Miss Universe

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Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest run by the Miss Universe Organization.[1]

The contest was founded in 1952 by California clothing company Pacific Mills. The pageant became part of Kayser-Roth and then Gulf and Western Industries, before being acquired by Donald Trump in 1996.[2][3]

Along with its rival contests — Miss World and Miss Earth — this pageant is one of the most publicized beauty contests in the world.[4][5] The current Miss Universe is Dayana Mendoza, from Venezuela.

Contents

[edit] History

Logo of the Miss Universe event.
Riyo Mori, Miss Universe 2007

The winner of the "Miss America 1951" pageant, Yolande Betbeze, refused to pose in a swimsuit from its major sponsor, Catalina swimwear. As a result, the brand's manufacturer Pacific Mills withdrew from Miss America and set up the Miss USA and Miss Universe contests. The first Miss Universe Pageant was held in Long Beach, California in 1952. It was won by Armi Kuusela from Finland, who gave up her title to get married to a Filipino tycoon, Virgilio Hilario, shortly before her year was complete. Until 1958 the Miss Universe title (like Miss America) was post-dated, so at the time Ms. Kuusela's title was Miss Universe 1953.

The pageant was first televised in 1955. CBS began nationally broadcasting the combined Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants from 1960 and, separately, from 1965. In 2003 NBC took over the television rights.

[edit] Competition formats

In the early years of the pageant, the delegates who made the cut were announced after the preliminary competition. From 1965 to the present day, the semi-finalists were not announced until the night of the main event. The semi-finalists once again competed in evening gown and swimsuit and a top 5 were announced. An interview portion was introduced in 1960 to decide the runners-up and winner.

From 1959 to 1964, there were slight format changes. In 1959 through 1963, there was no cut to 5 finalists; the runners-up and winners were called from the assembled 15 semi-finalists. In 1964, the top 15 became a top 10, and after a round of interview, the winner and runners-up were called from the 10 finalists.

In 1965, the pageant returned to the original format of a cut to 5 finalists, and remained so until 1989.

In 1969, a final question was posed to the last five contestants. The final question was an on-and-off feature of the pageant. In 1990, it had taken root and every pageant since, the final contestants have to answer a final question.

In 1990, the pageant implemented major format changes in the competition itself. Instead of five finalists, the field was reduced from 10 semi-finalists to 6. Each contestant then randomly selected a judge and answered the question posed by the judge. After that, the field was narrowed down further to a final 3. In 1998, the number of finalists was reduced to 5, although there still was a cut to a final 3. This continued to 2001, where the final 5 format was re-instated.

In 2000, the interview portion of the semi-finals was quietly dropped and the contestants once again, as in the early days of the pageant, competed only in swimsuit and gowns.

In 2003, the Top 15 was again selected instead of the Top 10. Cuts were made to make the Top 10, and eventually the Top 5. The final question varied, each coming from the final delegates themselves and the current Miss Universe.

In 2006, twenty semi-finalists were announced, with these delegates competing in the swimsuit competition. The number of competing delegates was then cut to ten, with those delegates competing in the evening gown competition. After that round of competition, the final five were announced, with the finalists competing in the "final question" or interview round. At the end of competition the runners-up were announced and the winner crowned by the outgoing queen.

In 2007 the format changed slightly with the top 15 moving to the swimsuit competition; from there, 10 selected contestants moved on to the evening gown competition where half were eliminated. The final five were competing in the "final question". At the end of competition the runners-up were announced an the winner crowned by the outgoing queen.

[edit] The contest today

Zuleyka Rivera, Miss Universe 2006
Natalie Glebova, Miss Universe 2005

The Miss Universe Organization, a New York-based partnership between NBC and Donald Trump, has run the contest since June 20, 2002. The current president is Paula Shugart. The Organization sells television rights to the pageant in other countries, and also produces the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA contests with the winner of Miss USA representing the USA in Miss Universe.

[edit] Candidate selection

Each year, bids are received by the Miss Universe organizers from organizations who wish to select the Miss Universe contestant for a country. This allows competition between different pageants to hold a country's license, as happened for Miss Italy and Miss France for example, when the licenses for their respective traditional organizations were revoked (the usual Miss France competition returned in 2004).

