This annual beauty pageant, which began in 2006 as Miss American Continent, is based in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Up to 2012 the participants were restricted to the countries in the Americas; in 2013 participants from all around the world were invited. The pageant is organized by María del Carmen de Aguayo, director of the Miss Ecuador Organization, based in Guayaquil. More than 30 contestants participate every year. The current Miss United Continents is Jeslyn Santos from Philippines. She was crowned on September 24, 2016.