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Photos of the exact moment 38 contestants found out they had won Miss Universe

Photos of the exact moment 38 contestants found out they had won Miss Universe
Our reigning Miss Universe.Benjamin Askinas
  • A new Miss Universe was crowned on May 16: Miss Mexico, Andrea Meza.
  • To celebrate, we found photos of winners throughout the pageant's history finding out they'd won.
  • Some cry, some scream, and some are simply shocked.

1961: Miss Germany, Marlene Schmidt

1961: Miss Germany, Marlene Schmidt
Marlene Schmidt is crowned Miss Universe on July 15, 1961.      AP Images

Schmidt is the first and only Miss Germany to win the crown.

1970: Miss Puerto Rico, Marisol Malaret

1970: Miss Puerto Rico, Marisol Malaret
Marisol Malaret of Puerto Nuevo screams as she's named the winner.      Jim Bourdier/AP Images

Malaret screamed with delight after being named the winner on July 11, 1970.

1971: Miss Lebanon, Georgina Rizk

1971: Miss Lebanon, Georgina Rizk
Georgina Rizk reacts after being named Miss Universe on July 24, 1971.      AP Images

Rizk was the first woman from the Middle East to win Miss Universe.

1976: Miss Israel, Rina Messinger

1976: Miss Israel, Rina Messinger
Israeli beauty queen Rina Messinger registers her surprise as she is chosen as Miss Universe on July 11, 1976.      AP Images

Messinger stayed in the US for four years after her reign as Miss Universe ended.

1980: Miss USA, Shawn Weatherly

1980: Miss USA, Shawn Weatherly
Miss USA, Shawn Weatherly, a 20-year-old student was crowned Miss Universe 1980 on July 8, 1980.      AP Images

Weatherly went on to appear in the first season of "Baywatch."

1981: Miss Venezuela, Irene Sáez

1981: Miss Venezuela, Irene Sáez
Miss Venezuela, Irene Sáez, reacts after she was named Miss Universe.      AP Images

Sáez went on to be elected governor of the Venezuelan state Nueva Esparta.

1983: Miss New Zealand, Lorraine Downes

1983: Miss New Zealand, Lorraine Downes
Lorraine Downs reacts to winning Miss Universe.      AP

Downes won the New Zealand version of "Dancing with the Stars" in 2006.

1985: Miss Puerto Rico, Deborah Carthy-Deu

1985: Miss Puerto Rico, Deborah Carthy-Deu
Miss Universe 1985, Deborah Carthy-Deu of San Juan, smiles as she is crowned by TV personality Bob Barker on July 15, 1985.      Raul de Molina/AP Images

Carthy-Deu went on to star in the telenovela "El Cisne Blanco," or "The White Swan," in English.

1987: Miss Chile, Cecilia Bolocco

1987: Miss Chile, Cecilia Bolocco
22-year-old Miss Chile, Cecilia Bolocco, receives her Miss Universe 1987 crown on May 27, 1987.      AP

1988: Miss Thailand, Porntip Nakhirunkanok

1988: Miss Thailand, Porntip Nakhirunkanok
Miss Thailand, Porntip Nakhirunkanok, clasps her hands in a traditional Thai gesture of thanks after she is crowned Miss Universe 1988 on May 24, 1988.      Jeff Widener/AP Images

Nakhirunkanok was the first woman to win both the Miss Universe title and Best National Costume.

1989: Miss Netherlands, Angela Visser

1989: Miss Netherlands, Angela Visser
Angela Visser of Holland gets her crown as Miss Universe on May 23, 1989.      Mark Terrill/AP Images

Visser appeared in a season one episode of "Friends," called "The One Where the Monkey Gets Away."

1993: Miss Puerto Rico, Dayanara Torres

1993: Miss Puerto Rico, Dayanara Torres
Dayanara Torres, Miss Puerto Rico, is seen wiping a tear from her eye after being crowned Miss Universe 1993 on May 21, 1993.      JEFF ROBBINS/AP Images

Torres was married to singer Marc Anthony from 2000 to 2004. He married Jennifer Lopez the week after their split was finalized.