Usually a country's candidate selection involves pageants in major cities, with the winners competing in a national pageant, but this does not always occur. For example, in 2000 Australia's national pageant was abolished as a relic of a bygone era, with Australian delegates instead chosen by a modeling agency. Such "castings" are generally discouraged by the Miss Universe Organization, which prefers national pageants that preserve an aura of respectability and competition. Despite being "cast", Miss Australia, Jennifer Hawkins, was chosen as Miss Universe 2004. Later that year, Australia resumed its national pageant and chose Michelle Guy as Miss Universe Australia 2005.

Some of the most successful national pageants in the last decade have been Venezuela, USA, Puerto Rico, etc which command consistently high interest and television ratings in their respective countries.[6] Recent arrivals in the pageant include China (2002), Albania (2002), Vietnam (2004), Georgia (2004), Ethiopia (2004), Latvia (2005), Kazakhstan (2006), Tanzania (2007) and Kosovo (2008); there have also been efforts to revive strong national pageants in South Africa, Canada, Spain, Japan, Colombia; Latin America among other regions. Prior powerhouses are Finland, Germany and Sweden. England is the most successfull non-winning country with nine Top 5 positions.

There are continually efforts to expand the pageant, but the participation of some countries such as Algeria has proven difficult due to cultural barriers to the swimsuit competition, while others such as Mozambique, Armenia and Nepal have balked at sending representatives due to the cost (in fact, of all the major international pageants, the franchise fee for Miss Universe is the most expensive). As of 2007, only four countries have been present at every Miss Universe since its inception in 1952: Canada, France, Germany, and the United States. Many European countries allow 17-year-old contestants to compete in their pageants, while Miss Universe's minimum age is 18, so national titleholders often have to be replaced by their runners-up. Miss Universe also prohibits transsexual applicants and age fabrication.

[edit] Main pageant

Jennifer Hawkins, Miss Universe 2004

The main Miss Universe Pageant, as of now, is held over a two week period in May and July. In the 1970s through the 1990s, the pageant was a month long. This allowed time for rehearsals, appearances, and the preliminary competition, with the winner being crowned by the previous year's titleholder during the final competition.

According to the organizers, the Miss Universe contest is more than a beauty pageant: women aspiring to become Miss Universe must be intelligent, well-mannered, and cultured. Often a candidate has lost because she did not have a good answer during the question responses rounds; although this section of competition has held less importance during recent pageants than it did in the twentieth century. Delegates also participate in swimsuit and evening gown competitions.

Currently, the final placement of the finalists is determined by a ranked vote, where each judge ranks each of the final three/five candidates, with the contestant posting the lowest cumulative score becoming the winner. If there is a tie, which often happens when there are even members of the jury, the higher semifinal scores become decisive.

The winner is assigned a one-year contract with the Miss Universe Organization, going overseas to spread messages about the control of diseases, peace, and public awareness of AIDS. Since Donald Trump took over the pageant, the winner has been given the use of a Trump Tower apartment in New York City for use during her reign.

Aside from the main winner and her runners-up, special awards are also awarded to the winners of the best National Costume, Miss Photogenic, and Miss Congeniality. Miss Congeniality is chosen by the delegates themselves. In recent years, Miss Photogenic has been chosen by popular internet vote (the winner used to be chosen by media personnel covering the event).

[edit] Final judgment

The competition for the Miss Universe title has seen many changes, although there have been several constants throughout its history. All the contestants compete in a preliminary round of judging (nowadays called the "Presentation Show") where the field is narrowed to a select number of semi-finalists. This number has fluctuated over the years. The very first Miss Universe pageant had ten semi-finalists. The next two years, the number of semi-finalists grew to 16. In 1955, the number dropped to a stable 15, which remained through 1970. In 1971, the number was reduced to 12. That number was further reduced to a mere 10 in 1984. This lasted until 20012, when the number of 15 was re-instated. In 2006, there were 20 semi-finalists, the highest number ever. In 2007, the Organization announced the Top 15 system will be back, which is also used in 2008.

In the early years, the contestants were judged in swimsuit and evening gown only. In later years, the contestants also competed in a preliminary interview round in a one-on-one meeting with each individual judge.

In 2007, 77 contestants started the competition; the top 15 moving to the swimsuit competition. From there, 10 were selected for the evening gown competition which halved the contenders to 5. These final five then answered a final question to decide the winner.

