As an expert pageant coach, I help contestants identify their strengths and choose pageants that match those qualities. A couple months ago, I highlighted the Miss America organization system. This week we’ll turn our attention to the MISS UNIVERSE system.
The titleholders of these three pageants tend to gravitate towards the modeling, TV and movie industry. Once they are crowned, they move immediately into their New York City apartment and spend the year traveling, making appearances at numerous fund raising events and attending fashion galas for a year.
The MISS USA®, MISS UNIVERSE® and MISS TEEN USA® are all owned by the same organization. To find your state website and pageant, use the search engines and type in Miss Teen Ohio USA or Miss Ohio USA, for example. Each state pageant is independently owned and produced by different directors. The state preliminary pageants start as early as September and go until January. In most states, the Teen and Miss pageants are held the same weekend.
Contestants are judged in three equal categories consisting of Personal Interview, Swimsuit, and Evening Wear. Performing a talent is not a requirement.
The national website for all three is http://www.missuniverse.com. The below information was taken from the official website for informational purposes only. For the most up-to-date information and more specific details, please contact and speak with the state director of the state in which you reside.
HOW OLD ARE THE COMPETITIONS?
The Miss Universe and Miss USA competitions began as concurrent events in 1952 in Long Beach, California. Miss Teen USA made its debut in 1983 in Lakeland, Florida.
ARE THESE COMPETITIONS SEPARATE FROM THE MISS AMERICA PAGEANT?
Yes. In 1952, Catalina Swimsuits, formerly a Miss America sponsor, founded Miss Universe and Miss USA in Long Beach, California as product promotion. Although some women compete in both Miss USA and Miss America, the two systems are completely separate. Miss USA goes on to represent her country at the Miss Universe competition.
ARE THE PAGEANTS HELD IN A DIFFERENT PLACE EACH YEAR?
Now they are. When they were initiated, the Miss Universe and Miss USA competitions were held in Long Beach, California. Eight years later in 1960, the two competitions moved to Miami Beach, Florida, where they remained until 1971. Since 1972, they have been separate live television specials that are telecast from different locations around the country and the globe.
Miss USA 2010 Winner
Miss Michigan Rima Fakih
HOW ARE THE SITES CHOSEN?
The Miss Universe Organization works throughout the year with private enterprise, State and City government officials and, in the case of the Miss Universe competition, with foreign governments to establish the Host Site for each production. The city or country offering the optimal venue and support to the organization is chosen.
HOW MANY WOMEN COMPETE?
In the case of Miss Universe, between 75 and 85 countries send a candidate to compete. For Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, 51 contestants participate in the competition.
ARE THERE AGE REQUIREMENTS?
Yes. Miss Universe and Miss USA contestants must be at least 18 years of age and under 27 years of age by February 1st in the year they compete in the national competition. Miss Teen USA candidates must be at least 14 and under 19 years of age by February 1st in the year they compete in the national competition.
CAN A DELEGATE COMPETE MORE THAN ONCE?
Contestants may compete more than once in the preliminary (state) competition but may only compete in Miss Universe and Miss USA once. Miss Teen USA may compete in Miss USA but only after her reign has ended and after she has reclaimed her state title.
ARE CONTESTANTS REQUIRED TO HAVE A COACH?
No. While some feel more prepared when they work with an experienced person who can give them tips on competition, many women have won titles without any outside training. Candidates also turn to their state and national directors for assistance as the directors are experienced in providing effective counsel about the competition. Generally, state and national directors provide contestants with the confidence and experience needed to compete.
CAN CONTESTANTS BE MARRIED?
No. contestants may not be married or pregnant. They must not have ever been married, not had a marriage annulled nor given birth to a child. The titleholders are also required to remain single throughout their reign.
HOW DO CONTESTANTS GET TO THE NATIONAL COMPETITION?
For Miss USA and Miss Teen USA some cities and all states have preliminary competitions, which are produced by local and state directors. The winner of the city competition goes on to compete in the state event for her home city; state winners go on to the national competition. However, a delegate may enter a state competition without having won a city title. Miss Universe contestants must win their respective competitions to compete in the contest. In the case of the United States, Miss USA goes on to represent the United States at the Miss Universe pageant.
WHEN ARE THE COMPETITIONS HELD?
Miss USA is always the first event of the year and is generally held in February or March. Miss Universe follows in the Spring, with Miss Teen USA held at the end of Summer.
WHO TELEVISES THE COMPETITIONS?
NBC Universal broadcasts the Miss USA and Miss Universe competitions live during prime time in the United States. NBC Universal distributes the shows to international markets (approximately 170 countries). The three events are packaged together for international distribution.
WHO PRODUCES THE LIVE TELEVISED EVENTS?
The MISS UNIVERSE®, MISS USA® and MISS TEEN USA® specials are produced by the Miss Universe Organization, a Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal joint venture.
