Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by the American-based Miss Universe Organization. It is one of the "Big Four" international beauty pageants, along with Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth, and is considered one of the most highly anticipated and publicized beauty events in the world. The pageant aims to select a woman who embodies beauty, intelligence, grace, and cultural understanding, and who can serve as a global ambassador.
History
The Miss Universe pageant was founded in 1952 by Pacific Knitting Mills, a California-based clothing company and makers of Catalina swimwear. The pageant originated after Yolande Betbeze, the Miss America 1951 winner, refused to pose for publicity pictures in a swimsuit, leading the company to withdraw its sponsorship from Miss America and create its own rival competitions: Miss USA and Miss Universe. The inaugural Miss Universe pageant was held in Long Beach, California, with Armi Kuusela of Finland being crowned the first Miss Universe.Over the decades, ownership of the Miss Universe Organization has changed hands several times. Notably, American businessman Donald Trump purchased the pageant in 1996 and owned it until 2015. Following controversial remarks, he sold the organization to WME/IMG (now Endeavor). In October 2022, the Miss Universe Organization was acquired by JKN Global Group, a Thailand-based content and media conglomerate, making it the first non-American company to own the pageant.
Competition Format
The competition typically involves delegates from numerous countries and autonomous territories, each selected through national pageants in their respective regions. The international competition usually spans several weeks and includes:- Preliminary Competition: Contestants are judged in swimwear and evening gowns, along with a closed-door interview with the judges. Scores from this round determine the semi-finalists.
- Live Telecast: During the final live event, a select number of semi-finalists are announced. These contestants then compete in further rounds of swimwear, evening gown, and an interview question, gradually being narrowed down to a final few.
- Final Question and Crowning: The top finalists face a final question, after which judges cast their votes. A winner and usually two runners-up are then announced, with the reigning Miss Universe crowning her successor.
The winner of Miss Universe typically resides in New York City during her year-long reign. She undertakes extensive travel globally, advocating for various causes, participating in charitable events, and representing the Miss Universe Organization as a goodwill ambassador.
The Crown
The Miss Universe crown has seen several iterations throughout its history, with designs often reflecting cultural or symbolic themes. Notable crowns include:- Star of the Universe (1954–1960): A pearl and onyx design.
- Mikimoto Crown (2002–2007, 2017–2018): Designed by Mikimoto, featuring a phoenix rising motif composed of diamonds and South Sea pearls.
- Mouawad Power of Unity Crown (2019–present): Created by Mouawad, this crown features 1,770 diamonds and a large canary diamond, symbolizing unity and women's empowerment.