[edit] Crown

The Miss Universe crown used from 2002–2007 was designed by Mikimoto, the official jewellery sponsor of the Miss Universe Organization, and depicted the phoenix rising, signifying status, power and beauty. The crown has 500 diamonds of almost 30 carats (6.0 g), 120 South Sea and Akoya pearls, ranging in size from 3 to 18 mm diameter and is valued at $250,000. The Crown was designed specifically for the pageant on Mikimoto Pearl Island in Japan with the Mikimoto crown and tiara being first used for Miss Universe 2002.[7]

For Miss Universe 2008 a new crown was unveiled. Valued at $120,000, it is made of 18K white and yellow gold. It is composed of over 1,000 precious stones; including 555 white diamonds (30 carats (6.0 g)), 375 cognac diamonds (14 carats (2.8 g)), 10 smoky quartz crystals (20 carats (4.0 g)) and 19 morganite gemstones (60 carats (12 g)). The colors of the jewels chosen for the crown have great significance. The yellow luster of the gold represents the prosperous thriving economy in Vietnam. White, light pink and cognac are the main hues in the crown which represent inspiration and feeling. Each piece of the crown was designed to represent an important attribute of the Miss Universe Pageant. The curves of inlaid precious stones represent the strong development and potential of each country. The image of the crane (Lac Bird) symbolizes Vietnamese spirit and culture. The image of the heart represents unified breath, rhythm and vision, which are powerful internal forces that stress faith, hope and unity. But this Vietnamese crown will only be a gift to the 57th Miss Universe - Dayana Mendoza.[8]

[edit] Musical score

2004 marked the first year for the Miss Universe pageant to use the Orenté musical score, the official Miss Universe soundtrack. The Orenté musical score is divided into eight sequences: the Orenté Introduction — the musical score played during the live-telecast as the voice over begins the Miss Universe pageant, the Orenté Major — used for the cue after commercial and during the announcement of the newly-crowned Miss Universe, the Orenté Elimination — used for the announcement of semi-finalists, the Orenté Fashion Presentation, the Orenté Interlude — used while showing the ten finalists, the Orenté Pregunta Final — used while the final five finalists answer the final question the Orenté Final Look — used for the final look of the five finalists, and the Orenté Announcement — used while announcing the positions of the final five delegates. In 2008, a new Orenté Fashion Presentation was played during the Fadil Berisha swimsuit photoshoot, the 2007 version was now the called the Orenté Curtain Call, which was used as Melanie B and Jerry Springer called out the delegates just before they made the first cut, making the Orenté musical score divided into nine sequences.

[edit] Recent titleholders

Further information: List of Miss Universe titleholders
Year Country/Territory Miss Universe National title Location
2009 TBA TBA TBA Nassau, Bahamas
2008  Venezuela Dayana Mendoza Miss Venezuela Nha Trang, Vietnam
2007  Japan Riyo Mori Miss Universe Japan Mexico City, Mexico
2006  Puerto Rico Zuleyka Rivera Miss Puerto Rico Universe Los Angeles, USA
2005  Canada Natalie Glebova Miss Universe Canada Bangkok, Thailand
2004  Australia Jennifer Hawkins Miss Universe Australia Quito, Ecuador
2003  Dominican Republic Amelia Vega Miss Dominican Republic Panama City, Panama
2002  Russia Oxana Fedorova (Dethroned) Miss Russia San Juan, Puerto Rico
 Panama Justine Pasek Señorita Panamá
2001  Puerto Rico Denise Quiñones Miss Puerto Rico Universe Bayamón, Puerto Rico
2000  India Lara Dutta Femina Miss India Nicosia, Cyprus
1999  Botswana Mpule Kwelagobe Miss Universe Botswana Chaguaramas, Trinidad & Tobago

