Everything About Miss Universe Competition

What is Miss Universe Pageant?

In the United States, the Miss Universe Organization is responsible for hosting the Miss Universe pageant each year. This is one of the most-watched pageants in the world, with an estimated audience of over 500 million in over 190 countries. It is one of the Big Four international beauty pageants along with Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth.

Endeavor currently owns the Miss Universe Organization and its brand. A five-year license agreement has been signed between Telemundo and the pageant. The contest advocates for humanitarian issues and uses its power to make a positive impact on the world.

Currently, Miss Universe is Harnaaz Sandhu of India who was crowned on December 12, 2021, in Eilat, Israel by Andrea Meza of Mexico.

History of Miss Universe Pageant:

In 1926, the International Pageant of Pulchritude was the first to use the term "Miss Universe.". After taking place annually from 1926 to 1935 when the Great Depression and other events led up to World War II resulted in its abolition.

In 1952, Pacific Knitting Mills, a California-based company that produced Catalina Swimwear, founded the current Miss Universe pageant. Miss America was sponsored by the company until 1951, when the winner, Yolande Betbeze, refused to pose wearing one of their swimsuits for publicity photographs. Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants were organized by Pacific Knitting Mills starting in 1952, and they continued to sponsor them for decades to come.

John Charles Daly hosted the Miss Universe Pageant from 1955 to 1966, which was broadcast on CBS, other hosts were Bob Barker (1967 to 1987), Alan Thicke (1988), John Forsythe (1989), Dick Clark (1990 to 1993), Bob Goen (1994 to 1996), and Jack Wagner (1998 and 1999). While NBC was broadcasting the Miss Universe Pageant, Billy Bush hosted it from 2003 to 2005 and 2009, Andy Cohen in 2011 and 2012, and Thomas Roberts in 2013 and 2014. There are currently only four females who have hosted the event more than once - Daisy Fuentes, Nancy O'Dell, Mel B, and Natalie Morales from 2002 to 2004, 2005 and 2006, as well as from 2010 to 2011 and 2014, respectively.

Fox has televised Miss Universe's annual live competition since 2015, and Steve Harvey hosts the event each year. In 2015, Roselyn Sanchez was a backstage correspondent. In 2016-2018 Ashley Graham was a backstage correspondent. In 2019, Olivia Culpo was a backstage correspondent. Miss USA and Miss Teen USA were separated from the Miss Universe Organization in 2020 and became their own organizations led by Crystle Stewart, while the broadcast rights for Miss Universe were temporarily divided between FYI and Telemundo.

Miss Universe Contestant Selection Procedure:

For a country to participate in Miss Universe, it must buy the right to participate by paying a franchise fee to a local company or person. Everything related to the pageant is included in the fee, including the rights to the image, the brand, and everything related. Often, the Miss Universe Organization will resell the franchise to a new owner after being returned by the franchise owner. Historically, franchises have been resold many times between owners, sometimes for financial reasons or for contractual breaches. A franchised pageant is experiencing irregular participation due to scheduling problems in conjunction with the franchising process.

Candidates have typically selected through pageants within-country subdivisions, with local winners competing in a national competition. Swimsuit competitions have been held in some countries due to cultural restrictions, while others like Mozambique are excluded due to the prohibitive costs.

Age fabrication has been an absolute no-no for Miss Universe since its inception. It is also forbidden for contestants to be pregnant during the competition, as well as for winners during their reign. At least 18 years of age is required for contestants. Many European countries let 17-year-olds participate in their pageants, which creates an issue for them. Runner-ups and other candidates in the main competition must replace title holders under 18 years old. Since the onset of the Miss Universe competition several years ago, all candidates must at least possess a university degree or have a job.

