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
Year Hometown Age Placement at Miss Universe Special Award(s) 2026 Ancaster Aslihan Morali 28 TBA 2025 Lethbridge Jaime VandenBerg 28 Top 30 2024 Enoch Ashley Callingbull 34 Top 12Miss Universe 2024 2023 Manitoulin Island Madison Kvaltin 25 Unplaced 2022 Vancouver Amelia Tu 20 Top 16 2021 Toronto Tamara Jemuovic 27 Unplaced 2020 Vancouver Nova Stevens 28 Unplaced 2019 Tecumseh Alyssa Boston 24 Unplaced 2018 Windsor Marta Stępień 24 Top 10 2017 Toronto Lauren Howe 24 Top 10 Best National Costume (Top 12) 2016 Moose Jaw Siera Bearchell 23 Top 9 2015 Toronto Paola Núñez Valdez 24 Unplaced 2014 Caledon Chanel Beckenlehner 25 Unplaced Best National Costume (Top 5) 2013 Calgary Riza Santos 26 Unplaced 2012 Vancouver Sahar Biniaz 26 Did not compete Calgary Adwoa Yamoah 26 Unplaced 2011 Tecumseh Chelsae Durocher 20 Unplaced 2010 Toronto Elena Semikina 26 Unplaced 2009 Richmond Hill Mariana Valente 23 Unplaced 2008 Richmond Hill Samantha Tajik 26 Unplaced 2007 Toronto Inga Skaya 21 Unplaced 2006 Toronto Alice Panikian 20 Top 10 2005 Toronto Natalie Glebova 23 Miss Universe 2005 2004 Waterdown Venessa Fisher 18 Unplaced 2003 Tecumseh Leanne Marie Cecile 25 Top 10
Miss International Canada 2005–2024
The following is a list of all Miss International Canada titleholders in under Beauties of Canada or Miss Universe Canada since 2005 to 2024. Year Hometown Placement at Miss International Special Award(s) 2024 Langley, British Columbia Jessica Bailey Unplaced 2023 Windsor, Ontario Melanie Renaud Unplaced 2022 Toronto, Ontario Madison Kvaltin Top 8 colspan=6 2019 Montreal, Quebec Megha Sandhu Unplaced 2018 Toronto, Ontario Camila Gonzalez Unplaced 2017 Windsor, Ontario Marta Stępień Unplaced 2016 Windsor, Ontario Amber Bernachi Top 15 2015 Wetaskiwin, Alberta Kathryn Kohut Unplaced 2014 Toronto, Ontario Kesiah Papasin Unplaced 2013 Ottawa, Ontario Sarah Ainsley Harrison Unplaced 2012 Hamilton, Ontario Marta Jablonska Unplaced 2010 Uxbridge, Ontario Katie Starke Unplaced 2009 Caledon, Ontario Chanel Beckenlehner Top 15 2008 Toronto, Ontario Elena Semikina Unplaced 2007 Toronto, Ontario Justine Stewart Unplaced 2006 Toronto, Ontario Emily Ann Kiss Unplaced 2005 Edmonton, Alberta Micaela Smith Unplaced
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 2002 Etobicoke Neelam Verma25 Top 10 2001 Montreal, Quebec Cristina Rémond21 Unplaced 2000 Edmonton Kim Yee23 Top 5 1999 Western Ontario Shannon McArthur26 Unplaced 1998 Calgary, Alberta Juliana Thiessen18 Unplaced 1997 Red Deer, Alberta Carmen Kempt18 Unplaced 1996 Vancouver, British Columbia Renette Cruz25 Unplaced 1995 Calgary, Alberta Lana Buchberger20 2nd Runner-up 1994 Dawson Creek, British Columbia Susanne Rothfos18 Unplaced 1993 Calgary, Alberta Nancy Ann Elder21 Unplaced
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 1992 Interior of British Columbia Nicole Dunsdon Unplaced 1991 Edmonton, Alberta Leslie McLaren Unplaced 1990 Niagara Region, Ontario Robin Lee Ouzunoff Unplaced 1989 Laurentians Region, Quebec Juliette Powell Unplaced 1988 London, Ontario Mary-Melinda Gillies Unplaced 1987 Niagara Region, Ontario TinaMay Simpson Unplaced 1986 Interior of British Columbia Rene Newhouse Unplaced 1985 Calgary, Alberta Karen Elizabeth Tilley Top 10 1984 Edmonton, Alberta Cynthia Michele Kereluk Unplaced 1983 Manitoba Jodi Yvonne Rutledge Unplaced 1982 London, Ontario Karen Dianne Baldwin Miss Universe 1982 1981 Laval, Québec Dominique Dufour 1st Runner-up 1980 Calgary, Alberta Teresa "Terry" Lynn Mackay Top 12 1979 Manitoba Heidi Quiring Unplaced 1978 Vancouver, British Columbia Andrea Leslie Eng Unplaced
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 1977 British Columbia Pamela Mercer Unplaced Miss Congeniality 1976 Ontario Normande Jacques Unplaced 1975 Ontario Sandra Margaret Emily Campbell Unplaced 1974 Ontario Deborah Tone Unplaced 1973 Ontario Deborah Anne Ducharme Unplaced 1972 Ontario Bonny Brady Unplaced 1971 Ontario Lana Drouillard Unplaced 1970 Prince Edward Island Norma Joyce Hickey Unplaced 1969 Ontario Jacquie May Perrin Unplaced 1968 Ontario Nancy Wilson Top 15 1967 Ontario Donna Marie Barker Unplaced 1966 Ontario Marjorie Anne Schofield Unplaced 1965 Ontario Carol Ann Tidey Top 15 1964 Newfoundland Mary Lou Farrell Unplaced 1963 Saskatchewan Jane Kmita Unplaced 1962 Ontario Marilyn McFatridge Top 15 1961 Ontario Wilda Reynolds Unplaced 1960 Ontario Edna Dianne MacVicar Unplaced 1959 Ontario Eileen Butter Unplaced
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 1958 Toronto, Ontario Eileen Cindy Conroy Unplaced 1957 Toronto, Ontario Gloria Noakes Top 15 Miss Popular (based on votes from the pre-pageant parade in Long Beach) 1956 Toronto, Ontario Elaine Evelyn Bishenden Unplaced 1955 Toronto, Ontario Cathy Diggles Top 15 1954 Toronto, Ontario Joyce Mary Landry Unplaced 1953 Toronto, Ontario Thelma Elizabeth Brewis Top 16 1952 Toronto, Ontario Ruth Carrier Unplaced
Notes
See also Miss Earth Canada Miss World Canada
References
External links Official Miss Universe Canada website