[edit] Hosts and invited artists

The following is a list of finals hosts and invited artists of the previous ten years. See List of Miss Universe hosts and invited artists for the full list of hosts and invited artists.
Year Masters of Ceremonies Color Commentators Special Musical Guests
2009 Billy Bush and Claudia Jordan TBA TBA
2008 Jerry Springer and Melanie Brown None Lady Gaga and music by Mika and Robin Thicke
2007 Vanessa Minnillo and Mario Lopez None RBD and music by Nelly Furtado and Sean Paul
2006 Carlos Ponce and Nancy O'Dell Shandi Finnessey and Carson Kressley Chelo and Vittorio Grigolo
2005 Billy Bush and Nancy O'Dell None None
2004 Billy Bush and Daisy Fuentes None Gloria Estefan
2003 Billy Bush and Daisy Fuentes None Bond and Chayanne
2002 Phil Simms and Daisy Fuentes Brook Mahealani Lee Marc Anthony
2001 Elle Macpherson and Naomi Campbell Brook Mahealani Lee and Todd Newton Ricky Martin and La Ley
2000 Sinbad Julie Moran and Ali Landry Elvis Crespo, Montell Jordan, Dave Koz and Anna Vissi

[edit] "League tables"

Map of Miss Universe-winning countries and territories as of 2008; including Russia, who was dethroned after four months

[edit] By number of wins

Country/Territory Titles Winning years
 USA 7 1954, 1956, 1960, 1967, 1980, 1995, 1997
 Venezuela 5 1979, 1981, 1986, 1996, 2008
 Puerto Rico 1970, 1985, 1993, 2001, 2006
 Sweden 3 1955, 1966, 1984
 Japan 2 1959, 2007
 Canada 1982, 2005
 Australia 1972, 2004
 India 1994, 2000
 Trinidad & Tobago 1977, 1998
 Thailand 1965, 1988
 Finland 1952, 1975
 Philippines 1969, 1973
 Brazil 1963, 1968
 Dominican Republic 1 2003
 Panama 2002 (Inherited crown after Russia was dethroned)
 Russia 2002 (Dethroned on September 23, 2002)
 Botswana 1999
 Namibia 1992
 Mexico 1991
 Norway 1990
 Netherlands 1989
 Chile 1987
 New Zealand 1983
 South Africa 1978
 Israel 1976
 Spain 1974
 Lebanon 1971
 Greece 1964
 Argentina 1962
 Germany 1961
 Colombia 1958
 Peru 1957
 France 1953

Source:[9][10]

[edit] By country tally

Anyone who follows the Olympic Games or other sporting events will be familiar with the concept of the Medal Table, which ranks countries based on their first (gold), second (silver) and third (bronze) place finishes. Below is a similar table of the top rankings for the Miss Universe pageant, based on all results from the first event in 1952 to the most recent competition in 2008. Note that, from 1990 to 2000, there was only a "Top 3" with the third and fourth runner-ups positions eliminated.[11]

Rank Country/Territory Miss Universe 1st Runner-Up 2nd Runner-Up 3rd Runner-Up 4th Runner-Up Total Semifinalists
1  USA 7 8 6 1 5 27 53
2  Venezuela 5 6 5 4 2 22 35
3  Puerto Rico 5 1 2 1 1 10 16
4  Sweden 3 1 2 3 4 13 28
5  Brazil 2 5 0 2 3 12 29
6  Finland 2 3 5 1 1 12 18
7  Australia 2 1 2 0 2 7 12
8  Japan 2 1 1 2 3 9 18
9  India 2 1 1 1 1 6 19
10  Canada 2 1 1 0 0 4 16

[edit] Trivia and statistics

 Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (June 2009)

[edit] Scores

  • Electronic voting was introduced to television viewers in 1978 when the pageant was held in Acapulco, Mexico: for the first time in a televised pageant, the audience got to see how the judges voted. The pageant still uses a computer voting system. There is a team of three people who install, maintain, and operate the voting system. They sit somewhere in the audience area with a view of the stage, usually just in front of the accountants. They are listed in credits as “Computer Score Operators”. The same system is used for Miss Teen USA and Miss USA.

[edit] Locations

For the full list of venues, see List of Miss Universe winners and venues.
  • Miss Universe was first held outside of U.S. territory when it held the pageant in Athens, Greece, for the Miss Universe 1973 pageant.

