Venezuela has a new beauty queen. Clara Vegas Goetz, representing the state of Miranda, won this year's Miss Venezuela, hosted last night in the capital city of Caracas. The win marks her ticket to next year's Miss Universe, where she'll represent her country in the prestigious competition.
© Miss Universe VenezuelaVegas is a 23-year-old actress and model, and is the daughter of former beauty queen Andreina Goetz, who was crowned Miss Venezuela in 1990. The group of finalists was made up of five women, representing the states of Amazonas, Merida, Yaracuy, and Monagas.
"Miss Miranda Clara Vegas Goetz becomes Miss Universe Venezuela 2025, in a night filled with brilliance, emotion, and lots of nostalgia," reads the post's caption, shared from the official Miss Venezuela account.
In her first interview as Miss Venezuela, Vegas shared her pride in her country and its people. "What makes me proudest of being a Venezuelan is, without a doubt its people. Venezuelans are welcoming. Even though I left my country when I was 9 years old, every time I visited, I felt welcomed. These past three months, I've been welcomed with open arms, and I've had the chance to get to know the country and make new friendships, all the while strengthening my relationships with my family."
"I feel very happy to be here and to receive all of this kindness from my dear people."
During the round of questions, Vegas said that Venezuelan women were the heart and engine of the country, which is why she hopes to create projects that help them accomplish their dreams.
This year's Miss Venezuela pageant
The 2025 Miss Venezuela was organized as a celebration of previous Miss Venezuela pageants, conducted in order to celebrate the history of the show, hosted by Maite Delgado, the beloved Venezuelan TV icon.
"Our eternal Maite is the performer of this evening's musical opening, which also features the participation of Miss Supranational Venezuela, Miss Venezuela International, and Miss Venezuela World," reads a post shared on the official Miss Venezuela account on X.
The evening also featured an homage to the Dominican singer Rubby Perez and a special performance from Miguel Molly.
Venezuela is one of the leading countries in beauty pageant competitions, having won multiple crowns from competitions like Miss World and Miss International. The country also has a Guinness World Record for winning the Miss Universe title two years in a row. Venezuela has won the Miss Universe crown seven times.
© AFP via Getty Images
