Serbia’s participation in the Miss Universe pageant began in 1998 when it competed as part of the former Yugoslavia, with the event held in Hawaii that year. The country debuted as an independent nation in 2007, marking a significant milestone in its pageant history. The most notable achievement for Serbia came in 2003, when Sanja Papić reached the top 5, securing the country’s highest placement to date.
However, from 2016 to 2023, Serbia did not participate in Miss Universe, taking a break from the international competition. In 2024, Serbia made its long-awaited return to the global stage, competing again in the Miss Universe pageant hosted in Mexico.