[edit] Competing states

See also: List of Miss Universe countries
  • The United States has performed the best throughout the pageant's entire history, with seven winners, eight first runners-up, six second runners-up, one third runner-up, five fourth runners-up, six finalists, and seventeen semi-finalists. Miss USA has missed the semi-finals only three times: 1976 (Barbara Peterson, from Minnesota), 1999 (Kimberly Pressler, from New York), and 2002 (Shauntay Hinton, from District of Columbia). In 1957, Leona Gage, from Maryland, was disqualified from the semi-finals after it was revealed that she was married and a mother.
  • After the USA, Venezuela is the next most successful nation in terms of overall placements in the semi-finals (34); it is followed in turn by Brazil (29), Colombia and Sweden (both 28), Germany (21), Israel (20), England and India (both 19), Finland and Greece (both 18), Japan and Norway (both 17), Canada, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico and South Africa (16 each). Of these countries, only England has yet to win the contest.
  • The United States has been the most successful nation to compete in Miss Universe in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Venezuela has been most successful in the 1990s and 2000s.[12]
  • The nations that have competed every single year of competition (from 1952 to date) are Canada, France, Germany, and the USA. Sweden lost this distinction when it failed to send a contestant in 2005. Israel missed the pageant in 1953, while Greece was absent in 1988 (its delegate withdrew because of illness).
  • Before becoming states in 1959, Alaska and Hawaii both sent delegates to the pageant during the 1950s. In fact, Miss Hawaii was 1st runner-up in 1952 and 2nd runner-up in 1958 (before winning Miss Universe as Miss USA in 1997), while Miss Alaska reached the semi-finals in 1957.
  • After the USA, Venezuela ranked second in terms of consecutive placements in the semi-finals: 21 years, from 1983 to 2003, nearly beating the United States' 22-year streak between 1977–1998. Of those 21 years, 13 times in a row Venezuela made the top 6 or higher (1991–2003).
  • Other than the USA and Venezuela, the countries that have made the semi-finals the most in a row are India (who in recent years has emerged as a pageant powerhouse) with 11 (1992–2002) consecutive placements; Germany with ten (1952 to 1961); and Finland with 8 (1962–1969). Now that record belongs to USA, which delegates have placed consecutively in the semifinals the last six years (2003–2008). México has done it the last 5 years (2004–2008).
  • Colombia had three first runner-up placements in a row (1992–1994) a streak that has been unparalleled in competition history. However, Venezuela had 3 in four years (1997, 1998 and 2000).
  • Finland has had the most consecutive runners-up. For five years, from 1965 to 1969, its delegates placed among the five finalists without interruption (1965: Virpi Miettinen, first runner-up, 1966: Satu Östring, first runner-up, 1967: Ritva Lehto, third runner-up, 1968: Leena Brusiin, second runner-up, and 1969: Harriet Eriksson, first runner-up).
  • Both Puerto Rico and Venezuela have had at least one winner in each of the last four decades, the only two nations/territories to accomplish this feat.
    • Puerto Rico: Marisol Malaret in the 70s (1970), Deborah Carthy-Deu in the 80s (1985), Dayanara Torres in the 90s (1993), and Denise Quiñones (2001) & Zuleyka Rivera (2006) in the 2000s.
    • Venezuela: Maritza Sayalero in the 70s (1979), Irene Sáez (1981) & Bárbara Palacios Teyde (1986) in the 80s, Alicia Machado in the 90s (1996), and Dayana Mendoza in the 2000s (2008).

