Miss Universe 1996
Miss Universe 1996 was the 45th Miss Universe pageant, held at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, on 17 May 1996. This was the final Miss Universe pageant produced by ITT Corp.
Alicia Machado of Venezuela was crowned by Chelsi Smith from the United States at the conclusion of the event. 79 contestants competed in this edition. This is the second time that Las Vegas to host Miss Universe since 1991. She is the fourth Venezuelan woman to win Miss Universe following Maritza Sayalero in 1979, Irene Sáez in 1981, and Barbara Palacios in 1986.
Background
Selection of participants
Contestants from 79 countries and territories competed in this year.Contestants
Seventy-nine contestants competed for the title.| Country/Territory | Contestant | Age | Hometown |
| Verónica Ledezma | 19 | Buenos Aires | |
| Taryn Mansell | 19 | Oranjestad | |
| Jodie McMullen | 22 | Sydney | |
| Michelle Rae Collie | 20 | Nassau | |
| Véronique De Kock | 19 | Antwerp | |
| Ava Lovell | 20 | Belize City | |
| Natalia Cronenbold | 19 | Santa Cruz de la Sierra | |
| Jessy Viceisza | 21 | Kralendijk | |
| Maria Joana Parizotto | 19 | Francisco Beltrão | |
| Linette Smith | 19 | Road Town | |
| Maria Sinigerova | 20 | Sofia | |
| Renette Cruz | 25 | Vancouver | |
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