Miss Universe

The Miss Universe beauty contest has been held since 1952 (not to be confused with the similar Miss World). Founded by California clothing company Pacific Mills to showcase its Catalina swimwear brand, it became part of Kayser-Roth and then Gulf and Western Industries. In 1996 Donald Trump acquired ownership of the pageant, then being broadcast by CBS; in 2003 the television rights went to NBC.

History

The first winner in 1952 was Armi Kuusela from Finland, who married a wealthy Filipino businessman from the famous Hilario clan of Manila (The first Miss Asia, from Malaysia, and first Miss International, from Colombia, also married Filipinos!). Interestingly, the Miss Universe title was post-dated until 1958, which explains why in pictures Ms. Kuusela's sash reads "Miss Universe 1953."

Related Topics:
Armi Kuusela - Finland

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As of the 2005 contest, there have been 7 American, 4 Puerto Rican, 4 Venezuela, and 3 Swedish Misses Universe. Many other countries have won the contest once or twice.

Related Topics:
2005 - American - Puerto Rican - Venezuela - Swedish

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Irene Sáez, Miss Universe 1981, ran for President of Venezuela in 1998, losing to Hugo Chávez. In 1992 she was elected mayor of Chacao. While mayor, she gained some notoriety by banning overly passionate kissing in public parks. In 1999 she became governor of Margarita Island.

Related Topics:
Irene Sáez - 1981 - Venezuela - Hugo Chávez - 1992 - 1999

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Yet another Miss Universe, 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 of Panama the first Panamanian ever to hold the title.

Related Topics:
2002 - Oxana Fedorova - Russia - Justine Pasek - Panama

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Miss Universe is the number one running beauty pageant organization in the world apart from Miss World, which belongs to UK, and Miss Earth (recently started in 2001). The Miss Universe Organization is based in New York. This organization is responsible for the complete coverage and as well as organization of the pageant every year either in May or June, which is sold to numerous TV channel partners globally. As the organization is jointly owned and governed by Donald Trump and American TV channel partner, NBC (National Broadcasting Corporation), its current president, Paula Shugart is responsible for the management of the Miss Universe Organization. The Miss Universe Pageant was first held in Long Beach, California, USA in 1952

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The Miss Universe pageant, as already mentioned, is held annually in May or June and requires months of preparation before the actual pageant is actually held in either the USA or outside the USA. Bids are received by the pageant organizers from countries who wish to host the beauty pageant. The most popular national pageants held are the Miss USA, again owned by the Miss Universe Organization, Femina Miss India, Miss Peru and Miss Venezuela.

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To be eligible to participate in the Miss Universe pageant, a country must have a contest, from which a representative is chosen to host that particular nation in the Miss Universe Pageant. More than 80-90 representative nations participate and contest for the most heavily watched beauty pageant in the world today. The pageant is very popularly seen in South America, Latin America, the USA, UK, Southeast Asia and India.

Related Topics:
South America - Latin America - USA - UK - India

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As a new contestant every year becomes Miss Universe, the previous years' titleholder crowns the present winner. The winner is assigned a contract with the Miss Universe Organization for one year. Miss Universe travels to several countries on her agenda and spreads messages on the control of diseases, peace and also public awareness about AIDS to people in the world.

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Miss USA holds the first position in the titleholders list of the most number of times a contestant from the country has been crowned Miss Universe. Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Venezuela are tied for second in the race for the position of the most number of representatives crowned Miss Universe. Another two nations, India and Sweden have also have achieved accolades on having earned the most number of representatives in the semi-finals of the Miss Universe pageant history. But, India has had two winners while Sweden has had three winners.

Related Topics:
Miss Puerto Rico - Miss Venezuela

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The latest Miss Universe Pageant was held in Bangkok, Thailand on May 31 2005 in order to help the tsunami struck nation to win its tourists back to the area. China and Chile also placed their bids but failed to host the contest.

Related Topics:
Bangkok - May 31 - 2005

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Miss Canada, Natalie Glebova is the new Miss Universe 2005. She was crowned Miss Universe by former Miss Universe 2004, Jennifer Hawkins of Australia at Bangkok, Thailand. Miss Puerto Rico was first runner up while Miss Dominican Republic was the second runner up. The contest may be held in Uruguay, Brazil or China in 2006. Thailand's governement also is possibly going to bid for the 2006 Miss Universe.

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