Miss Angola

Miss Angola is a national beauty pageant in Angola. The pageant was founded in 1997 where the winners were sent to Miss Universe. In 2022 the brand of Miss Angola also used the name of Miss Angola Universo or Miss Universo Angola, this is the organization's name for the Miss Universe competition.

The organization of Miss Angola has produced one Miss Universe winner; Leila Lopes of Benguela Province was crowned Miss Universe 2011, becoming the first black African to win Miss Universe since 1999.

History

Miss Angola was first founded in 1997 under the directorship of Ana Paula Lemos dos Santos, as the sole Angolan franchise owner to Miss World and Miss Universe. Within its first decade of competing internationally, Miss Angola had amassed six placements across the two pageants. In 2011, Leila Lopes was crowned Miss Universe 2011, becoming the first Angolan woman to win a major international pageant.^[1] In 2022, Lopes acquired the Miss Universe franchise license in Angola.

Miss Universe 2011

On 12 September 2011, Miss Angola 2010, Leila Lopes was crowned Miss Universe in São Paulo, Brazil, receiving the title from the former Miss Universe Ximena Navarrete of Mexico.^[2][3] She is currently the 60th Miss Universe titleholder, and is the first Angolan woman to hold the position.^[4] Lopes is the 5th woman of African descent to win the title since the beginning of the worldwide pageant (following Miss Trinidad and Tobago in 1977, Miss USA in 1995, Miss Trinidad and Tobago again in 1998, and Miss Botswana in 1999) and the fourth African woman from the African continent to win following Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 from Botswana.

Directorships

• Ana Paula Lemos dos Santos (1997-2019)
• Leila Lopes (2022―present)

Formats

The Miss Angola competition holds provincial contests every year, with 18 delegates across Angola with three overseas competitors.

• Miss Bengo
• Miss Banguela
• Miss Bié
• Miss Cabinda
• Miss Cuando Cubango
• Miss Cuanza Norte
• Miss Cuanza Sul

• Miss Cunene
• Miss Huambo
• Miss Huíla
• Miss Luanda
• Miss Luanda Norte
• Miss Lunda Sul
• Miss Malanje

• Miss Moxico
• Miss Namibe
• Miss Uíge
• Miss Zaire
• Miss Angola Benelux (overseas)
• Miss Angola Netherlands (overseas)
• Miss Angola UK (overseas)

Titleholders

Angola representatives at international pageants

Miss Angola Universo

The main winner of Miss Angola represents Angola at Miss Universe pageant. On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a runner-up is sent.

Miss Angola Mundo

Before 2013 the 1st Runner-up of Miss Angola participated at Miss World pageant, but in some years the main winner also represented the Angola at Miss World. From 2013, a new foundation called Miss Angola Mundo pageant independently selected Angolan representation to Miss World.

Miss Angola Internacional

The Miss International Angola was declared by the Miss Angola Organization. In 2004 Angola debuted at Miss International, and Miss Angola 2003, Telma de Jesus Sonhi went to China at Miss International in 2004. That year is the only edition of Angola competing in history under Miss Angola Organization.

Notes

1. ^ Replacement

References

1. ^ Hughes, Sarah Anne (13 September 2011). "Angolan beauty queen wins Miss Universe: A primer on the African country". Washington Post. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
2. ^ Elliott, Christopher (14 September 2011). "Miss Universe 2011 pageant crowns Miss Angola, Leila Lopes". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
3. ^ Miss Angola Leila Lopes is Miss Universe 2011! retrieved 12 September 2011
4. ^ "Miss Angola Leila Lopes named Miss Universe at 60th annual pageant in Brazil". Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
5. ^ "2004 Miss International beauty pageant". Life. 30 September 2004. Retrieved 3 March 2011.^{[dead link]}
6. ^ "Jurema Ferraz: Depois de Angola o Universo". O País. 15 July 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
7. ^ "Leila Lopes crowned Miss Angola 2011". Angola Press Agency. 18 December 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
8. ^ Pedro (1 December 2025). "Wanderleia Rodrigues eleita Miss Angola edição 2025" [Wanderleia Rodrigues elected Miss Angola 2025] (in pt-AO). Jornal de Angola. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
9. ^ "Maria Cunha Eleita Miss Angola Universo 2024" [Maria Cunha elected Miss Angola Universe 2024] (in pt-PT). Platina Line. 2024-12-01. Archived December 4, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
10. ^ "Nelma Tchissola Ferreira é a representante de Angola para o Miss Universo 2024" (in pt-AO). PlatinaLine. 10 October 2024. Archived 6 November 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
11. ^ "Barbara Coimbra eleita Miss Angola Universo 2023" [Ana Coimbra elected Miss Angola Universe 2023] (in Portuguese). Jornal de Angola. 23 July 2023. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
12. ^ "Miss Angola-Holanda, Swelia António é a Miss Universo Angola 2022" [Miss Angola-Holland, Swelia António is Miss Universe Angola 2022] (in Portuguese). Jornal de Angola. 7 August 2022. Archived 21 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 July 2023.