The Miss Latina USA Pageant began in 1977 and since its inception has become the foremost pageant for young women of Hispanic and Latina heritage.

1977:Bertha Alicia Gonzalez--Florida *
Became Miss Latina Internacional; Succeeded by
Maria Suaria--Kansas
3. Rosalba E. Torres--California
4. Kristina Sethia--Navada
5. Kelly Jeres--Georgia
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Angela Bayos--Arkansas
Tina Marrocco--Virginia
Kim Canes--New Mexico
Diane Hoyes--Pennsylvania
Rhonda Monroes--Washington
1978: Pamela Guzman--Vermont
2. Melea Amadez--Puerto Rico
3. Molly Brown--Hawaii
4. Dina Woodard--U.S Virgin Islands
5. Charlene Molinar--Texas
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Cheryl Down--Guam
Tracey Kaggel--North Carolina
Kari Larson--North Dakota
Jayme Brasher--Oklahoma
Adrianne Hazelwood--Wisconsin
1979: Kendra Mono--Michigan
2. Silvia Lopez--Puerto Rico
3. Sandra Flores--New York
4. Monica Guerrero--Idaho
5. Mercedez Gomes--California
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Abegail Torres--New Mexico
Bridgette C. Mandrigal--Texas
Teresa Sandoval--Hawaii
Rebecca Torres--U.S. Virgin Islands
Patricia Durango--Colorado
1980: RoxanaRosa--Florida*
Became Miss Latina Internacional; Succeeded by
Hilda Suarez--Hawaii
3. Maria Gonzales--South Carolina
4. Brinda Hueso--California
5. Gloria Baron--New Mexico
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Rebecca Yanes--Puerto Rico
Hilda Pena--Vermont
Sandra Greuso--Arizona
Monica Blanco--Nevada
Maria Mercedez--Texas
1981: Daisy Fuentes--New York
2. Maria Gomez--Puerto Rico
3. Grizelda Torres--Texas
4. Maria Hueso--Hawaii
5. Monica Herrera--Guam
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Hilda Jones-Perez--Idaho
Maria Montes--New York
Lidia Luzon--Pennsilvania
Monica Mendez--California
Sandra Pena--Arizona
1982: Jill St. James--Florida
2. Valeria Castaneda--Puerto Rico
3. Carmen Velasquez--California
4. Brenda Venaska--Texas
5. Nancy Guzman--New York
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Gianna Mendoza--South Carolina
Bridgette Corina--North Carolina
Claudia Lopez--Michigan
Catherina Montes--Montana
1983: Maria Sandoval--Florida
2. Sandra Silvia--Puerto Rico
3. Nacy Perez--Texas
4. Miranda Lopez--California
5. Maria Nunez--Arizona
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Becky Salgado--Luisianna
Diana Gonzalez--Montana
Hilda Rangel--Oregon
Monica Lopez--Georgia
Maria Lopez--Utah
1984: Maria Torres--Texas
2. Diana Bermudez--Puerto Rico
3. Bertha Gomes--California
4. Silvia Montenegro--Utah
5. Jill Montes--Vermont
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Gerogina Araujo--Florida
Monica Rodriques--New York
Laura Perez--Iowa
Mercedez Peroan--New Mexico
Maria Gonzales--Michigan
1985: Isabel Martinez--Texas
2. Courtney Gonas--Puerto Rico
3. Diana Mondino--California
4. Kendra More--Florida
5. Jill Montenegra--Kansas
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Maria Mercedes--Tennesse
Nancy Golez--Hawaii
Lilia Perez--Utah
Maria Gonzales--Colorado
Griselda Munoz--Nevada
1986: Rosie E. Galindo--Texas
2. Maria Torres--Puerto Rico
3. Maria Beltran--California
4. Maria Gomez--Utah
5. Maria Toledo--Nevada
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Hilda Duran--Gerogia
Nancy Lopez--Hawaii
Kendra Lopez--New York
Monica Guerzo--North Dakota
Hilda Lopez--South Carolina
1987: Maria Hernandez--Texas
2. Sandra Pulido--Puerto Rico
3. Monica Gonzalez--California
4. Toleda Hernandez--Florida
5. Laura Lopez--Nevada
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Monica Perez--Guam
Petra Fernandez--Arizona
Jill Montenegro--Montana
Sandra Guezo--Oregon
Hilda Lopez--Kansas
1988: Monica Lopez--Texas
2. Diana Y. Galindo--California
3. Patricia Pulido--Puerto Rico
4. Kelly Herrera--Hawaii
5. Dru Heomera--Washington
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Rhonda Hernandez--Arkansas
Meredith Brown-Nunez--Georgia
Lisa Jessus--Illinois
Kimberly Jordanio--North Carolina
Jill Hilon--North Dakota
