Mariana Valente

Biography

Miss Universe 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 Denis Dávila.

== Background == The first Miss Universe Canada was held in 2003, and won by Leanne Marie Cecile. Cecile reached the top 10 at Miss Universe 2003. Natalie Glebova won in 2005 and went on to become Miss Universe 2005. Glebova's successor Alice Panikian reached the top 10 of Miss Universe 2006. As of 2022, Canada (and France) are the only countries to send a delegate to every contest since the first Miss Universe 1952.

== International winners ==

Natalie Glebova won (Miss Universe 2005) Alice Panikian won Reinado Internacional del Café 2006 Amber Bernachi won Miss Eco International 2017

== Controversy == In 2010, the contest made headlines when Maria Al-Masani, the first contestant of Yemeni origin, competed. This was controversial as her religious beliefs were accommodated 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 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 allowed to return. Sahar Biniaz left the contest a few days prior to it starting. She was replaced by first runner-up Adwoa Yamoah, and she competed in Miss Universe 2012. On 27 May 2013, two days after the pageant, it was announced that Denise Garrido had won. Due to a mathematical error, third runner-up Garrido was named the winner. A typo was discovered in the top five scoring results, which changed the final result, with Riza Santos declared the winner. Due to the pandemic, the 2021 contest was cancelled and the titles Miss Universe Canada 2021 and Miss International Canada 2021 were appointed to the delegates next in line. The Miss Universe Canada 2020 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. The Miss Universe Canada 2020 second runner-up Jaime VandenBerg, was awarded the title of Miss International Canada 2021, although the 2020 and 2021 Miss International pageants were cancelled. In 2026, two contestants, Karisa Haverkamp and Jasleen Kaily, wore Indigenous costumes during National Costume round. This was referred to as cultural appropriation, and National Director Sonny Borrelli made an apology.

== Titleholders ==

=== Miss Universe Canada ===

== Miss International Canada 2005–2024 ==