The Mexicana Universal is a national beauty pageant in Mexico held annually since 2018, replacing the former pageant, Nuestra Belleza México, held since 1994. Currently, the pageant is responsible for selecting the country's delegates to Miss Grand International, Miss International and Reina Hispanoamericana. Since 2025, the winner of the pageant represents Mexico at Miss Grand International as Miss Grand Mexico.
The organization is directed by the nation's first Miss Universe titleholder, Lupita Jones (1991), who originally produced the pageant as Nuestra Belleza México in association with the Televisa TV network. In October 2017, the organization parted ways with Televisa, and found a new home for the pageant's broadcasting in rival network TV Azteca, rebranding the pageant due to televisa still owning the trademark, and changing the format.
The organization has produced two Miss Universe winners (2010, 2020), two Miss International winners (2007, 2009), and three Reina Hispanoamericana winners (2008, 2019, 2021).
Contestants Aspiring hopefuls, ranging from 18 to 27 years of age and a minimum height of , must fulfill the organization's additional requirements and consequently vie in their respective state pageants for eligibility to participate in the national pageant. Contestants are permitted to compete for their sub-national beauty titles more than once. However, this can no longer be done once they have taken part in the national event. They may also choose to represent a different state, as long as they provide proof of having resided in it for at least the last twelve months before registration.
As of the year 2000's edition of the pageant, it is not uncommon for some states to have more than one delegate competing simultaneously. This occurs when non-winning hopefuls from select subdivisions are invited (designated) by the organization to partake in the nationwide competition, taking into consideration their potential, and to possibly make up for other states which may lack representation. Usually three or four are designated annually.
Once in the national concentration, the participants engage in various events and appearances prior to the crucial preliminary competition from which a number of semi-finalists are chosen, only to be announced during the final competition. Additionally, five special awards given through sub-challenges enable the recipients an automatic pass to the semi-finals. During the crowning night, the semi-finalists are evaluated by a panel of judges while vying in swimsuit and evening gown, with eliminations taking place after each of these rounds. The remaining contestants are subsequently interviewed, and the runners-up and winners are respectively announced at the conclusion of the Nuestra Belleza México telecast.
If any of the titleholders is unable to fulfill her duties, the next in turn, known as the suplente (substitute), assumes the right to represent the country abroad. The pageant is held a year prior to when the winners compete internationally, giving them sufficient time to prepare for their corresponding beauty events.
Titleholders Below are the names of the annual titleholders of Nuestra Belleza México/Mexicana Universal, the states they represented and the venue which played host to their crowning, in ascending order. Titleholders whose names appear highlighted went on to win a major international pageant. For further details, see the representatives at major international pageants section.
Color key
