Miss Curaçao, Curaçao’s national female beauty pageant, was founded in 1963 and has sent various stunningly beautiful contestants to the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants. Sample our awesome European – South American – West African melting pot by taking a look at some of our gorgeous finalists of past years.
1. Miss Curaçao 1966, Elizabeth ‘Nena’ Sánchez, won Miss Amity at Miss Universe.
Miss Curaçao Elizabeth ‘Nena’ Sanchez collected her Miss Amity award during the Miss Universe pageant of 1966.
Nowadays she’s better known as Nena Sánchez, the Artist.
Granted, bright and bubbly Nena will always be our Miss Amity.
2. Miss Curaçao 1968, Annemarie Braafheid, won First Runner-Up at Miss Universe 1968.
Awesome fact: Annemarie Braafheid is the FIRST EVER black top 5 Miss Universe finalist. Many were disappointed about Annemarie’s loss to Miss Brazil Martha Vasconcellos, particularly because she had been the top scorer throughout the competition. Annemarie’s 1st Runner-Up title caused massive complaints and protests around the world… African American soldiers in Vietnam even threatened to walk. It wasn’t until 1977 that the world would crown a black Miss Universe: Janelle Commissiong from Trinidad & Tobago.
3. Miss Curaçao 1976, Anneke Dijkhuizen, made it into the Top 12 Miss Universe finalists.
Top 12 were ISRAEL, Rina Messinger, VENEZUELA, Judith Josefina Castillo Uribe, Gales, Sian Adey-Jones, SCOTLAND, Carol Jean Grant, AUSTRALIA, Julie Anne Ismay, ARGENTINA, Lilian Noemí Deasti, CHILE, María Elena Sommer, COLOMBIA, María Elena Reyes, CURACAO, Anneke Dijkhuizen, ENGLAND, Pauline Davies, HONG KONG, Rowena Lam and NORWAY, Bente Lihaug.
Fun fact: Miss Israel Rina Mor (Messinger) was crowned Miss Universe that year, Israel’s first.
4. Miss Curaçao 1991, Jacqueline Krijger, made it into the Top 10 Miss Universe finalists.
Miss Curacao 1991 Jacqueline Krijger flanked by her proud parents.
5. Miss Curaçao 1997, Verna Vasquez, made it into the Top 6 Miss Universe finalists.
Miss Curacao 1997 and Top 6 Miss Universe 1997 finalist: Verna Vasquez.
6. Miss Curaçao 1999, Jouraine Ricardo, placed 11th in the Miss Universe pageant.
Miss Curaçao 1999 and 11th place in the Miss Universe 1999 pageant: Jouraine Ricardo.
Just goes to show — one small island of 150,000 – 50 different nationalities:
A whole lotta beautiful people.
1000 Awesome Things About Curaçao 