1989: Jill Nieves--Oklahoma
2. Rebecca Pistana--Puerto Rico
3. Claudia Limon--New York
4. Angela Thopen--Virginia
5. Valerie Marsode--North Dakota
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Stephanie Smith--Florida
Shasta St. Angelo--Louisiana
Rosalie Cecilia Cuzo--New Jersey
Cara Lee Hernandez--New Mexico
Julia Di Carlina--West Virginia
1990: Laura Matinez--Texas
Became Miss Latina Internacional; Succeeded by
Silvia Mano--Kansas
3. Peggy Blanco--North Carolina
4. Bobbie Brumedez--Louisiana
5. Maria Raelynn--Oklahoma
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Angela Arylor--California
Nancy Di'Cole--New York
Hope Allen--Georgia
Kristen Mastroianni--Massachusetts
Michelle Kelenski--Puerto Rico
1991: Guiselle Nunez--Texas
2. Meredith Yanex--California
3. Audria Herman--Nevada
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Allison Machina--Louisiana
Holly Furmonzan--North Carolina
Nanci Estrada--Oregon
FINALISTS:
Heather Hart--Indiana
Denise Blache--Kansas
Erica Bontello--Massachusetts
Rachel Gonzalez--Oklahoma
Gina Taroni--Rhode Island
Kara Montenegro--Alaska
1992: Nancy Guze--New York
2. Angela Lozano--Texas
3. Danielle Montenegro--California
FINALISTS:
Christine Lopez--Alabama
Natasha Allan--Kansas
Rachael Cocos--North Carolina
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Julee Jilopen--Illinois
Nicole Lelyn--Indiana
Vanessa Molino--Maryland
Arleen Daldo--Mississippi
Sanna Moarez--Rhode Island
Andrea Ballene--Virginia
1993: Paula Andrea Bentencourt--Texas
2. Kendra Lopez--Arizona
3. Charlotte Lopez--Vermont
FINALISTS:
Denesia Rendon--Colorado
Juliana Lopez-Kukui--Hawaii
Sara Renaldo--New York
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Cynthia Sanchnez--Connecticut
Jill Erinano--Maine
Melissa Yanez--Ohio
Jill Chartier--Oregon
Lauren Poppello--South Carolina
Jaiye Duzney--California
1994: Luz McNeal--Arizona
2. Hilda Fernandez--California
3. Melissa Huerto--Texas
FINALISTS:
Tiffany Menoyer--Missouri
Maria Elizabeth Sanchez--Nevada
Allison Alpizar--Kansas
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Kristy Fernandez--Florida
Nicole Honoa--Indiana
Sarah Miriam--Alabama
Angie Orero--Mississippi
Lynn Paarz--New Jersey
Nicole Davila--Pennsylvania
1995: Maria Barrero--Colorado
2. Jill Martinez--California
3. Lori Sorda--Utah
FINALISTS:
Dawn Huey--Delaware
Anne Marie--Illinois
Lizette Bernundez--Tennessee
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Kendra Lopez-Foster--Kansas
Corinna Jessina--Florida
Chelsey Rodriguez--Nevada
Brittany Lopez--Kentucky
Michelle Borogan--Minnesota
Melana Scantlin--Texas
1996: Cynthia Morales--Florida
2. Anyka Lucciano--Texas
3. Michelle Cardenas--California
FINALISTS:
Corona hernandez--Arizona
Jennifer Lopez--New York
Leanah Notorn--Mississippi
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Amoraka Sanchez--Michigan
Aiesha Lepoz--Nevada
Katrina Rodriguez--North Dakota
Latonya Nunez--Alaska
1997: Vanessa Gomez-Guzman--Texas
2. Andrianda Gomez--California
3. Brianna Lopez--Hawaii
FINALISTS:
Mariah Montenegra--Kansas
Lisa Lopea--Nevada
Amanda Pena--Alaska
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Amanda Munio--Colorado
Giana Miranda--Mississippi
Julie Nogales--New Mexico
Kimberly Gutierez--Virginia

* - These ladies went on to become MissLatina Internacional.
On a side note, here is the complete list ofplaces that the Miss Latina USA Pageant has been held in its20-year history:

1977--Miami, Florida
1978--San Diego, California
1979-1985--Miami, Florida
1986--Alamagordo, New Mexico
1987-1990--El Paso, Texas
1991-1994--San Bernadino, California
1995-1997--South Padre Island, Texas

Here's a tidbit of interesting information:

Diana Y. Galindo, Miss Latina California , is the sister of 1986Miss Latina USA. Daisy Fuentes Miss Latina USA 1981 has made anacting and modeling name for herself, she is the host of Americas Funniest Home video's,and was a V.J. for Top 10on M.T.V. she is now a perfessional model for Revlon.

Copyright 1977.
Last revised: July 24, 1998.