From 1952 to 1961, the
Miss Universe franchise in
Puerto Rico was held by the newspaper
El Imparcial under the name of "Miss El Imparcial," "Miss Borinquen," and "Miss Puerto Rico." From 1962 to 1995, the franchise was held by the businesswoman in the modeling and beauty industry
Anna Santisteban, who operated it under the name of "Miss Puerto Rico." From 1996 to 1998, the television station
Telemundo Puerto Rico acquired the franchise, naming it "Miss Universe Puerto Rico." From 1999 to 2002, the television station
TeleOnce obtained the franchise, organizing it under the name of "Miss Puerto Rico Universe." From 2003 to 2009,
Magali Febles, a beautician working with the delegates of Puerto Rico since the early 1990s, held the franchise, operating it under the same name. From 2010 to 2017,
Luisito Vigoreaux and
Desireé Lowry,
Miss Universe Puerto Rico 1995, held the franchise under the name of "Miss Universe Puerto Rico." Since 2018, the franchise is owned by the
media conglomerate Hemisphere Media Group. The organization is based in the headquarters of
subsidiary WAPA-TV, which is also the broadcaster of the pageant.
Denise Quiñones,
Miss Universe 2001, served as director from 2018 to 2021, when TV host, motivational speaker, writer, and former beauty queen Yizette Cifredo took over the role. == Selection ==