Model Luren Márquez has been stripped of her Miss Peru 2026 title, removing her as the country's representative for the upcoming Miss Universe pageant.
The decision by the Miss Peru organization comes just three months before the 75th edition of the international contest. Márquez, a native of Ica, was originally appointed to represent Peru in April 2026.
The 2026 Miss Universe pageant is scheduled to take place on November 24, 2026, at the Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, Márquez will no longer travel to Puerto Rico after the beauty organization chose to revoke her national crown.
In an official statement released to the public, the Miss Peru organization announced that effective immediately, Márquez would no longer hold the title of Miss Peru 2026. The announcement confirmed that her representation at the Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico was rendered without effect.
The beauty enterprise, led by national director Jessica Newton, did not disclose the reasons behind the sudden removal. The organization stated that in the coming days it will release further information regarding who will be chosen to replace Márquez and represent Peru on the global stage.
Potential replacement candidates
Pageant expert Ramiro Saavedra outlined several potential contenders who could step in to replace Márquez before the international competition in November.
Among the potential replacements identified by Saavedra is Lucía Arellano, a former Miss World Peru titleholder. Another strong contender is Maricielo Gamarra, who finished as first runner-up in Miss Peru Universe 2025 and won the Reina Hispanoamericana title in 2023.
The list of potential representatives also includes Flavia López, the reigning Miss Grand International Peru 2025, and Suheyn Cipriani, who achieved a top 10 placement in the first edition of the MGI All Star competition.
Reaction and call for clarification
Commenting on the unexpected removal, Saavedra expressed disappointment over the departure of Márquez, stating that he had strongly supported her as Miss Peru 2026.
Saavedra added that a brief clarification from the organization regarding the drastic decision would be important to put an end to growing public speculation surrounding her removal.
Miss Peru is the primary national beauty contest responsible for selecting the country's delegates to major global pageants. The Miss Universe pageant, held annually since 1952, brings together national titleholders from around the world, with the 2026 event taking place at Puerto Rico's premier indoor venue, the Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum.