[edit] Delegates

  • Miss Universe 1955, Hillevi Rombin of Sweden, is the only deceased Miss Universe title holder since the pageant's inception. She was also the first winner to witness her victory being aired on television.
  • Miss Universe 1957, Gladys Zender from Peru was the youngest Miss Universe in history. She was 17 when she won the title.
  • At 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m) tall, Miss Thailand 1965, Apasra Hongsakula was the shortest Miss Universe ever crowned.
  • In 1957, Miss USA Mary Leona Gage was disqualified for being married and a mother, though she had qualified for the semi-finals. She was replaced by Miss Argentina, Mónica Lamas.
  • Miss Haiti, Evelyn Miot, became the first black woman to make it to the semi-finals in 1962.
  • Trinidad & Tobago's Janelle Commissiong became the first woman of black descent to be crowned Miss Universe, in 1977 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The first black African to win Miss Universe was Mpule Kwelagobe, of Botswana, crowned in 1999 at Chaguaramas, Trinidad & Tobago.
  • Only once have black women won Miss Universe in succession. Wendy Fitzwilliam of Trinidad & Tobago won the title in 1998, followed by Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana in 1999.
  • Andrea Stelzer was Miss South Africa in 1985, but pulled out of Miss Universe because of anti-apartheid demonstrations. She competed in 1989 as Miss Germany, and was a top 10 semi-finalist.
  • 2002's winner, Oxana Fedorova of Russia, became the first Miss Universe who officially did not finish her reign, making first runner-up Justine Pasek the first Panamanian to hold the title. Fedorova was crowned in Puerto Rico in mid-May, and was replaced by Pasek in late September. It is unclear whether Fedorova was fired for failure to perform her duties (the official version), or chose to resign because she had not expected the heavy workload.
  • The strong rivalry between Puerto Rico and Venezuela is so well-known in Latin-American popular culture, that their struggle has been immortalized in several Spanish-language television commercials in the United States for such companies as MasterCard and Budweiser. In the latter, former Miss Universe winners Dayanara Torres of Puerto Rico and Alicia Machado of Venezuela caused mayhem in a sports bar as they competed to win the admiration of the men present.
  • A new trend of delegates representing countries they were not born in has developed. Miss Universe 2002 Justine Pasek was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, where her Panamanian mother was completing her University studies. Miss Israel 2005, Elena Ralph was also born in Ukraine and moved to Israel when she was 18 years old. The most famous country-swapper was probably Natascha Börger. After placing 12th in the 2000 Venezuelan pageant she moved to Germany where she easily won the crown of Miss Deutschland 2002. Other notable contestants who represented countries other than their birth place include the Miss Universe Canada and Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova who is Russian by birth, Miss Universe Canada 2006 Alice Panikian who is Bulgarian by birth, Miss Germany Universe 2006 Natalie Ackermann who is Colombian by birth, and Venezuelan born Francys Sudnicka representing Poland. Such is also reflected in the growing number of delegates from different parts of the world being sent to a third country (almost always Latin American) for further training before going on to the host country and compete in the pageant proper.
  • In 1999, Botswana sent Mpule Kwelagobe as its first ever delegate to the pageant and she won.
  • In 2007, Riyo Mori of Japan was crowned in Mexico City, Mexico in another controversial competition. All ten finalists were brunettes. When Miss Mexico failed to make the final cut, the crowd loudly booed Miss USA who did pass despite falling over in the evening gown competition.

[edit] Winners

  • In an interesting and quite original break from tradition, Miss Universe 1998, Wendy Fitzwilliam of Trinidad and Tobago, did her final walk in 1999 to her very own recording, a cover of Sade's Kiss of Life instead of to a pre-recorded message or being interviewed by the host. [13]
  • Natalie Glebova of Canada, Miss Universe 2005 reigned for the longest period in Miss Universe history: one year and 53 days (almost 2 months) from the time she was crowned on May 31, 2005 in Bangkok, Thailand. Riyo Mori of Japan, Miss Universe 2007 reigned for almost the same length: one year and 45 days from the time she was crowned on May 28, 2007 in Mexico City, Mexico.
  • Miss Universe 2000, Lara Dutta's (India) finalist interview was the highest individual score in any category in the history of the Miss Universe contest, as her perfect interview saw a majority of the judges giving her the maximum 9.99 mark.
  • Highest Televised Scores in the Semi-Finals:
Evening Gown competition - 9.897 by Carolina Gómez of Colombia in 1994.
Swimsuit competition - 9.88 by Oxana Fedorova of Russia in 2002.
Interview competition - 9.954 by Lara Dutta of India in 2000.
  • The largest interval between a nation winning Miss Universe (at present) is Japan; Akiko Kojima won the title in 1959 and, 48 years later, Riyo Mori became the second recipient from Japan. The shortest gap is two years; USA won in 1954 and 1956, then in 1995 and 1997 and Venezuela won in 1979 and 1981. Curiously, between the Venezuelan triumphs of 1979 and 1981, the winner was from the USA, and between the two USA wins in 1995 and 1997, the winner was from Venezuela. Until now, the same country winning twice in a row is unlikely, though countries such as India (1995) and Venezuela (1997) were 1st runners-up the year after they won.

