13 things about Miss Universe Ecuador 2024 Mara Topić

Mara Stefica Topić Verduga is an Ecuadorian-Croatian actor, writer, model and beauty queen with a master’s degree in screenwriting. She represented Ecuador in Miss Grand International and Miss Universe.

BIOGRAPHY

Topić’s family is originally from Guayaquil, Ecuador. Her parents Tomislav Topic and Tamar Verduga are divorced.

Mara is Andjelko Topic Verduga‘s sister. She and Andjelko have a half-brother named Jan Tomislav Topić Feraud.

Raised in Los Angeles, California, United States, Mara went to the New York Film Academy in New York City, New York, USA on an acting scholarship. She also attended Upright Citizen’s Brigade (UCB) in Los Angeles.

On March 18, 2025, Mara turned 31. Here are 13 more things about her:

1. In 1995, her father founded Telconet, a Guayaquil-based company providing internet services and selling data transmission services.
2. In 2016, she starred in two short films.
3. In 2017, she played Brittany Verdugo in “Sangre Negra”.
4. In 2019, she visited Venezuela.
5. She was a Miss World Ecuador 2019 finalist.
6. She is Miss Grand Ecuador 2019.
7. She was a Miss Grand International 2019 finalist.
8. In 2020, she stayed in Los Angeles amid the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
9. In 2022, she completed a sketch comedy and improvisation training at UCB under the tutelage of Kerry McGuire.
10. In 2024, she visited Mexico.
11. She is Miss Universe Guayaquil 2024.
12. She won Miss Universe Ecuador 2024.
13. She was a Miss Universe 2024 semifinalist.

TIMELINE

Mara is 5’9¹⁄₂” tall. She speaks English and Spanish.

2010s

• She played Angelina in the short film “Helping Hand”, which was filmed in Hunt Valley, Maryland, USA and released in the U.S. on January 29, 2016.
• She starred in the short film “Debbie’s Feet”, which was released in France on May 11, 2016. She wrote the screenplay of the film, which was directed by Wesley Rodriguez.
• She played Maria in the short film “The Hideaway”, which was released in the U.S. on March 11, 2017.
• She was in the cast of the short film “Sepia”, which was filmed in Los Angeles and released on July 8, 2018 in the U.S.
• On April 27, 2019, she represented the U.S.’s Ecuadorian community at Miss World Ecuador 2019 and competed against 18 other candidates at the Teatro Centro Cívico Eloy Alfaro in Guayaquil. She finished in Top 9.
• In May 2019, she was appointed Miss Grand Ecuador 2019.
• On October 25, 2019, she represented Ecuador at Miss Grand International 2019 and competed against 59 other candidates at the Poliedro de Caracas in Caracas, Venezuela. She finished in the Top 10.

2020s

• She played a street prostitute in the film “A Dark Foe”, which was released in the U.S. on July 30, 2021.
• She played Ellie Powell in the film “The Memory Scanner”, which was released in the U.S. on December 12, 2021.
• Her half-brother Jan ran for president in Ecuador but was eliminated in the first round on August 20, 2023.
• She played Maura Ramos in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” Season 25 episode 6, which aired on February 29, 2024.
• She played Tyler in the mini-series “I Accidentally Hired a Billionaire Husband”, which was released on May 15, 2024.
• On June 8, 2024, she represented Guayaquil at Miss Universe Ecuador 2024 and competed against 24 other candidates at the Parque Zoila Ugarte de Landívar in Machala, El Oro, Ecuador. She won the title.
• On November 16, 2024, she represented Ecuador at Miss Universe 2024 and competed against 124 other candidates at the Arena Ciudad de México (Arena CDMX) in Azcapotzalco, Mexico City, Mexico. She finished in the Top 30.
• On July 27, 2025, she crowned her successor Miss Universe Ecuador 2025 Nadia Grace Mejia at the Palacio de Cristal in Guayaquil.