Nuestra Belleza México

Nuestra Belleza México (English: Our Beauty Mexico) is a Mexican national beauty pageant held annually since 1994. It is currently responsible for selecting the country's delegates to Miss Universe as well as minor pageant as Miss International and Reina Hispanoamericana.

In association with Televisa, the Nuestra Belleza México pageant and organization of the same name is directed by the nation's first Miss Universe titleholder, Lupita Jones (1991).^[1] The organization has produced one Miss Universe (2010) — the second title for Mexico in that event, and two Miss International winners, 2007 and 2009.

Contestants

Aspiring hopefuls, ranging from 18 to 23 years of age and a minimum height of 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in), must fulfill the organization's additional requirements and consequently vie in their respective state pageants for eligibility to participate in Nuestra Belleza México.^[2] 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.^[2]

Once in the national concentration, the participants engage in various events and appearances prior to the crucial preliminary competition from which a number of semifinalists 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 semifinals.^[3] During the crowning night, the semifinalists 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, which sees over thirty of the country's most beautiful young women going head to head each year, 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, 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.

     Won Miss Universe.      Won Miss International.

Winners gallery

• 

  NB México 2009
  Ximena Navarrete,
  Jalisco
• 

  NB México 2007
  Elisa Nájera,
  Guanajuato
• 

  NB México 2005
  Priscila Perales,
  Nuevo León
• 

  NB México 2000
  Jacqueline Bracamontes,
  Jalisco

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 Universe

Miss World

Miss International

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.

State Tally

Anyone who follows the Olympic Games or other sporting events will be familiar with the concept of the Medal Table, which ranks countries based on their first (gold), second (silver) and third (bronze) place finishes. Below is a similar table of the top rankings for the Nuestra Belleza Mexico pageant, but of the thirty-two Mexican states, based on all results from the first event in 1994 to the most recent competition.

^a 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.
^b 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.
^c Jacqueline Bracamontes resigned her title after winning the main Nuestra Belleza México crown, decreasing the number of Nuestra Belleza Mundo México titles for Jalisco by one. The title was passed on to Paulina Flores.

Delegates at other pageants

Reina Hispanoamericana

     Won Reina Hispanoamericana.

Miss Continente Americano

After the year 2012, the Miss Continente Americano pageant changed its name to Miss United Continent, and the Mexican delegates were sent by another organization. The ones listed below were sent by Nuestra Belleza México.

     Won Miss Continente Americano.

See also

• El Modelo Mexico
• Señorita México
• Miss Earth Mexico
• Rostro de México
• Mr Model México

References

External links

• Official Website
• Miss Mexico: A Brief, Sexy History - slideshow by Life magazine