Miss Universo Italia or is a national pageant that currently selects the Italian representative for the Miss Universe pageant. The pageant was first organized in 1951 and it is not related to Miss Italia, although some delegates have crossed over from one format to the other throughout the years.
Erika Jorger (applied for Miss Universo Italia 1965) photographed by Paolo Monti in 1964
Daniela Bianchi was 1st runner-up at the Miss Universe 1960.
Miss Italia is a beauty pageant awarding prizes every year to young, female contestants from Italy. Since the first edition of the contest, in 1939, many of the contestants have gone on to notable careers in television and film.
Image: Sophia Loren (third from left) in publicity images from the Miss Italia contest, 1950
Image: Naples, Miss Italia 1950 Sophia Loren
Image: A young Sophia Loren, aged 15, at a beauty contest in Naples, Italy
Image: Missitalia 1971.4