Veruzhka Tatiana Ramírez (born July 30, 1979) is a Venezuelan beauty pageant titleholder who was Miss Venezuela 1997 and winner of the Best in Swimsuit award and first runner-up to Miss Universe 1998. Miss Venezuela 1997 Ramirez was abandoned as a child and grew up in relative poverty. In 1997, reigning Miss Venezuela Marena Bencomo visited Táchira, where Ramírez approached her for an autograph. Bencomo encouraged her to go to Caracas to compete for the Miss Venezuela 1997 title, where Osmel Sousa appointed her as Miss Táchira. During the Miss Venezuela 1997 pageant, Ramírez captured the crown and the right to represent her country in Miss Universe 1998. Miss Universe 1998 Ramírez was the official representative of Venezuela to Miss Universe 1998, held in Honolulu, Hawaii. She placed first runner-up to Wendy Fitzwilliam of Trinidad and Tobago. Kidnapping Ramírez was kidnapped for three hours in 2003. See also List of kidnappings List of solved missing person cases References External links Miss Venezuela Official Website 1979 births 2000s missing person cases 2003 crimes in Venezuela Formerly missing people Kidnapped Venezuelan people Living people Missing person cases in Venezuela Miss Universe 1998 contestants Miss Venezuela winners People from Táchira Venezuelan female models