# Miss Progress International

Miss Progress International is an annual international beauty pageant that promotes projects related to health, human rights, and the environment. It was established in 2010 in Italy under the leadership of its founder, Giuseppina Nobile, who is also the President.
The primary goal of the event is to implement the winning project by organizing a fundraising effort, in collaboration with the winner, to cover the necessary costs.
The current titleholder is Odalis Soza from Nicaragua. She was crowned on September 23, 2023 at the Mercato delle Idee in Muro Leccese, in the Italian province of Lecce.

## History

The organization is managed by the Associazione Culturale In Progress based in Carosino, Italy, which also holds the copyrights to the pageant. Each national director selects contestants through regional and national competitions to represent their country as the national Ambassador of Progress. The first edition of Miss Progress International took place from September 19 to 26, 2010, in Puglia, Italy, under the moral patronage of the Italian Ministry of Tourism, the Regione Puglia, and the municipalities of Taranto and Ostuni.
Due to health issues faced by one of the founders of Associazione Culturale In Progress, the event was suspended until 2014, when the second edition was held from May 9 to 18, once again in Puglia, and received formal recognition from the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano.
All nine editions of Miss Progress International have been held in Puglia, a region recognized by National Geographic as one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the world. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the organizers to suspend the event and postpone the eighth edition from 2020 to 2021.

## Titleholders

| Edition | Year | Miss Progress International | Project Theme | Location | Date | Ref. |
| 9th | 2023 | Odalis Soza Nicaragua | Environment | Muro Leccese | September 23, 2023 | |
| 8th | 2022 | Francesca Speranza Italy | Environment | Santa Maria di Leuca, Italy | September 17, 2022 | |
| 2020-2021 | 2020-2021 | COVID-19 pandemic | COVID-19 pandemic | COVID-19 pandemic | COVID-19 pandemic | COVID-19 pandemic |
| 7th | 2019 | Vanesa Giraldo Lopez Colombia | Environment | Carosino, Italy | October 4, 2019 | |
| 6th | 2018 | Eyra Luz Baquero Mola Colombia | Human Rights | Leporano, Italy | September 27, 2018 | |
| 5th | 2017 | Jedaver Pancho Opingo Philippines | Human Rights | Carosino, Italy | October 21, 2017 | |
| 4th | 2016 | Natascha Fischer Benelux | Human Rights | Francavilla Fontana, Italy | September 30, 2016 | |
| 3rd | 2015 | Liz Arévalos Paraguay | Health | Santa Maria di Leuca, Italy | May 15, 2015 | |
| 2nd | 2014 | Arantza Barba Bolivia | Environment | Santa Maria di Leuca, Italy | May 23, 2014 | |
| 1st | 2010 | Julieth William Lugembe Tanzania | Human Rights | Taranto, Italy | September 24, 2010 | |
Countries/Territories by number of wins :
| Country/Territory | Titles | Year(s) |
| Colombia | 2 | 2018, 2019 |
| Nicaragua | 1 | 2023 |
| Italy | 1 | 2022 |
| Philippines | 1 | 2017 |
| Benelux | 1 | 2016 |
| Paraguay | 1 | 2015 |
| Bolivia | 1 | 2014 |
| Tanzania | 1 | 2010 |

### Special awards

One winner is selected for each theme, and the contestant with the highest overall score is awarded the title. Beginning with the second edition, the title of Miss Progress Cultural Integration has been chosen by the contestants through a vote, selecting the individual they believe best embodies the values of integration, including peaceful coexistence, friendliness, and congeniality.
| Year | Miss Progress Health | Miss Progress Environment | Miss Progress Human Rights | Miss Progress Cultural Integration | Best in National Costume | Miss Progress Elegance | Miss Progress Internet |
| 2023 | Kana Sagara Japan | Odalis Soza Nicaragua | Kimberley Luna Mexico | Nicole Herzan Peru | Arya Naik India | Jilldeen Ezeudu Canada | Trixa Parmerola Spain |
| 2022 | Andrea Pineda Colombia | Francesca Speranza Italy | Beatriz Awatin Philippines | Gabriela Monserrate Puerto Rico | Andrea Pineda Colombia | Gigela Neyra Peru | Beatriz Awatin Philippines |
| 2019 | Sarah M. Joson Philippines | Vanesa Giraldo Lopez Colombia | Kome Adheke Nigeria | Gabriella Ochoa United States | Kisanet Molla Ethiopia | Adélaide De Boisvilliers France | Heather Rodriguez Honduras |
| 2018 | Hannah Higgins United Kingdom | Sarah Bona Philippines | Eyra Luz Baquero Mola Colombia | Natali Guerrero Guatemala | Brenda Vélasquez Haro Mexico | Yurika Watanabe Japan | Audrey Awor Kenya |
| 2017 | Natalia Carmen Guerrero Peru | Claudia Baroni Italy | Jedaver Pancho Opingo Philippines | Daria Freshchenkova Ukraine | Ianaiara Gonzalez Nieradka Paraguay | Constanza De Mattheu Brazil | Naomi Train United Kingdom |
| 2016 | Bethany Cammack United Kingdom | Marianella Chavez Serrano Costa Rica | Natascha Fischer Benelux | Yameesha Rasadi Sri Lanka | Rafaela Torres Brazil | Tal Ben Haim Israel | Carmelle Martinez Canada |
| 2015 | Liz Arévalos Paraguay | Kelly Van den Dungen Netherlands | Susanna Schrabak United States | Neidy Robles Mexico | Laila Khan Niazi Pakistan | Neidy Robles Mexico | Diane Rosa Brazil |
| 2014 | Jorreni Marcon Brazil | Arantza Barba Bolivia | Marie Darline Exume Haiti | Esterina Rumé Italy | Kristina Velez Toledo Puerto Rico | Not awarded | Dorota Barthewska Sweden |
| 2010 | Dian Biemans Netherlands | Kendis Brown Bahamas | Julieth William Lugembe Tanzania | Carolina Palmegiani Venezuela | Kendis Brown Bahamas | Not awarded | Not awarded |