Miss Iceland
The Miss Iceland or Miss Universe Iceland is a national beauty pageant in Iceland. Beginning in 2023, the winner represents Iceland at Miss Universe pageant.
History
The competition has been carried out since 1950; in the first year, it was called Miss Reykjavík. Since 1955, the contest has taken place under the current name Miss Iceland. In the past, there were six regional preliminary contests in each of the five rural regions and in the capital Reykjavík. 20 to 24 candidates, three to four from each region, take part in the finals.Iceland is one of the most successful countries at the Miss World pageant with three victories, a record for a nation with a population of less than half million people.
In 2023, Jorge Esteban and Manuela Ósk Harðardóttir took the brand of Ungfrú Ísland in Iceland after the original organizers abandoned the brand back in 2018 in order to adopt a new format for Miss World in Miss World Iceland.
2013 applicants
Rafn Rafnsson, the new chief executive of the Miss Iceland contest, "in hopes of diversifying the field of contestants beyond the statuesque blonde with striking blue eyes that has become the Icelandic stereotype", said "There is no Miss Iceland stereotype..." One week later, in response to Rafnsson's statement, 1,300 people applied to become Miss Iceland, including several nontraditional candidates, such as:- Sigríður Guðmarsdóttir, 48, a female governmental minister in Reykjavík
- Reynir Sigurðbjörnsson, 47, a male electrician
- Ása Richardsdóttir, a 49-year-old female producer in the fine arts industry
- Matthildur Helgadóttir-Jónudóttir, a female event manager also in her 40s
- Brynhildur Heiðardóttir Ómarsdóttir, a female literary critic
- Sigríður Ingibjörg Ingadóttir, a female Member of Parliament for the Social Democratic Alliance
- Guðrún Jónsdóttir, a spokesperson for Stígamót
- Hildur Lillendahl, a feminist in Iceland
- Björk Vilhelmsdóttir, a city councilor of Reykjavík and feminist
- Þórdís Elva Þorvaldsdóttir, a writer and actress
Miss Universe Iceland
In 2016, Jorge Esteban and Manuela Osk Hardardottir were awarded the franchise for Miss Universe Iceland by the Miss Universe Organization. The 2020 Miss Universe Iceland competition was held on Friday, October 23, 2020, at Gamla Bio in downtown Reykjavík. The winner was 21 year old Elísabet Hulda Snorradóttir, a second year student at the University of Iceland, majoring in Chinese Studies. She represented Iceland at the Miss Universe 2020 competition. She succeeds Birta Abiba Þórhallsdóttir, Miss Universe Iceland 2019, who placed in the Top 10 at Miss Universe 2019, the highest placement for Iceland since 1962. The Miss Universe Iceland 2021 competition will be held in Reykjavík on September 29, 2021. The winner will go on to compete at the 70th Miss Universe competition in Eilat, Israel scheduled for December 2021. Previously the Miss Iceland pageant would select the representative to Miss Universe.Began 2023 the Miss Universe Iceland became the main title of Ungfrú Ísland titleholder after the organizers took over the defunct brand.
2023 applicants
Ungfrú Ísland under the leadership of Manuela Osk Harðardóttir and Jorge Esteban, a new era is ushered in. One national competition for Icelandic women with multiple opportunities for national and international representation.New rules:
- Open to contestants ages of at least 18 y/o and under 28 as of 1.1.23
- Contestants may be single, currently married or previously married
- Contestants can be pregnant or have children
Titleholders
1955-2017
| Year | Ungfrú Ísland |
| 1955 | Arna Hjörleifsdóttir |
| 1956 | Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir |
| 1957 | Bryndís Schram |
| 1958 | |
| 1959 | Sigríður Geirsdóttir † |
| 1960 | Sigrún Ragnarsdóttir |
| 1961 | María Guðmundsdóttir |
| 1962 | Miss International 1963 |
| 1963 | Thelma Ingvarsdóttir Miss Scandinavia 1963 |
| 1964 | Pálína Jónmundsdóttir |
| 1965 | Sigrún Vignisdóttir |
| 1966 | Kolbrún Einarsdóttir |
| 1967 | Guðrún Pétursdóttir |
| 1968 | Jónína Konráðsdóttir |
