to compete. Miss Canada 1982, Karen Baldwin, being the only Miss Canada to also win Miss Universe. The show was popular in the 1970s, with up to 5 million viewers, but declined in the 1980s, until the franchise holders, Cleo Productions, closed in early 1992. Producers of the show cited mounting production costs, as the reason for cancellation. The last winner was Miss Canada 1992, Nicole Dunsdon, from Summerland, British Columbia, a speech pathology student at the University of Alberta.
    YearRepresentedMiss CanadaPlacement at Miss UniverseSpecial Awards
    1992Interior of British ColumbiaNicole DunsdonUnplaced
    1991Edmonton, AlbertaLeslie McLarenUnplaced
    1990Niagara Region, OntarioRobin Lee OuzunoffUnplaced
    1989Laurentians Region, QuebecJuliette PowellUnplaced
    1988London, OntarioMary-Melinda GilliesUnplaced
    1987Niagara Region, OntarioTinaMay SimpsonUnplaced
    1986Interior of British ColumbiaRene NewhouseUnplaced
    1985Calgary, AlbertaKaren Elizabeth TilleyTop 10
    1984Edmonton, AlbertaCynthia Michele KerelukUnplaced
    1983ManitobaJodi Yvonne RutledgeUnplaced
    1982London, OntarioKaren Dianne BaldwinMiss Universe 1982
    1981Laval, QuébecDominique Dufour1st Runner-up
    1980Calgary, AlbertaTeresa "Terry" Lynn MackayTop 12
    1979ManitobaHeidi QuiringUnplaced
    1978Vancouver, British ColumbiaAndrea Leslie EngUnplaced

    1959—1977

    Between 1969 and 1977 the Miss Dominion of Canada pageant originated when the Bruno family of Ancaster, Ontario obtained franchise rights to select and send Canada's exclusive representatives to Miss Universe. The winner of Miss Dominion of Canada competed in Miss Universe, Miss World, and often both Miss International and Queen of the Pacific. The Miss Universe franchise in Canada was taken over by the nationally televised Miss Canada contest in 1978.
    YearRepresentedMiss CanadaPlacement at Miss UniverseSpecial Awards
    1977British ColumbiaPamela MercerUnplacedMiss Congeniality
    1976OntarioNormande JacquesUnplaced
    1975OntarioSandra Margaret Emily CampbellUnplaced
    1974OntarioDeborah ToneUnplaced
    1973OntarioDeborah Anne DucharmeUnplaced
    1972OntarioBonny BradyUnplaced
    1971OntarioLana DrouillardUnplaced
    1970Prince Edward IslandNorma Joyce HickeyUnplaced
    1969OntarioJacquie May PerrinUnplaced
    1968OntarioNancy WilsonTop 15
    1967OntarioDonna Marie BarkerUnplaced
    1966OntarioMarjorie Anne SchofieldUnplaced
    1965OntarioCarol Ann TideyTop 15
    1964NewfoundlandMary Lou FarrellUnplaced
    1963SaskatchewanJane KmitaUnplaced
    1962OntarioMarilyn McFatridgeTop 15
    1961OntarioWilda ReynoldsUnplaced
    1960OntarioEdna Dianne MacVicarUnplaced
    1959OntarioEileen ButterUnplaced

    1952—1958

    In 1952, Miss Toronto 1951 competed to Miss Universe 1952. Between 1952 and 1958 Miss Universe Canada was selected by a photo contest and/or casting by Silknit Ltd. of Toronto, Canada. Most winners were former Miss Toronto Pageant winners or participants.
    YearRepresentedMiss CanadaPlacement at Miss UniverseSpecial Awards
    1958Toronto, OntarioEileen Cindy ConroyUnplaced
    1957Toronto, OntarioGloria NoakesTop 15Miss Popular
    1956Toronto, OntarioElaine Evelyn BishendenUnplaced
    1955Toronto, OntarioCathy DigglesTop 15
    1954Toronto, OntarioJoyce Mary LandryUnplaced
    1953Toronto, OntarioThelma Elizabeth BrewisTop 16
    1952Toronto, OntarioRuth CarrierUnplaced