Miss Universe Ecuador 2024 is Mara Topic of Guayaquil
Mara Topic Verduga was crowned Miss Universe Ecuador 2024 on Saturday, June 8 at Parque Zoila Ugarte de Landívar in Machala, El Oro.
The 29-year-old, representing Guayaquil, bested 24 other contestants to win the national title. She will now prepare to represent Ecuador at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico later this year.
Former Miss California USA Nadia Mejía-Webb of Comunidad USA and former Miss Earth Katherine Espín Gómez of Cañar were the first and second runners-up, respectively.
The rest of the Top 6 finalists were Shiomara Pico Mendoza of Región Costa, Karla Jiménez Urrutia of Los Rios, and Ana Isabel Cobo of Tungurahua.
Completing the Top 13 were Esmeraldas, Maholy Ortíz Quintero, Guayas, Gissela Flores Cadena, Manabí, Fiorella Velez Delgado, Morona Santiago, Andrea Quito Torres, Pichincha, Carolina Cobo Vallejo, Quito, Lorena Argüello Salazar, and Santo Domingo, Yomaira Torales Moreira.
The new Miss Universe Ecuador is an actress, model, and producer of Ecuadorian-Croatian descent. She is no stranger to pageantry having previously held the title of Miss Grand Ecuador and placing in the Top 10 at Miss Grand International 2019.
This year's pageant was the first edition of Miss Universe Ecuador under the Concurso Nacional de Belleza Ecuador. Reigning Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua graced the event as a special guest.
Road to the 73rd Miss Universe:
Photos: Giancarlo Ambrossi, CNB Ecuador / Instagram