The 6th edition of Reina Sudamericana was held in October 1996 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, with delegates from 10 countries and territories. At the end of the event, Carolina Taís Müller of Brazil crowned Helga Bauer Salas of Bolivia as Reina Sudamericana 1996. Months later, Bauer was dethroned and First Runner-up Gabriela Vergara of Venezuela assumed the title.