Since 2012, transgender women who won their national pageants were allowed to compete. A transgender candidate has competed in the contest for the first time, six years after this rule changed. In the 2018 edition, Angela Ponce of Spain became the first openly transgender candidate. The first openly lesbian woman to compete at Miss Universe, Swe Zin Htet, became the first-ever to do so in 2019. In 2013, Patricia Yurena Rodriguez of Spain placed second to Gabriela Isler of Venezuela at Miss Universe, but she did not come out until several years after being selected.

Miss Universe Main Pageant:

With respect to Miss Universe's annual contest schedule, the main program has varied greatly throughout history. Since the beginning of the last decade, the Miss Universe pageant has taken place during a two-week span between early November and late January.

Although the contestants are expected to compete in evening gown and swimsuit competitions, Miss Universe is more than a beauty pageant. Miss Universe candidates must be well-mannered, intelligent, and cultured. A candidate is likely to be eliminated if she is not able to perform well during each round. As a rule, the candidates are placed according to a ranked vote, where the judges rank each candidate individually within the prescribed framework. The candidates with the lowest rates are eliminated in each round of the grand final. There are, however, some variables that can affect this criterion, such as weighted averages, accumulated points, or assessments in ascending or descending order.

Winners of the Miss Universe Contest sign a contract with the Miss Universe Organization which may last from seven to eight months, depending on the organization's demands. Miss Universe assumes her responsibilities immediately and becomes the organization's public face for a year, spreading messages about disease control, peace, and public awareness of AIDS (although the organization's more recent humanitarian projects have covered a wide range of topics, including women's rights and ethnic minority issues, as well as contemporary racial issues, public health issues, and global warming). She also receives a stipend throughout her reign as well as a scholarship for the New York Film Academy, a model portfolio, beauty products, clothing, shoes, as well as styling, healthcare, and fitness services from all pageant sponsors. Additionally, she gains exclusive access to fashion shows and galas throughout New York, as well as casting calls and modeling gigs. The 1st runner-up becomes Miss Universe if the winner is unable to fulfill her duties.

Miss Universe Final Judgment:

Each contestant competes in an initial round of judging (called the "Preliminary Competition") that limits the field to a select number of semifinalists.

It is the grand television final that takes place each year in a city (and country) in which all the semifinalists are announced and the questions are progressively advanced to the finals. Finalists (varying from three to five) are chosen to see who will be the runner-ups and who will be the new Miss Universe. Each of the contestants competes in a one-on-one interview round with each of the judges prior to the coronation night (usually in closed doors). In 2001, a live interview round for the semifinalists was added and it has been repeated since 2016 to introduce the semifinalists.

The 2018 pageant marked the first time that lives opening statements were included in the overall results after the semifinalists were announced, in addition to the final scores. For the first time in the history of the Miss Universe pageant in 2019, the remaining finalists in the competition had to deliver their closing statements live before the winner was announced, to be included in the overall results.

Crowns of Miss Universe:

During Miss Universe 67-year history, nine crowns have been awarded.

• Romanov Imperial Nuptial Crown (1952)
• Romanov Diadem Crown or Metal Bronze Crown (1953)
• Star of the Universe (1954–1960)
• Lady Rhinestone Crown or Coventry Crown (1961–2001)
• Mikimoto Crown (2002–2007; 2017–2018): US$25,000 is the value of the Mikimoto Crown.
• CAO Crown (2008): This crown consisted of over 1,000 precious stones and was valued at $120,000. It was made from 18-karat white gold with yellow gold accents.
• Diamond Nexus Crown (2009–2013): There are 1,371 gemstones in the crown, weighing a total of 416.09 carats. It consists of a total of 544.31 grams of platinum as well as 14k and 18k white gold.
• DIC Crown (2014–2016): A DIC Crown manufactured by Diamonds International Corporation (DIC) is estimated to be worth US$300,000.
• Mouawad Power of Unity Crown (2019–present): The Crown of Mouawad is believed to be worth US$5 million, making it the most expensive crown in history. The crown is made up of 62.83 carats of Golden Canary Diamond. The crown symbolizes ambition, diversity, community, and beauty, according to Pascal Mouawad.