It seems like beauty queens don't generally like admitting when they've had plastic surgery, and don't mind perpetuating the illusion that they were all born perfect. But as cosmetic procedures become increasingly common, they are also a lot more detectable to the untrained eye than they once were. The moment Colombia's Miss Universe winner Paulina Vega hit the stage in 2014, I knew something was different about her. And by different, I mean sort of unnatural. She's gorgeous, but I could tell that she had a sparkly new set of veneers. When Paulina was asked how she feels about plastic surgery, she tried to answer it as gracefully as possible, but if we're honest, we weren't convinced.
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In earlier years—like when Lupita Jones and Dayanara Torres won their crowns—contestants looked more natural. But since the 2000s, it seems like they've all morphed into Victoria's Secret model look-alikes.
Despite the fact that cosmetic procedures are more accepted by society than ever before these days—and it's allowed in the Miss Universe pageant—very few pageant queens are open about whether they've had cosmetic enhancements performed on them. Paulina told HuffPost she supports contestants being enhanced. "I agree, but not when they use this new technology, this new tool excessively. I think that you should always retain your original body, because we are all born beautiful," she said. She still denies ever going under the knife herself though, but we can't help but wonder if she's more work done in addition to those veneers.
We are indeed all born beautiful and a lot of us could probably look like Miss Universes ourselves if we chose to embrace the "new technology," that a number of contestants have turned to to enhance their appearances. Keep scrolling to see some before-and-after plastic surgery photos of Miss Universe contestants and winners.
Before: Nadia Ferreira, Miss Universe Paraguay 2021, looked very different in 2016.
This photo collage shows singer Marc Anthony and now-girlfriend Nadia Ferreira. The image on the left is from 2016, when the young woman was 16 years old. By then, Nadia was just a fan of the Puerto Rican Salsa icon and asked her idol for a photo at a concert. The image on the right is from March 2022, when they posed as an official couple. Fans immediately noticed the big difference in Nadia's appearance.
After: Nadia looks like a different person.
This selfie from 2022 shows a totally different Nadia. It seems like the Miss Paraguay 2021 got her nose and teeth done. Her lips are also way fuller than before and it seems like she also got jawline surgery.
Before: Paulina Vega's teeth are different.
As we mentioned, Paulina Vega's teeth are kind of a dead giveaway that she's had at least some work done, even if it was nothing terribly invasive. There are so many new procedures these days, so it's hard to say what else she might have changed.
After: Paulina Vega seems to be aging in reverse.
Paulina is still pretty young, but she somehow looks younger now than she did when she competed. Is it plastic surgery or some other type of cosmetic enhancement? It's hard to say, but, well…everybody's doing it.
Before: Sthefany Gutiérrez wasn't happy with her nose.
Sthefany Gutiérrez of Venezuela won the Miss Universe 2018 title, and is one of the few top-tier pageant queens to admit to plastic surgery. We thought her nose was pretty adorable before the surgery, but apparently she wasn't happy with it.
After: Sthefany Gutiérrez's nose is much slimmer.
In the years since her win, it seems Sthefany has continued to have little nips and tucks done here and there. Her nose looks even smaller than originally, her skin is lighter and her cheeks aren't as full.
Before: Juliana Borges was always beautiful.
Borges represented Brazil at the 2001 Miss Universe and has been brutally honest about going under the knife for pageant perfection. She has confessed to getting 19 procedures, including breast implants.
After: Juliana Borges' body after many procedures.
Juliana looks curvier after her surgeries. We don't think she needed the work at all, but her form of thinking is different. "It's like studying for a math exam and you get good grades, you study and you work hard to have the perfect body," she told ABC News.
Before: Fonthip Watcharatrakul
The 2010 Miss Universe contestant representing Thailand had so much cosmetic surgery that she was left almost unrecognizable. She also bleached her skin to look lighter.
After: It's obvious Fonthip Watcharatrakul has had several cosmetic procedures.
Fonthip Watcharatrakul looks like a completely different person! It seems like she got a nose job and maybe even had her skin bleached. She looks more like an Asian Kim Kardashian these days. Freaky.
Before: Gabriela Isler was such a cutie.
The Miss Universe 2013 winner hailing from Venezuela caused controversy right after winning her crown. Fans were shocked when before photos surfaced featuring a very different Gabriela. The changes seemed pretty drastic.
After: Gabriela Isler's facial features seem to be more refined.
It looks like the former beauty queen might have gotten a nose job and her chin and cheeks contoured. The lighter hair color also adds to her different look. Wow, she looks like a new person, but a lot can change over the course of the years.
Before: Dayana Mendoza had a totally different nose.
The Miss Universe 2008 winner is super secretive about whether she has gone under the knife. When asked once, the Venezuelan beauty replied, "Asking me that is like asking a woman her age." Based on this picture from when she was 15, it seems like she has though.
After: Dayana Mendoza is almost unrecognizable.
Dayana Mendoza looks like she has undergone a rhinoplasty procedure and possibly some contouring. Of course, we do realize that many people's faces slim down as they get older, but there's really a huge difference in her appearance.
Before: Ximena Navarrete had a smaller bust.
The 2010 Miss Universe winner from Mexico has always denied getting plastic surgery. But when you compare photos of her pageant days in Jalisco, there is a clear difference in bra size.
After: Ximena Navarrete fills out her bikini a bit better.
Judging from the photos, Ximena went from an A-cup to a B- or C-cup. Either that, or there's some padding in the bikini she wore to the Miss Universe pageant. There's definitely a noticeable difference!
Before: Amelia Vega was a natural beauty.
In 2003, the Dominican beauty won her Miss Universe crown. Although it's questionable whether she was enhanced back then, it looks like she has had work done on her nose since her win, and perhaps some other procedures as well.
After: Amelia Vega's nose is definitely thinner.
She looks so different! Amelia Vega's nose looks sharper and thinner in every angle now. We think she may have also had something done to her teeth or smile. She was a beauty before and looks just as pretty now!
Before: Zuleyka Rivera had procedures done before she won Miss Universe.
The 2006 Miss Universe winner from Puerto Rico seems to have received some help from a plastic surgeon. Zuleyka reportedly had her nose refined and her breasts enhanced. She also dropped at least 20 pounds before the competition.
After: Zuleyka Rivera does seem curvier.
Her bust definitely looks fuller than it used to. Now, many suspect that her pompis may have been enhanced, too. She exercises a lot though and is super fit, so the apparent growth could also be from that.
Before: Alicia Machado made some refinements.
The 1996 Miss Universe winner from Venezuela reportedly got the tip of her nose restructured before her big win. Comparing this image from 2004 and the following from 2014, it doesn't seem like she has messed with her face much since. Although…
After: Alicia Machado grew some curves.
Several years after her Miss Universe win, many began to suspect that she has had her booty enhanced. We don't know about that. Maybe it's just the art of a good pose and lighting, but her face still looks naturally beautiful.
Before: Denise Quinones almost looked like a different person.
Miss Puerto Rico, who won Miss Universe in 2001, reportedly was unsatisfied with her nose and went under the knife before the pageant. This photo is from long before her Miss Universe days, and we have to admit she looks quite different.
After: Denise Quinones has changed even more throughout the years.
Denise still looks gorgeous and youthful more than 20 years after she won the Miss Universe crown! It could be natural, but it looks like she's probably had a little lift and tuck done here and there throughout the years.
