Miss Iceland or Miss Universe Iceland ( is, Ungfrú Ísland) is a national
beauty pageant
A beauty pageant is a competition that has traditionally focused on judging and ranking the physical attributes of the contestants. Pageants have now evolved to include inner beauty, with criteria covering judging of personality, intelligence, ...
in
Iceland
Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...
. Began 2023 the winner represents Iceland at
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by a United States and Thailand based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Stre ...
pageant.
History
The competition has been carried out since 1950; in the first year it was called Miss Reykjavík (Ungfrú Reykjavík). Since 1955, the contest has taken place under the current name Miss Iceland. In the past, contest winners gained the right to represent Iceland in
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by a United States and Thailand based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Stre ...
,
Miss World or
Miss International
Miss International (''Miss International Beauty'' or ''The International Beauty Pageant'') is a Japan-based international beauty pageant organized by the International Culture Association. First held in 1960, it is the fourth largest pageant i ...
. As of 2009, the winner goes on to compete in Miss World.
There are six regional preliminary contests in each of the five rural regions and in the capital Reykjavík. 20 to 24 candidates, three to four from each region, take part in the finals.
Iceland is one of the most successful countries at the Miss World pageant with three victories, a record for a nation with a population of less than half million people.
In 2023, Jorge Esteban and Manuela Ósk Harðardóttir took the brand of Ungfrú Ísland in Iceland after the original organizers abandoned the brand back in 2018 in order to adopt a new format for Miss World in
Miss World Iceland
Miss World Iceland (originally Miss Iceland; is, Ungfrú Ísland), is a national beauty pageant in Iceland. The winner of this contest represents Iceland at Miss World.
History
The competition has been carried out since 1950; in the first year ...
.
2013 applicants
Rafn Rafnsson, the new chief executive of the Miss Iceland contest, "in hopes of diversifying the field of contestants beyond the statuesque blonde with striking blue eyes that has become the Icelandic stereotype", said "There is no Miss Iceland stereotype..."
One week later, in response to Rafnsson's statement, 1,300 people applied to become Miss Iceland,
including several nontraditional candidates, such as:
* Sigríður Guðmarsdóttir, 48, a female governmental minister in Reykjavik
* Reynir Sigurðbjörnsson, 47, a male electrician
* Ása Richardsdóttir, a 49-year-old female producer in the fine arts industry
* Matthildur Helgadóttir-Jónudóttir, a female event manager also in her 40s
* Brynhildur Heiðardóttir Ómarsdóttir, a female literary critic
*
Sigríður Ingibjörg Ingadóttir
Sigríður Ingibjörg Ingadóttir (born 29 May 1968) is an Icelandic economist and politician. She is a former member of parliament of the Althing and a former member of the board of the National Bank of Iceland. She represents the Social Democ ...
, a female Member of Parliament for the
Social Democratic Alliance
The Social Democratic Alliance ( is, Samfylkingin - jafnaðarflokkur Íslands), officially The Alliance – Iceland's Social Democratic Party, is a social democratic, and pro-European political party in Iceland.
The Social Democratic Alliance w ...
* Guðrún Jónsdóttir, a spokesperson for
Stígamót (organization that fights sexual abuse against women)
* Hildur Lillendahl, a feminist in Iceland
* Björk Vilhelmsdóttir, a city councilor of
Reykjavík
Reykjavík ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói bay. Its latitude is 64°08' N, making it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. With a po ...
and feminist
* Þórdís Elva Þorvaldsdóttir, a writer and actress
In response to the increase of nontraditional applicants, Rafnsson said, "We have to follow the rules set by the international contest."
This "means rejecting any applicants younger than 18 or older than 24. In addition to the age limits, contestants must be unmarried, childless and, of course, female."
Íris Telma Jonsdóttir, Iceland's 2012
Miss World contestant, "has the unfortunate job of sifting through applications for the coming Miss Iceland contest and the publicity stirred by feminists has even sparked an abnormally high influx of legitimate hopefuls. That means she has a lot more reading to do before selecting the field of 25 women who will actually compete for a chance to move on to Miss World."
