Miss Universe 1993 was the 42nd Miss Universe pageant, held on 21 May 1993 at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, Mexico. At the event's conclusion, Dayanara Torres of Puerto Rico was crowned Miss Universe by outgoing titleholder Michelle McLean of Namibia. Seventy-nine contestants competed in the pageant. The pageant was hosted by Dick Clark for the fourth and final time, with commentary from former Miss Universe titleholders Cecilia Bolocco (1987) and Angela Visser (1989). This was the third time the pageant was held in Mexico, two years after Lupita Jones won Mexico's first Miss Universe title in 1991. In the weeks prior to the final telecast, the contestants visited Campeche, Oaxaca, Zacatecas, Querétaro and the Mexican borough of Xochimilco for official events and sightseeing.

Background

Location and date

On 13 July 1992, Miss Universe Inc. and Canal 13 Mexico director Romeo Flores announced that this edition would happen at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. The hosting of Miss Universe in Mexico is supported by the then-president of Mexico, Carlos Salinas de Gortari. Aside from Mexico City, the candidates also visited the states of Campeche, Oaxaca, Zacatecas, Querétaro, and the borough of Xochimilco for official activities before the final competition. A few days before the final competition, the president of the Miss Mexico Organization, Carlos Guerrero, announced that Miss Universe would be held in Mexico again in 1995. Negotiations did not push through, and the competition occurred in Namibia, the first African country to host Miss Universe. Miss Universe was held again in Mexico in 2007.

Selection of participants

Contestants from seventy-nine countries and territories were selected to compete in the pageant. One contestant was selected to replace the original dethroned winner.

Replacements

The winner of Eesti Miss Estonia 1993, Lilia Üksvärav was replaced due to being underage. Her first runner up – Kersti Tänavsuu – made the first ever debut of Estonia at Miss Universe pageant.

Debuts, returns and withdrawals

This edition marked the debuts of the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Swaziland; and the returns of Belize, Ghana, Hong Kong, Italy, and Trinidad and Tobago, all of which last competed in 1991. Pavlína Babůrková of the Czech Republic was originally crowned as Miss Czechoslovakia 1992, but after the split of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Babůrková represented the Czech Republic. Yuliya Etina of the Commonwealth of Independent States withdrew from the pageant due to undisclosed reasons, just a few days after arriving in Mexico. The countries that form the Commonwealth of Independent States eventually competed separately beginning in 1994. Bermuda, the Cook Islands, Egypt, Kenya, and the Republic of China withdrew due to undisclosed reasons. Indira Sudiro of Indonesia competed in this edition, but withdrew due to controversies surrounding her participation in the pageant.

Incidents during the competition

The pageant was marred by booing from the crowd following the failure of the Mexican delegate, Angelina González, to advance to the top 10 of the national costume competition or the finals as one of the top 10 semifinalists. This was particularly directed towards Kenya Moore of the US, the country that owns the Miss Universe Organization. During the judges' introduction, booing increased especially after Mexican judges José Luis Cuevas and Miss Universe 1991 Lupita Jones were introduced to the audience who held them responsible for Miss Mexico's non-placement. This continued throughout the first two events of the night: the swimsuit and interview competition. The audience at National Auditorium only calmed down after the musical number with Michelle McLean and the delegates sang and danced to "Get on Your Feet". Generalized booing stopped and the competition continued with the evening gown event, the judges' questions, the final question and the crowning, without major incident.

Results

Placements

Special awards

Best National Costume

Contestants

Seventy-nine contestants competed for the title.