| 1969 | María Baldursdóttir |
| 1970 | Erna Jóhannesdóttir |
| 1971 | Guðrún Valgarðsdóttir |
| 1972 | Þórunn Símonardóttir |
| 1973 | Katrín Gisladóttir |
| 1974 | Anna Björnsdóttir |
| 1975 | Helga Eldon Jónsdóttir |
| 1976 | Guðmunda Jóhannesdóttir |
| 1977 | Kristjana Þráinsdóttir Dethroned |
| 1977 | Anna Eðvarðsdóttir |
| 1978 | Halldóra Jónsdóttir |
| 1979 | Kristín Bernharðsdóttir |
| 1980 | Elisabet Traustadóttir |
| 1982 | Guðrún Möller |
| 1983 | Unnur Steinsson |
| 1984 | Berglind Johansen |
| 1985 | Halla Bryndis Jonsdóttir |
| 1986 | Gígja Birgisdóttir |
| 1987 | Anna Margrét Jónsdóttir |
| 1988 | Linda Pétursdóttir Miss World 1988 |
| 1989 | Hugrún Linda Guðmundsdóttir |
| 1990 | Ásta Sigríður Einarsdóttir |
| 1991 | Svava Haraldsdóttir |
| 1992 | María Rún Hafliðadóttir |
| 1993 | Svala Björk Arnardóttir |
| 1994 | |
| 1995 | Hrafnhildur Hafsteinsdóttir |
| 1996 | Sólveig Guðmundsdóttir |
| 1997 | Harpa Harðardóttir |
| 1998 | Guðbjörg Hermannsdóttir |
| 1999 | Katrín Baldursdóttir |
| 2000 | Elín Magnúsdóttir |
| 2001 | Ragnheiður Guðnadóttir |
| 2002 | Manuela Ósk Harðardóttir President of Ungfru Island |
| 2003 | Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir |
| 2004 | Hugrún Harðardóttir |
| 2005 | Unnur Birna Vilhjálmsdóttir Miss World 2005 |
| 2006 | Sif Aradóttir |
| 2007 | |
| 2008 | Alexandra Ívarsdóttir |
| 2009 | Guðrún Dögg Rúnarsdóttir |
| 2010 | Fanney Ingvarsdóttir |
| 2011 | |
| 2013 | Tanja Ástþórsdóttir |
| 2015 | Arna Ýr Jónsdóttir |
| 2016 | Anna Lára Orlowska |
| 2017 | Ólafía Ósk Finnsdóttir |
2016-present
| Year | Miss Universe Iceland | 2nd Placed | 3rd Placed | 4th Placed | 5th Placed |
| 2016 | Hildur María Leifsdóttir Glacier Lagoon | Sigrún Eva Ármannsdóttir Akranes | Andrea Sigurðardóttir Kópavogur | Elísa Gróa Steinþórsdóttir Breiðholt | Thoranna Thorarins Westman Islands |
| 2017 | Arna Ýr Jónsdóttir Northern Lights | Ester Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir Hafnarfjörður | Elísa Gróa Steinþórsdóttir Garðabær | Hulda Margrét Sigurðardóttir Southern Iceland | Dagbjört Rúriksdóttir East Reykjavík |
| 2018 | Katrín Lea Elenudóttir Midnight Sun | Móeiður Svala Magnúsdóttir Northern Lights | Sunneva Sif Jónsdóttir Northern Iceland Queen Beauty Universe 2019 | Aníta Ösp Ingólfsdóttir Crystal Beach | Hulda Vigdísardóttir 101 District |
| Year | Miss Universe Iceland | Supranational Iceland | Queen Beauty Iceland | 4th Placed | 5th Placed |
| 2019 | Birta Abiba Þórhallsdóttir Geysir | Hugrún Birta Egilsdóttir Garðabær | Hulda Vigdísardóttir 101 Reykjavík | Elísabet Hulda Snorradóttir Northern Lights | Kolfinna Mist Austfjord Akureyri |
| Year | Miss Universe Iceland | Supranational Iceland | 3rd Placed | 4th Placed | 5th Placed |
| 2020 | Elísabet Hulda Snorradóttir Glacier Lagoon | Disa Dungal 101 Reykjavík | Sunneva Halldórsdóttir Akureyri | Kamilla Kristrúnardóttir Hancock Breiðholt | Díana Iva Gunnarsdóttir Vestmannaeyjar |
| 2021 | Elísa Gróa Steinþórsdóttir Garðabær | Íris Freyja Salguero Kristínardóttir Crystal Beach | Hulda Vigdísardóttir 101 Reykjavík | Elva Björk Jónsdóttir Gullfoss | Elin Stelludóttir Breiðholt |
| 2022 | Hrafnhildur Haraldsdóttir East Reykjavík | Ísabella Þorvallsdóttir Northern Lights | Alexandra Tómasdóttir Northern Iceland | Þorbjörg Kristinsdóttir Grafarholt | Elva Björk Jónsdóttir Gullfoss |
| Year | Ungfrú Ísland | Supranational Iceland | 3rd Placed | 4th Placed | 5th Placed |
| 2023 | Lilja Pétursdóttir Capital Region | Helena Hafthórsdóttir O'Connor Reykjavík | Kolfinna Mist Austfjörður Húsavík | Dagny Osk Garðarsdottir Midnight Sun | Borghildur Birta Einarsdottir Northern Lights |
| 2024 | Soldis Vala Ivarsdottir Árbær | Emilia Pora Olafsdottir Grindavík | Valerija Rjabchuk Reykjavík | Erika Lif Karadottir Kópavogur | Harpa Ros Jonsdottir Þingvellir |
| Year | Ungfrú Ísland | 2nd Placed | 3rd Placed | 4th Placed | 5th Placed |
| 2025 | Helena Hafþórsdóttir O'Connor Reykjavík | Guðrún Eva Hauksdóttir Esja | Kamilla Guðrún Lowen Hafnarfjörður | Kristín Anna Jónasdóttir Reykjavík | Dimmey Rós Lúðvíksdóttir Digranes |