Miss Universe 1999 was the 48th Miss Universe pageant, held on 26 May 1999 at the Chaguaramas Convention Centre in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago. Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana was crowned by Wendy Fitzwilliam of Trinidad and Tobago at the end of the event. This edition marks the most recent time that a first-time entry of a country at Miss Universe has won and the third time in pageant's history, after Colombia in 1958 and Finland in 1952. This edition also saw a back-to-back victory by black women. 84 contestants competed in this year.
| Miss Universe 1999 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | 26 May 1999 |
| Presenters | |
| Entertainment | Julio Iglesias Jr. |
| Venue | Chaguaramas Convention Centre, Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Broadcaster | CBS (international) TTT (official broadcaster) |
| Entrants | 84 |
| Placements | 10 |
| Debuts |
|
| Withdrawals |
|
| Returns |
|
| Winner | Mpule Kwelagobe  Botswana |
| Congeniality | Marisa Ferreira  Portugal |
| Best National Costume | Nicole Simone Dyer  Trinidad and Tobago |
| Photogenic | Brenda Liz Lopez  Puerto Rico |
Background
Selection of participants
Contestants from eighty-four countries and territories were selected to compete in the pageant. Five of these delegates were appointees to their titles after being a runner-up of their national pageant or an audition process or other internal selection.
Replacements
Miss Barbados 1998, Michelle Selman did not compete for undisclosed reasons. Her 1st runner up, Olivia Harding replaced her.[1] The winner of Miss Great Britain Universe 1999, Nicki Lane decided to give up the crown to her 1st runner up Cherie Pisiani,[2][3] after Lane confessed that she had a child at 14 years old.[4] The winner of Binibining Pilipinas 1999, Janelle Delfin Bautista had to resign due to citizenship issues just like last year's successor, because she is an American citizen.[5] The Binibining Pilipinas World 1999, Miriam Quiambao assumed the Binibining Pilipinas Universe title.
Results
Placements
| Placement | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss Universe 1999 | |
| 1st runner-up | |
| 2nd runner-up | |
| Top 5 | |
| Top 10 |
|
Contestants
Eighty-four contestants competed for the title.
Notes
This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2020) |
Returns
Last competed in 1966:
Last competed in 1987:
Last competed in 1993:
Last competed in 1995:
Last competed in 1996:
Last competed in 1997:
Withdrawals
During the contest:
Guam - Miss Guam 1999, Tisha Elaine Heflin had to withdraw a few days before the preliminary competition, after being discovered that she was pregnant.[14][15]
Others:
Bulgaria, Miss Bulgaria 1999, Elena Angelova did not compete due lack of sponsorship.
Norway - Henriette Dankertsen
Romania - The Miss Romania 1999 pageant was cancelled and their organizers dropped the Miss Universe licence.
Netherlands and 
Zimbabwe - Did not send delegates due to lack of sponsorship and funding.
References
- ^ "Pageant News Ticker VII". 11 November 1999. Archived from the original on 11 November 1999. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ "Cherie pisani Stock Images - DIOMEDIA". Diomedia.com. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ "STOCK IMAGE - Left: NICKI LANE The former Miss Great Britain Universe (Nicki has handed over her title to runner-up Cherie Louise Pisani, after it was revealed that she did not tell the Miss Universe organis..." Diomedia.com. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ "Crown of thorns". The Guardian. 25 May 1999. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ "Top 10 Dethroned Beauty Queens". Spot.ph. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Miriam looks back on Miss Universe journey 22 years ago". Philippine Star (in Tagalog). 12 December 2021. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
- ^ "Viola Jeffrey is Miss Belize". Great Belize Television. 25 August 1998. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ "Miss Estonia on Triin Rannat". Õhtuleht (in Estonian). 8 March 1999. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ Sheehan, Aideen (19 August 1998). "Miss Ireland goes west as Vivienne wins coveted title". Irish Independent. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- ^ "INTUR no se meterá más en el concurso Miss Nicaragua". Archivo.elnuevodiario.com.ni. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ "Besos que no manchan - La Prensa". Lapresnsa.com.ni. 3 December 2002. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ "El anecdotario". 9 January 2007. Archived from the original on 9 January 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ Mujuda, Sam (19 March 1999). "Zambia: Esanju Picked For Miss Universe '99". The Post. Retrieved 5 December 2022 – via AllAfrica.
- ^ Tiempo, Casa Editorial El (22 May 1999). "EMBARAZOSO LÍO REAL". El Tiempo. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ Ordover, Benjamin (1 October 2002). Payback. iUniverse. ISBN 9780595253029. Retrieved 9 August 2018 – via Google Books.