CV Stardom

Brenda Andrea Smith Lezama represented Panama in Nuestra Belleza Latina and Miss Universe. She was born in Georgia, United States to a Panamanian father and a Mexican mother.

Smith earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, USA. She turned 27 on May 25, 2021.

From Miss Georgia USA 2017 to Mexicana Universal 2020

Before winning Miss Missouri Teen USA 2023, Smith was second runner-up to Miss Georgia Teen USA 2012 Cortney Smits. Representing Missouri, Smith finished in the Top 16 at Miss Teen USA 2013 at the Grand Ballroom on Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas on August 10, 2013.

On November 19, 2016, Smith competed at Miss Georgia USA 2017 at the Henry County Performing Arts Centre in McDonough, Georgia. She was runner-up to Deanna Johnson.

Representing Panama, Smith competed against 19 other candidates at Nuestra Belleza Latina 2018, which aired on Univision from September 23, 2018 to December 2, 2018. She finished 12th.

On February 4, 2020, Smith was crowned Mexicana Universal Ciudad de México 2020. When she represented Mexico City at Mexicana Universal 2020 at Hotel Misión Grand Juriquilla in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico on November 29, 2020, she competed against 29 other candidates, ranked seventh and was named second runner-up.

From Señorita Panamá 2021 to Miss Universe 2021

On November 7, 2021, Smith represented Panama Centro at Señorita Panamá 2021 and competed against 28 other candidates at the Hotel Whyndham Convention Center in Panama City. She won the title.

Also crowned were Miss Grand Panamá 2022 Katheryn Yejas and Miss Supranational Panamá 2022 Cecilia Medina. The respective first and second runners-up were Ivis Nicole Snyder and Hillary Watson.

On December 13, 2021, Smith represented Panama at Miss Universe 2021 at the Universe Dome in Eilat, Israel. She competed against 79 other candidates including Deborah Hallal of Mexico and Elle Smith of the U.S.

Hallal was unplaced. Brenda finished in the Top 16 and Elle finished in the Top 10.

Harnaaz Sandhu of India won the title. Nadia Ferreira of Paraguay and Lalela Mswane of South Africa were the respective first and second runners-up.