For those who are reading me for the first time, I have proposed in @adsactly to make a series of posts with the most influential Venezuelans of the twentieth and twenty-first century, not only to rescue and publicize their talent, but also as a kind of small tribute to those men and women who have put our country on high and have helped this country move forward. My post today, more than dedicating it to just one person, I would like to do it in honor of an entire team or event that has given much satisfaction and happiness to Venezuela: The Miss Venezuela.

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If there is one thing for which we Venezuelans are known in the world is oil and its countless queens of beauties. Many friends have told me that abroad they have asked him if it is true that in Venezuela the majority of women are beautiful. As with oil, Venezuela abounds with women who, because of their gift, intelligence and beauty, do not go unnoticed. Something for which we Venezuelans are proud.

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It is not an exaggeration if we affirm that in every Venezuelan family, there is always, at least, a woman who for her beauty and prestance has been queen of beauty. In fact, it is not an exaggeration if we affirm that at some point those beautiful women have dreamed of participating in the country's greatest reign: The Miss Venezuela. This is the biggest Venezuelan beauty event, televised for the country, for Hispanic countries and for the United States, and that for a long time has not only brought joy to Venezuela but has served as a professional platform for thousands of women who see in this contest a springboard to place themselves in the different media.

Osmel Sousa

The Miss Venezuela was officially founded in 1952 and the official sponsor of the contest is the Cisneros Organization since 1972. At first, the contest had other sponsors and was created with the purpose of publicizing the country as a tourist destination. Then, with the arrival of triumphs and recognitions, the contest began to change its objectives and schemes. Since last year, the contest is led by an Executive Committee made up of the ex-misses: Nina Sicilia, Miss International 1985, Jacqueline Aguilera, Miss World 1995 and Gabriela Isler, Miss Universe 2013. Before, until 2018, Miss Venezuela had been directed by the well-known "czar of beauty": Osmel Sousa. This contest is responsible for selecting the country's representatives to Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International. Under the direction of Osmel Sousa, Venezuela has had 7 Miss Universe winners, 6 Miss World winners, 8 Miss International winners and 2 Miss Earth winners. Not to mention that Venezuela has accumulated other crowns in other relevant contests in the world.

When I started making the list of influential Venezuelans in the last century and in this one, I realized that many of the women who were on that list had participated the Miss Venezuela contest, so I decided to make a sort of summary with all of them.

The winners

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The first Miss Universe was Maritza Sayalero in 1979; then it was Irene Sáez Conde, who was crowned in 1981. The universal crown returned to Venezuela in 1986 thanks to Barbara Palacios Teyde. Then, Alicia Machado, in 1992, rises again with the universal crown. It took 12 years for another Venezuelan to win the Miss Universe, Dayana Mendoza won in 2008. In 2009 Stefanía Fernández wins. The last Miss Universe crown, for now, is won by María Gabriela Isler in 2013. As for Miss World, Susana Duijm won in 1955, Pilín León in 1881, Astrid Carolina Herrera in 1884, Ninibeth Leal in 1991, Jacqueline Aguilera in 1995 and Ivian Sarcos in 2011.

Susana Duijm, Maritza Sayalero y Nina Cicilia

If there is anyone who deserves a post apart is just Susana Duijm who was the first Hispanic American to win the Miss World international contest in 1955. She was also the first Venezuelan to appear on the cover of the French magazine Paris Match, on November 5, 1955, which included an extensive report about her during her time in Paris after winning the famous beauty contest. She also served as a model for the famous designer Oleg Cassini and her beauty, elegance and personality made her one of the women most loved by Venezuelans. After Susana Duijm, comes the crown of Maritza Sayalero, our first Miss Universe, which was crowned at the Perth Entertainment Centre in Perth, Australia, in 1979. With these two women began the succession of triumphs for the Venezuelan women.

Irene Saez y Pilín León

The year 1981 was fundamental for the Miss Venezuela contest and for the country, since two beautiful and incomparable Venezuelans, Irene Sáez and Pilín León, won simultaneously the two most important contests: The Miss Universe and the Miss World. These two women, who also deserve a separate post each, are among the most beloved and remembered winners of this contest. In fact, Irene Sáez later became mayor, then governor and even a presidential candidate in 1998. This feat, winning the two most important beauty crowns simultaneously, would be repeated in 1996, when another miss who marked history as the beautiful Alicia Machado won the Miss Universe and Jacqueline Aguilera, the Miss World.

Bárbara Palacios

1986 is another good year for Miss Venezuela, not only because it obtains the third Miss Universe crown with Bárbara Palacios, but also because that edition would produce women who have done a great job for the country, such as Maite Delgado, Catherine Fulop, Raquel Lares, Carolina Perpetuo, among others. It is worth mentioning that most of the beautiful women we see on Venezuelan television today have passed through the ranks of Miss Venezuela, such as María Conchita Alonso, Tatiana Capote, Viviana Gibelli, Norkys Batista, Chiquinquirá Delgado, Scarlet Ortiz, Daniela Kosán, Gabriela Spanic, Inés María Calero, Albani Lozada, Claudia Moreno, Marjorie de Sousa, Patricia Zabala, among many others.

Dayana Mendoza y Stefanía Fernandez: back to back

Another important year was 2009, when Venezuela achieved something that seemed impossible, which many doubted in an international beauty contest: the so-called back to back. Our representative Stefanía Fernández won the Miss Universe and was crowned by the Venezuelan Dayana Mendoza, achieving for Venezuela the Guinness World Records by being the first and only country to obtain the universal crown for two consecutive years. Thus, against all odds, Miss Venezuela 2008 became the sixth Venezuelan to win the title of Miss Universe.

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Among the many curiosities that we can say about Miss Venezuela, is that only twice, since it began in 1952, the contest has been discontinued and it has been because of political problems. Also, that Elluz Peraza abdicated for love 36 hours after being elected Miss Venezuela. In 2010, the typical costume presented by Marelissa Gibson in Miss Universe 2010 was one of the most criticized. It is said that even the controversial Lady Gaga was interested in the peculiar design, which is said to have been inspired by the work "Abra solar" by renowned artist Alejandro Otero.

For a sector of society, the intelligence and charisma of the participants should be aspects that must be considered, not just beauty. There are also those who think that this type of contests instead of extolling the value of women tend to denigrate them, placing them in showcases where they are exhibited as pieces of ceramics or are measured and weighed like pieces of meat. I believe that beyond the superficial that can be believed that it is a beauty contest where patterns and stereotypes of what the Venezuelan woman should be are promoted: slave of a perfect silhouette, of superficiality, tortuous diets, aesthetic treatments and surgical interventions, the Miss Venezuela has become part of the patrimony of the country, of its idiosyncrasy and in its joy.

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I hope you liked this post. Remember to vote for @adsactly as a witness and join our server in discord. Until a next smile. ;)

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCE

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Venezuela
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susana_Duijm
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritza_Sayalero_Fern%C3%A1ndez
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_S%C3%A1ez

Written by: @nancybriti

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