Oruro's Valeria Mena Crowned Miss Bolivia Universo 2026 After 59-Year Wait

Valeria Mena, representing Oruro, has been crowned Miss Bolivia Universo 2026, bringing the national crown back to her department after a 59-year absence. She triumphed over 29 other candidates in the national beauty pageant held on Saturday.

Mena's victory makes her the second representative from Oruro to win the Miss Bolivia Universo title. The first was Marcela Montoya García in 1967. Mena is now set to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, scheduled for November in Puerto Rico.

The competition featured multiple rounds, including traditional costumes, evening gowns, and swimwear, narrowing down the field to a Top 12 and then a Top 7. Bianca Ruiz, representing Santa Cruz, was also a notable finalist.

During the gala, a special tribute was paid to Alenir Echeverría, a recently deceased former beauty queen, whose career was honored by the contestants and the audience. In addition to Miss Bolivia Universo, other international pageant representatives were chosen: Ash Castro (Miss Residentes Reino Unido) was named Miss Bolivia Mundo, and Kaori Fernández (Miss Residentes Japón) secured the title of Miss Bolivia Internacional. Bolivia has now selected its representatives for the major international beauty contests of the 2026 season.