Year Titleholder State Venue Placement at International Winner's Title is Mexicana Universal 2026 Pety Juárez Sinaloa Guadalajara, Jalisco 2025 Montserrat Villalba Hidalgo Mexico City 5th Runner-up 2024 No Pageant 2023 Melissa Flores Michoacán Aguascalientes 2022 Irma Miranda Sonora San Luis Potosí 2021 Débora Hallal Sinaloa Appointed 2020 Andrea Meza Chihuahua Juriquilla, Querétaro Miss Universe 2020 2019 Sofía Aragón Jalisco Mexico City 2nd Runner-up 2018 Andrea Toscano Colima Mexico City 1st Runner-up Until 2017 the Title was Nuestra Belleza México 2017 Denisse Franco Sinaloa Mexico City 2016 Kristal Silva Tamaulipas Mexico City Top 9 2015 No Pageant 2014 Wendolly Esparza Aguascalientes Jojutla, Morelos Top 15 2013 Josselyn Garciglia Baja California Toluca, State of Mexico 2012 Cynthia Duque Nuevo León Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas 2011 Karina González Aguascalientes Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco Top 10 2010 Karin Ontiveros Jalisco Saltillo, Coahuila 2009 Ximena Navarrete Jalisco Mérida, Yucatán Miss Universe 2010 2008 Karla Carrillo Jalisco Monterrey, Nuevo León 2007 Elisa Nájera Guanajuato Manzanillo, Colima 4th Runner-up 2006 Rosa María Ojeda Sinaloa Tampico, Tamaulipas Top 10 2005 Priscila Perales Nuevo León Aguascalientes Miss International 2007 Top 10 2004 Laura Elizondo Tamaulipas San Luis Potosí 3rd Runner-up 2003 Rosalva Luna Sinaloa Morelia, Michoacán Top 15 2002 Marisol González Coahuila Boca del Río, Veracruz 2001 Ericka Cruz Yucatán Toluca, State of Mexico 2000 Jacqueline Bracamontes Jalisco Apizaco, Tlaxcala 1999 Leticia Murray Sonora Pachuca, Hidalgo Top 15 1998 Silvia Salgado Nuevo León Acapulco, Guerrero Top 10 1997 Katty Fuentes Nuevo León Acapulco, Guerrero 1996 Rebeca Tamez Tamaulipas Cancún, Quintana Roo 1995 Vanessa Guzmán Chihuahua Toluca, State of Mexico Top 6 1994 Luz María Zetina State of Mexico Zapopan, Jalisco Appointed; 1st Runner-Up at Mexicana Universal 2020
Mexican Miss Universe Winners
Representatives at major international pageants Below are the names of the delegates enlisted by the Nuestra Belleza Mexico Organization to represent the country at major worldwide beauty contests. Keep in mind that they are listed according to the year in which they participated in their respective international pageants, which do not always coincide with when their national crowning took place, as explained in the last paragraph of the contestants section. Color key
Miss Grand International
Year Delegate State Competition performance Placements 2026 Pety Juárez Elizalde Sinaloa 2025 Montserrat Villalva Castillo Hidalgo 5th Runners-up Best Evening Gown 2024 Tania Estrada Quezada Chihuahua Top 20
Miss International Year Delegate State Competition performance Placements 2026 Valeria Espinoza Colima TBA 2025 Natalia Garibay Valencia Jalisco Top 20 2024 Valeria Villanueva López Colima Miss Photogenic 2023 Itzia Margarita García Jiménez Colima Top 7 People's Choice Award 2022 Yuridia del Carmen Durán Peña Nayarit colspan=5 2019 Andrea Isabel Toscano Ramírez Colima 1st Runner-up 2018 Nebai Torres Camarena Jalisco Top 15 Miss Best Dresser 2017 Treisy Citlaly Higuera López Tamaulipas 2016 María Geraldine Ponce Méndez Nayarit Top 15 2015 Lorena Marlene Sevilla Mesina Colima Top 10 2014 Vianey Vázquez Ramírez Aguascalientes Top 10 2013 Miroslava Montemayor García Nuevo León 2012 Jessica García Formenti Baja California Sur Top 15 2011 Karen Alicia Higuera Contreras Baja California Sur Miss Friendship 2010 Gabriela Palacio Díaz de León Aguascalientes Miss Photogenic 2009 Anagabriela Espinoza Marroquín Nuevo León Miss International 2009 Miss Chengdu Glamor 2008 Lorenza Bernot Krauze Morelos 2007 Silvia Priscila Perales Elizondo Nuevo León Miss International 2007 2000 Leticia Judith Murray Acedo Sonora Top 15
Former titles Miss Universe Year Titleholder State Competition performance Placements 2023 Melissa Flores Godínez Michoacán 2022 Irma Cristina Miranda Valenzuela Sonora 2021 Débora Hallal Ayala Sinaloa 2020 Alma Andrea Meza Carmona Chihuahua Miss Universe 2020 2019 Sofía Montserrat Aragón Torres Jalisco 2nd Runner-up 2018 Andrea Isabel Toscano Ramírez Colima 2017 Denisse Iridiane Franco Piña Sinaloa 2016 Yuselmi Kristal Silva Dávila Tamaulipas Top 9 2015 Wendolly Esparza Delgadillo Aguascalientes Top 15 2014 Josselyn Garciglia Bañuelos Baja California Sur 2013 Cynthia Lizeth Duque Garza Nuevo León 2012 Laura Karina González Muñoz Aguascalientes Top 10 2011 Karin Cecilia Ontiveros Meza Jalisco 2010 Ximena Navarrete Rosete Jalisco Miss Universe 2010Ximena Navarrete ¿Quién es la Miss Universo 2010?. Quien.com (August 24, 2010). Retrieved on May 12, 2012. 