Miss Universe 2023: how many times has the USA won and who were the queens of the pageant?

Last January was when the 71st Miss Universe pageant took place. Held in Louisiana, it was the location where R’Bonney Gabriel, the then-Miss USA, was crowned Miss Universe 2022.

Gabriel was the first American to be named Miss Universe since 2012, when Olivia Culpo was handed the title, adding another victory to the most successful country in the history of the most important beauty competition in the world.

Ten months later, on Saturday 18 November at 8pm ET/5pm PT, the 72nd winner will be crowned at the Gimnasio Nacional José Adolfo Pineda in San Salvador, El Salvador. For the gala, 85 participants, including that of the USA, will compete to win the prestigious title, and prize money, of Miss Universe 2023.

Miss Universe 2023: who will represent the USA?

For the 72nd edition of the pageant, Noelia Voigt will be the woman tasked with bringing home the biggest number of votes for the Stars and Stripes (how to vote). According to the official webpage, Miss USA, who is 24-years-old, is “a bilingual Venezuelan-American and international interior design student, who resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, after growing up in South Florida.”

Her profile states that Voigt is “a force for good, a transformational leader advocating for immigration rights and reform, as well as an advocate for violence awareness and prevention. Noelia passionately believes in empowering women to determine their own futures, making her a dedicated advocate for positive change.” Voigt, who describes herself as “unrelenting”, says she is “inspired by people who overcome adversity and turn their story into one of success.”

As well as this, she has chosen to add the information that the one thing she couldn’t live without is “soup”. Each to their own.

How many times has the USA won Miss Universe?

The USA has the highest number of Miss Universe victories in history, with nine wins in total, including that of R’Bonney Gabriel at the start of 2023. The first winner for the USA was Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson, back in 1954, the third pageant of its kind in history.