1994: Miss India, Sushmita Sen

1994: Miss India, Sushmita Sen
Miss India, Sushmita Sen, reacts after winning the Miss Universe beauty pageant on May 21, 1994.      Erik de Castro/Reuters

Sen was the first Indian woman to win the pageant.

1996: Miss Venezuela, Alicia Machado

1996: Miss Venezuela, Alicia Machado
Venezuela's Alicia Machado is crowned Miss Universe at the Miss Universe competition on May 17, 1996.      Eric Draper/AP Images

Machado blasted then-pageant owner Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign for body-shaming her during her reign.

1997: Miss USA, Brook Lee

1997: Miss USA, Brook Lee
Miss USA, Brook Mahealani Lee, reacts as she becomes Miss Universe 1997 on May 16, 1997.      Colin Braley/Reuters

Lee was the oldest woman to win, at 26 years and 128 days old.

1998: Miss Trinidad and Tobago, Wendy Fitzwilliam

1998: Miss Trinidad and Tobago, Wendy Fitzwilliam
Miss Trinidad and Tobago, Wendy Fitzwilliam, kisses to spectators after she was selected the Miss Universe 1998 on May 12, 1998.      AP

Fitzwilliam was the first contestant to win the swimsuit competition while wearing a bikini.

1999: Miss Botswana, Mpule Kwelagobe

1999: Miss Botswana, Mpule Kwelagobe
Mpule Kwelagobe reacts as she is titled Miss Universe on May 26, 1999.      Getty Images/Handout

1999 was the first time Botswana was represented at the pageant, and consequently their first win.

2000: Miss India, Lara Dutta

2000: Miss India, Lara Dutta
Miss India, Lara Dutta, 21, is crowned Miss Universe 2000 on May 13, 2000.      Enric Marti/AP Images

Dutta was the second-ever Indian Miss Universe, and the last Miss India to win the crown.

2001: Miss Puerto Rico, Denise Quiñones

2001: Miss Puerto Rico, Denise Quiñones
Miss Puerto Rico, Denise Quiñones, is crowned Miss Universe 2001 at the 50th Miss Universe competition on May 11, 2001.      Reuters

Quiñones became the director of Miss Universe Puerto Rico in February 2018.

2002: Miss Russia, Oxana Fedorova

2002: Miss Russia, Oxana Fedorova
Miss Russia, Oxana Fedorova, reacts as she wins the 2002 Miss Universe crown on May 29, 2002.      Colin Braley/Reuters

Four months after she was crowned, Fedorova was dethroned for being "unable to fulfill her duties." Apparently she was too busy to travel much, and was replaced the first runner-up, Miss Panama, Justine Pasek.

2003: Miss Dominican Republic, Amelia Vega

2003: Miss Dominican Republic, Amelia Vega
Miss Dominican Republic, Amelia Vega, reacts as she is announced as the new Miss Universe on June 3, 2003.      Andrew Winning/Reuters

Vega was the first delegate from the Dominican Republic to become Miss Universe.

2004: Miss Australia, Jennifer Hawkins

2004: Miss Australia, Jennifer Hawkins
Miss Australia, Jennifer Hawkins, reacts after being crowned Miss Universe 2004 on June 1, 2004.      Guillermo Granja/Reuters

Hawkins currently runs two successful brands, Cozi by Jennifer Hawkins swimwear and the Jbronze by Jennifer Hawkins line of tanning products.

2005: Miss Canada, Natalie Glebova

2005: Miss Canada, Natalie Glebova
Natalie Glebova of Canada reacts after being named Miss Universe 2005 on May 31, 2005.      Rungroj Yongrit/Reuters

Glebova published her second book in November 2018, "I Am Winning: A Guide to Personal Empowerment."

2006: Miss Puerto Rico, Zuleyka Rivera

2006: Miss Puerto Rico, Zuleyka Rivera
Miss Puerto Rico Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza reacts being named Miss Universe 2006 on July 23, 2006.      Mario Anzuoni/Reuters

Rivera had a resurgence in popularity after starring in the music video for "Despacito," which was the most-viewed video on YouTube until "Baby Shark" came along.

