Amelia Vega Polanco became the first Dominican woman to be named Miss Universe, in 2003. At the age of 18, she was the youngest winner since 1994.


Miss Universe 2003
Date: June 6, 2003
Presenters: Billy Bush and Daisy Fuentes
Entertainment: Bond and Chayanne
Venue: Figali Convention Center, Panama City, Panama
Broadcaster: NBC
Entrants: 71
Placements: 15
Debuts: Yugoslavia (as Serbia & Montenegro)
Withdraws: British Virgin Islands, Chile, Ghana, Honduras, Iceland, Kenya, Northern Marianas, Portugal, Uruguay, U. S. Virgin Islands
Returns: Barbados, Belize, New Zealand, Taiwan,
Winner: Amelia Vega
Represented: Dominican Republic
Congeniality: Kai Davis
Antigua and Barbuda
Photogenic: Carla Tricoli Puerto Rico
The Miss Universe 2003 Pageant was held in Figali Convention Center, Panama City, Panama on June 3, 2003. 71 delegates from around the world who competed for the Miss Universe title.

At the conclusion of the final competition Miss Dominican Republic Universe Amelia Vega was crowned Miss Universe 2003 by Miss Universe 2002, Justine Pasek of Panama. She was the first woman from her country to win the title.

Panama hosted the pageant for the second time. In 1986, Miss Universe 1986 was held at ATLAPA Convention Center in Panama City
Placements