Miss Universe Iceland
In 2016, Jorge Esteban (President of PageantSmart Interview Consulting) and Manuela Osk Hardardottir (former Miss Iceland 2002) were awarded the franchise for Miss Universe Iceland by the Miss Universe Organization. The 2020 Miss Universe Iceland competition was held on Friday, October 23, 2020, at Gamla Bio in downtown Reykjavik. The winner was 21 year old Elísabet Hulda Snorradóttir, a second year student at the
University of Iceland
The University of Iceland ( is, Háskóli Íslands ) is a public research university in Reykjavík, Iceland and the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education. Founded in 1911, it has grown steadily from a small civil servants' s ...
, majoring in Chinese Studies. She represented Iceland at the Miss Universe 2020 competition. She succeeds Birta Abiba Þórhallsdóttir, Miss Universe Iceland 2019, who placed in the Top 10 at Miss Universe 2019, the highest placement for Iceland since 1962. The Miss Universe Iceland 2021 competition will be held in Reykjavik on September 29, 2021. The winner will go on to compete at the 70th Miss Universe competition in Eilat, Israel scheduled for December 2021.
Previously the Miss Iceland (Ungfru Island) pageant would select the representative to Miss Universe.
Began 2023 the Miss Universe Iceland became the main title of Ungfrú Ísland titleholder after the organizers took over the defunct brand.
2023 applicants
Ungfrú Ísland under the leadership of Manuela Osk Harðardóttir and Jorge Esteban, a new era is ushered in. One national competition for Icelandic women with multiple opportunities for national and international representation.
New rules:
* Open to contestants ages of at least 18 y/o and under 28 as of 1.1.23
* Contestants may be single, currently married or previously married
* Contestants can be pregnant or have children
Titleholders
1955-2017
: Winning International Title
: Miss Universe Iceland
: Miss World Iceland
: Miss International Iceland
: Miss Europe Iceland
2016-present
: Winning International Title
::''Miss Universe Iceland organization began sending a winner directly to Miss Universe in 2016 but before Miss Universe Iceland, Miss Iceland (Ungfru Island) Organization franchised the Miss Universe franchise and the main winner went to Miss Universe starting in 1956. In 2016, a brand new of Miss Universe Iceland organized by separate competition which officially selected a national winning title to Miss Universe. Began 2023 On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a runner-up is sent.''
Titleholders under Ungfrú Ísland org.
Miss Universe Iceland
::''Ungfrú Ísland winners between 1956 and 2009 competed at
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by a United States and Thailand based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Stre ...
pageant. Between 2016 and 2022 the main winner of Miss Universe Iceland went to Miss Universe. Began 2023 the organization of Ungfrú Ísland is official foundation to select the winner to Miss Universe competition under Jorge Esteban and Manuela Ósk Harðardóttir directorship.''
Miss Supranational Iceland
::''Miss Universe Iceland organization was also awarded the Miss Supranational Iceland franchise in 2019. Before Miss Universe Iceland, Miss Iceland (Ungfru Island) Organization franchised the Miss Supranational Iceland franchise and the 1st runner-up went to Miss Supranational. On occasion, when the 1st runner-up does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a 2nd runner-up is sent.''
Notes
*
Unnur Steinsson was Miss Iceland 1983 and finished in the top five positions at the Miss World finals the same year. She is the mother of
Unnur Birna Vilhjálmsdóttir
Unnur Birna Vilhjálmsdóttir (born 25 May 1984) is an Icelandic actress, lawyer, model and beauty queen who won Miss Iceland 2005 and later won Miss World 2005 pageant.
Career Beauty Queen
She was crowned Miss World 2005 on 10 December 2005, in ...
who won the Miss Iceland pageant in 2005 and became Miss World 2005.
Steinsson was three months pregnant when she carried Unnur and competed in the 1983 contest, which was strictly forbidden and could have led to disqualification. Her daughter, Unnur, as mentioned, won the pageant 22 years later.
* In 2011, Guðlaug Dagmar Jónasdóttir won second place and Sigríður Dagbjört Ásgeirsdóttir won third place.
References
External links
www.missuniverseiceland.comOfficial Miss Universe Iceland
{{Miss Supranational countries and territories
Iceland
Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...
Beauty pageants in Iceland
Recurring events established in 1950
1950 establishments in Iceland
Icelandic awards
Iceland
Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...