[edit] Awards

Further information: Miss Universe special awards
  • The Philippines has won the Miss Photogenic award seven times (including a back-to-back and a three-peat), followed by the UK and Puerto Rico, both with five. Puerto Rico won its five awards during a six-year period (1999–2004, did not win in 2000).
  • Colombia has won the Best National Costume Award six times.
  • Guam has won the Miss Congeniality award four times.
  • No Miss Congeniality has ever gone on to win Miss Universe. The closest was Miss El Salvador 1955, who was 1st runner-up.
  • The only Miss Universe to win three other awards on pageant night was Denise Quiñones (Puerto Rico), who in 2001 also won Miss Photogenic, Bluepoint Swimsuit Award, and Clairol Best Style Award.
  • Four Miss Universe winners were awarded Miss Photogenic: Margareta Arvidsson (Sweden, 1966), Margarita Moran (Philippines, 1973), Janelle Commissiong (Trinidad/Tobago, 1977) and Denise Quiñones (Puerto Rico, 2001)
  • Three titleholders have also won Best National Costume: Porntip Nakhirunkanok (Thailand, 1988), Wendy Fitzwilliams (Trinidad/Tobago, 1998) and Amelia Vega (Dominican Republic, 2003)

[edit] The Miss Universe Creed

From 1960 to 1990, the Miss Universe Creed was read at each pageant:

"We, the young women of the universe, believe people everywhere are seeking peace, tolerance and mutual understanding. We pledge to spread this message in every way we can, wherever we go."

