Miss Universe

Miss Universe is an international beauty contest. It was started in 1952 and today has over 190 countries taking part. About one billion people watch it on television every year.[1]

Miss Universe
Motto"Beautifully Confident"
FormationJune 28, 1952; 72 years ago (1952-06-28)
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersNew York City
Bangkok, Thailand
LocationUnited States
Official languagesEnglish
Key peopleJakkaphong Jakrajutatip (Owner)
Paula Shugart (President)
Amy Emmerich (CEO)
Parent organizationJKN Global Group
AffiliationsJKN Metaverse Inc.
BudgetUS$100 million (annually)
Websitewww.missuniverse.com

The competition was first shown on American national television in 1955. In 1960, the show moved from California to Florida. Until 1971, the competition was held in the United States, and since 1972 - every year in a new country.

The pageant is owned by WME and IMG, with Fox owning the rights to broadcast the pageant on television. Until 2015, it was owned by NBC and Donald Trump.[2] In 2015, Trump started his campaign for President of the United States and said he wanted to stop illegal immigrants from Mexico from coming into the US.[3] NBC then stopped working with him, and so Trump bought Miss Universe out, and sold it to its current owners a few days later.[4]

History

After winning the 1951 Miss America competition, Yolanda Betbese refused to pose in Catalina swimwear from Pacific Mills, sponsor of the competition. Because of this, in 1952 the company left the Miss America competition and organized an alternative national Miss USA competition, as well as an international Miss Universe competition.

Sponsored by the American airline Pan Am and the Universal Film Studio The Miss Universe pageant was first held on June 28, 1952 in Long Beach, California. At the beginning of its existence, it was intended to promote beach fashion: for a month, applicants advertised beach products.

The first winner of the Miss Universe title was 17-year-old Armi Kuusela from Finland. She was crowned with the wedding tiara of the Romanov dynasty. The competition was attended by girls from 30 countries.

Recent Winners

Year Country/Territory Winner Venue
2022   USA R'bonney Gabriel New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
2021   India Harnaaz Sandhu Eilat, Israel
2020   Mexico Andrea Meza Hollywood, Florida, United States
2019   South Africa Zozibini Tunzi Atlanta, Georgia, United States
2018   Philippines Catriona Gray Bangkok, Thailand
2017   South Africa Demi-Leigh Tebow Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Miss Universe Media

References

  1. "WME/IMG Acquires The Miss Universe Organization". Archived from the original on 2015-12-20.
  2. Prestigious Beauty Pageant (November 18, 2013). "Four Big Ships Dominate International Beauty Pageants". Prestigious Beauty Pageants. Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  3. Stanhope, Kate (2015-06-29). "NBC Cuts Ties With Donald Trump Over "Derogatory Statements," Pulls Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2015-06-30.
  4. "Trump Sells Miss Universe Organization to WME-IMG Talent Agency". The New York Times. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.

Other websites