2009 Karla María Carrillo González Jalisco 2008 Elisa Nájera Gualito Guanajuato 4th Runner-up Best Swimsuit & Best Figure 2007 Rosa María Ojeda Cuen Sinaloa Top 10 2006 Silvia Priscila Perales Elizondo Nuevo León Top 10 2005 Laura Elizondo Erhard Tamaulipas 3rd Runner-up 2004 Rosalva Yazmín Luna Ruiz Sinaloa Top 15 2003 Marisol González Casas Coahuila 2002 Ericka Yadira Cruz Escalante Yucatán 2001 Jacqueline Bracamontes Jalisco 2000 Leticia Judith Murray Acedo Sonora Best National Costume 1999 Silvia Salgado Cavazos Nuevo León Top 10 1998 Katty Fuentes García Nuevo León Clairol Herbal Essences Style 1997 Rebeca Lynn Tamez Jones Tamaulipas 1996 Vanessa Guzmán Niebla Chihuahua Top 6 1995 Luz María Zetina Lugo Estado de México
Miss World Year Delegate State Competition performance Placements 2015 Yamelin Ramírez Cota Sonora 2014 Daniela Álvarez Reyes Morelos Top 10 2013 María Elena Chagoya Triana Veracruz 2012 Mariana Berumen Reynoso Guanajuato Top 15 2011 Gabriela Palacio Díaz de León Aguascalientes 2010 Anabel Solís Sosa Yucatán 2009 Perla Judith Beltrán Acosta Sinaloa 1st Runner-up Miss World AmericasMiss World Top Model 2008 Anagabriela Espinoza Marroquín Nuevo León Top 15 Miss World Beach Beauty 2007 Carolina Morán Gordillo Colima 2nd Runner-up Miss World Americas 2006 Karla Verónica Jiménez Amezcua Puebla Top 17 2005 Dafne Molina Lona Distrito Federal 1st Runner-up Miss World Americas 2004 Yessica Ramírez Meza Baja California Top 15 Miss World Top Model 2003 Erika Honstein Sonora 2002 Blanca Zumárraga Contreras Puebla 2001 Tatiana Rodríguez Romero Campeche 2000 Paulina Flores Arias Sinaloa 1999 Danette Velasco Bataller Distrito Federal 1998 Vilma Verónica Zamora Suñol Guanajuato 1997 Blanca Delfina Soto Benavides Morelos 1996 Yessica Salazar González Jalisco Top 10 Spectacular Beach Wear 1995 Alejandra Aidee Quintero Velasco Nuevo León Top 10
Replaced delegates The Nuestra Belleza México contestants below were slated to participate in an international pageant, but were unable to go through with it for one reason or another. And thus, they were eventually replaced.
Year Name State Did not compete in Reason 2024 Tania Estrada Chihuahua Miss Charm 2024 Resigned 2011 Cynthia de la Vega Nuevo León Miss World 2011 Dethroned 2009 Laura Zúñiga Sinaloa Miss International 2009 Dethroned 2000 Jacqueline Bracamontes Jalisco Miss World 2000 Resigned 1999 Lynette Delgado Sinaloa Miss International 1999 Resigned
State tally Below is a table of the top rankings for the Nuestra Belleza Mexico pageant, of the thirty-two Mexican states, based on all results from the first event in 1994 to the most recent competition.
Rank State NB MéxicoMxU Universaluntil 2023 NB Mundo Méxicountil 2015 NB Internacional MéxicoMxU Internacional Miss Charm Internacional MéxicoMxU Charm Internacional Reina Hispanoamericana MéxicoMxU Hispanoamericana Total 1 Jalisco 5 2 2 8 2 Nuevo León 4 2 3 9 3 Sinaloa 4 2 6 4 Tamaulipas 3 1 1 5 5 Aguascalientes 2 1 2 1 6 6 Sonora 1 2 1 2 6 7 Guanajuato 1 2 1 4 8 Colima 1 1 2 4 9 Yucatán 1 1 1 3 10 Baja California Sur 1 2 3 11 Michoacán 1 1 2 Chihuahua 1 1 2 12 Coahuila 1 1 Estado de México 1 1 13 Morelos 2 2 4 14 Ciudad de México 2 1 1 4 15 Puebla 2 1 3 16 Baja California 1 1 2 17 Campeche 1 1 Veracruz 1 1 18 Nayarit 2 1 3 19 San Luis Potosí 1 1 20 Tabasco 1 1 Oaxaca 1 1 Hidalgo 1 1 Cynthia de la Vega was dethroned, decreasing the number of Nuestra Belleza Mundo México titles for Nuevo León by one. The title was passed on to Gabriela Palacio of Aguascalientes. Laura Zuñiga was dethroned, decreasing the number of Nuestra Belleza Internacional México titles for Sinaloa by one. The title was passed on to Anagabriela Espinoza of Nuevo León.