[edit] Pageant Controversies

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  • Armi Kuusela of Finland was the first titleholder, Miss Universe 1952. Just a month before her reign ended in 1953, she resigned to marry Filipino businessman Virgilio Hilario. Although she became the first international beauty queen to voluntarily relinquish her crown, she was allowed to retain her title by pageant organizers.
  • At Miss Universe 1964, Edna Park, Nigeria's first delegate to the pageant, had written in her diary that she entered the contest to "win the crown." She collapsed after not hearing her name in the semi-finalists roster.
  • Just prior to the Miss Universe 1966 pageant, representatives from five Latin American countries (Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay, Venezuela and Brazil) gave a press conference and complained that they "are the nothings of the contest" and claimed that European girls got preferential treatment. Their prophetic complaint seemed to have affirmed itself when Miss Sweden Margareta Arvidsson won the pageant a few days later.
  • At the Miss Universe 1969 pageant, Miss Austria Eva von Rueber-Staier, who ended up as a semi-finalist, created a stir when she referred to Communist China's strongman Mao Tse-tung as "the greatest historical figure in the world" in response to a written questionnaire.
  • Miss Universe 1971 Georgina Rizk of Lebanon announced prior to the crowning of Miss Universe 1972 that she would not attend the pageant in Puerto Rico as she feared potential reprisals after the killing of Puerto Rican pilgrims in Israel earlier that year. The killers were alleged to have been trained in Lebanese camps. Miss Universe 1970 and a native of Puerto Rico, Marisol Malaret substituted for Georgina.
  • In a controversial interview shortly after winning the pageant, Miss Universe 1973 Margarita Moran of the Philippines praised U.S. president Richard Nixon as "the greatest man on Earth." Ms. Moran made this declaration despite revelations that Nixon had a role in the Watergate cover-up that was made clear during the Watergate hearings in the summer of 1973. Ms. Moran promptly received a letter from Nixon thanking her for her "thoughtful comment on my efforts to bring peace in the world."
  • In preparation for Miss Universe 1974 in Manila, Imelda Marcos, wife of Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos, hastily orders the construction of a new 10,000-seat amphitheater, the Folk Arts Theater. Because of the prosperity of the Philippines, the theater was completed in a record 77 days. Imelda's critics claimed she used millions of dollars in public funds that would have been better spent for the poor. Just days before the pageant, when a cyclone threatened to cancel the event altogether, Mrs. Marcos deploys the Philippine airforce to seed the clouds and diffuse the tropical storm. Her efforts succeeded and the pageant was held under clear blue skies.
  • After winning the Miss Universe crown in 1974 Amparo Muñoz of Spain, relinquished her title six months into her reign. The first runner-up Miss Wales Helen Morgan became ineligible to succeed her because by then Ms. Morgan had won the Miss World 1974 pageant (where she represented the United Kingdom). By a twist of fate, Ms. Morgan ended up relinquishing the Miss World title several days into her reign when it was revealed she was an unmarried mother. With the resignation of Amparo Munoz and with Helen Morgan deemed ineligible to succeed her, it was unclear why the title was not offered to the 2nd runner-up (also Miss Photogenic), Miss Finland Johanna Raunio, a crowd-favorite at the pageant.
  • Absent of an active titleholder to pass on the crown at the Miss Universe 1975 pageant, the Miss Universe organizers asked Kerry Anne Wells, Miss Universe 1972, to crown the new Miss Universe held that year in San Salvador, El Salvador. The controversy surrounding the Munoz/Morgan/Raunio debacle the previous year (see previous bullet) was finally put to rest that evening when a stunning blonde beauty won the pageant—Miss Finland Anne Marie Pohtamo.
  • In Perth, Australia, barely a few minutes after being crowned as Miss Universe 1979, Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela heard hysterical screams around her. The back of the stage designed to hold 75 people collapsed after a surge of 200 reporters and photographers descended onstage. A section of the stage had collapsed bringing with it the candidates from Malta, the Philippines, England, Brazil and other contestants, along with many reporters and photographers down a 6-foot deep crater caused by weak stage support beams.
  • At the Miss Universe 1982 pageant, controversy arose with the naming of Miss Guam Patty Kerkos as runner-up to Karen Baldwin of Canada. Most vocal was Italy's Cinzia Fiordeponti, the 2nd runner-up. “I deserved to be first runner-up!” Cinzia emphasized.
  • In 1987, 20-year pageant host (1967 to 1987), Bob Barker, requested the removal of fur prizes from the pageant. When the pageant refused his request, Mr. Barker, an animal rights proponent, stepped down as host making his last hosting appearance in Singapore at the Miss Universe 1987 pageant.
  • Miss Universe 1987 Cecilia Bolocco of Chile gained notoriety when she ends up marrying former Argentine president Carlos Menem in 2001. The marriage ended in divorce in 2007. That same year, Ms. Bolocco made tabloid headlines again when she was caught on camera in her Miami residence, topless and in explicit erotic poses with Luciano Marocchino, a wealthy Italian businessman.
  • Miss Universe 1996, Alicia Machado, of Venezuela, was warned by the organization because she exceeded the maximum weight required during her reign, but the requirement was not enforced.[citation needed]
  • At the Miss Universe 1999 pageant, Miss Guam Trisha Heflin was disqualified from the pageant for being pregnant, a report initially denied by officials in Guam. Miss Botswana Mpule Kwelagobe's final question on the night of the live telecast was whether she thought a Miss Universe who became pregnant should be allowed to continue her reign, to which she enthusiastically responded that a pregnant Miss Universe should not relinquish her crown, but instead " should celebrate her femininity!". Her frank, effortless and spontaneous answer to this controversial question that stumped the two other finalists (Philippines and Spain) would meet with the approval of the audience, as evidenced by the applause she received, and would earn her the title that night.[14]
  • At the Miss Universe 2007 pageant, when the event was again held in Mexico. Miss USA Rachel Smith received the same treatment as her 1993 predecessor. During the evening gown portion of the pageant, Smith's dress got caught up in her high-heeled shoes causing her to fall onstage. Despite the fall, Ms. Smith was called as one of the top five finalists. The largely Mexican audience erupted in loud boos when they realized that Miss Mexico was declined a spot in the final five.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Washington Post: Trump and Rosie Argue Over Miss USA
  2. ^ Miss Universe Pageant Defends Credibility Amid Criticism Show is Degrading, Unprofessional
  3. ^ Channel-i to telecast Miss Universe 2004 live!
  4. ^ Singapore must not give up its 59 seconds of fame
  5. ^ Tracing the regal existence of ‘Miss Universe’
  6. ^ Grand Slam Ranking - last updated on December 2, 2007 of Global Beauties
  7. ^ The Miss Universe Mikimoto Crown
  8. ^ Miss Universe - CAO FINE JEWELRY WILL CREATE THIS YEAR'S COVETED MISS UNIVERSE CROWN: World Renowned Vietnamese Brand PNJ to Unveil Unique Crown for the 2008 Miss Universe Competition
  9. ^ Pageantopolis - Miss Universe
  10. ^ Miss Universe - History and List of titleholders
  11. ^ WHO HAS THE MOST MISS UNIVERSES?
  12. ^ Pageant Almanac - Miss Universe - Ranking
  13. ^ http://www.beautyinpageants.blogspot.com/2008/08/1999-miss-universe-in-trinidad-and.html
  14. ^ A jewel from diamond country

[edit] External links

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