2007: Miss Japan, Riyo Mori

2007: Miss Japan, Riyo Mori
Riyo Mori, Miss Japan 2007, reacts as she is announced the winner of the Miss Universe 2007 on May 28, 2007.      Eduardo Verdugo/AP Images

Mori auditioned for the role of Yaeko in "Heroes."

2008: Miss Venezuela, Dayana Mendoza

2008: Miss Venezuela, Dayana Mendoza
Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela reacts after being announced Miss Universe 2008 on July 14, 2008.      Adrees Latif/Reuters

2009: Miss Venezuela, Stefanía Fernández

2009: Miss Venezuela, Stefanía Fernández
Miss Venezuela Stefanía Fernandez is named Miss Universe 2009 on August 23, 2009.      Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Fernandez was the first Miss Universe to be crowned by a compatriot — her predecessor was also Miss Venezuela.

2010: Miss Mexico, Ximena Navarrete

2010: Miss Mexico, Ximena Navarrete
Miss Mexico 2010, Ximena Navarrete, reacts as she is crowned Miss Universe on August 23, 2010.      Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Navarrete has appeared in various telenovelas since her reign ended.

2011: Miss Angola, Leila Lopes

2011: Miss Angola, Leila Lopes
Miss Angola Leila Lopes is crowned Miss Universe 2011 on September 12, 2011.      Andre Penner/AP Images

Lopes and her husband, former football player Osi Umenyiora, welcomed their first child in June 2018.

2012: Miss USA, Olivia Culpo

2012: Miss USA, Olivia Culpo
Olivia Culpo reacts as she is crowned the 2012 Miss Universe on December 19, 2012.      David Becker/Getty Images

Culpo won Miss Rhode Island, Miss USA, and Miss Universe all in the span of 15 months.

2013: Miss Venezuela, Gabriela Isler

2013: Miss Venezuela, Gabriela Isler
Maria Gabriela Isler, Miss Universe 2013, is crowned Miss Universe 2013 on November 9, 2013.      Victor Boyko/Getty Images

Venezuela is second only to the US in terms of Miss Universe winners — the country has had seven.

2014: Miss Colombia, Paulina Vega

2014: Miss Colombia, Paulina Vega
Miss Colombia Paulina Vega reacts after being named Miss Universe on January 25, 2015.      Wilfredo Lee/AP Images

2015: Miss Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach

2015: Miss Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach
Miss Philippines, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, reacts after she was announced the new Miss Universe on December 20, 2015.      John Locher/AP Images

Wurtzbach originally thought she was runner-up, after host Steve Harvey accidentally called out the wrong name.

2016: Miss France, Iris Mittenaere

2016: Miss France, Iris Mittenaere
Miss France, Iris Mittenaere, is crowned Miss Universe 2016.      Bullit Marquez/AP

Mittenaere became the host of France's version of "American Ninja Warrior" in 2018.

2017: Miss South Africa, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters

2017: Miss South Africa, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters
Miss South Africa Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters reacts as she is crowned the 66th Miss Universe on November 26, 2017.      Steve Marcus/Reuters

Nel-Peters announced her engagement to NFL player Tim Tebow in January 2019. They got marrried one year later in January 2020.

2018: Miss Philippines, Catriona Gray

2018: Miss Philippines, Catriona Gray
Miss Philippines Catriona Gray reacts after being named the new Miss Universe.      Gemunu Amarasinghe/AP

Gray was crowned on December 16, 2018. She served as Miss Universe for 11 months.

2019: Miss South Africa, Zozibini Tunzi

2019: Miss South Africa, Zozibini Tunzi
Zozibini Tunzi, of South Africa, is crowned Miss Universe.      Paras Griffin/Stringer/Getty Images

Tunzi became the first Black woman from South Africa to become Miss Universe, just two years after Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters won in 2017. She was also the longest-reigning Miss Universe, as the 2020 pageant was delayed for months.

2021: Miss Mexico, Andrea Meza

2021: Miss Mexico, Andrea Meza
Miss Mexico Andrea Meza is crowned Miss Universe onstage at the Miss Universe 2021 Pageant at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on May 16, 2021.      Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images

Meza is a "is a 26-year-old model, software engineer, and make-up artist from Chihuahua, Mexico," according to Newsweek.

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