News Americas, NEW YORK, NY., Mon. Dec. 9, 2019: A beauty representing a Caribbean nation last night became the first runner-up at the 2019 Miss Universe pageant, held at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.
Miss Puerto Rico Madison Anderson was bested only by South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi, who won the coveted title of Miss Universe 2019.
Miss Mexico, Sofia Aragon, was the second runner-up.
Anderson was born in Phoenix, Arizona to an American father and a Puerto Rican mother. She relocated with her family to Orlando, Florida when she was three months old, and later graduated from Dr. Phillips High School.
After graduating from high school, Anderson began studying fashion design and textiles at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City; she has since begun studying marketing and public relations.
Anderson previously worked in Saint Kitts and Nevis, helping women who were domestic violence victims.
Anderson began her pageantry career as a teenager, placing as the fourth runner-up at Miss Florida Teen USA 2014. Afterwards, she won the right to represent Puerto Rico in the Top Model of the World 2015 competition where she placed as fourth runner-up to the eventual winner Elena Kosmina of Ukraine. Afterwards, Anderson was crowned Miss Grand Puerto Rico 2016. As Miss Grand Puerto Rico, Anderson placed as the third runner-up in Miss Grand International 2016, behind eventual winner Ariska Putri Pertiwi of Indonesia.
After Miss Grand International, Anderson went on brief hiatus from pageantry until competing in Miss Florida USA 2019. She placed as the first runner-up behind winner Nicolette Jennings, who went on to place in the top ten of Miss USA 2019.
Anderson later entered the Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2019 competition, representing the municipality of Toa Baja. She had to learn Spanish to enter the pageant.
On June 13, 2019, Anderson went on to win the competition, succeeding Kiara Ortega.
As Miss Universe Puerto Rico, Anderson won the right to represent Puerto Rico at the Miss Universe 2019 competition and came second Sunday night.
