History of Miss Universe

The annual Miss Universe beauty contest has become an institution, only a dream some 56 years ago. Like the Miss USA Pageant, it was started in 1952 by Catalina Swimwear as product promotions. Since 1973, broadcast has been live around the world, and the title has been won by women from 34 countries.

Yolanda Betbeze and that Bathing Suit

In 1951, 21-year-old convent-educated Yolanda Betbeze entered the Miss America pageant, her mind and pretty green dress focused on the scholarship opportunities which would be on offer should she win. She did.

After accepting the title of Miss America, Betbeze was to appear at a department store wearing a bathing suit. She refused to do it declaring, “I’m an opera singer, not a pin-up!”

Pacific Mills and Miss Universe

Promptly canceling their sponsorship of the pageant, Catalina Swimwear’s parent company and manufacturer, Pacific Mills, decided to create an even sexier event as a platform for the Catalina range. The result is the Miss Universe pageant. In 1952, twenty-nine bathing beauties competed in the first pageant at Long Beach, California. The winner was Finland’s Armi Kuusela.

The following year, in 1953, Armi Kuusela gives up her crown when she discovers that Universal Pictures, with whom she won a contract as part of her prize, expects her to marry Tony Curtis to overcome work permit issues.

Annual Beauty Pageant Goes On

The Miss Universe event has been held in May or June each year with the winner traditionally crowned by the previous year’s titleholder. To win the coveted title, according to organizers, the contestant must be intelligent, refined and talented, aside from the obvious appearance.

Along with the prize package, the Miss Universe winner travels the world, in particular spreading messages of hope, health and proper hygiene measures, and world peace. Despite occasional controversies that surface as in any organization or institution, Miss Universe has developed and become a wholesome image.

20th Century Notable Events for Miss Universe

In 1997, the Miss Universe, along with Miss Teen USA and Miss USA pageants, are purchased by Donald Trump. A year later, in 1998, Miss Universe 1981, Irene Saez, loses her race for president of Venezuela.

The 21st Century Miss Universe

In 2001 Miss Colombia, Andrea Noceti, threatened to sue American comedian and television talk-show host David Letterman after his drugs-related joke that her talent routine included swallowing bags of heroin.

This year, 2008, the title has been won by women from thirty-four countries, including seven from USA, five from Puerto Rico, five from Venezuela, three from Sweden, and two from Australia, Canada, Finland, Philippines, Trinidad & Tobago, and Brazil, and one from Japan.

Miss Universe Pageant Trivia

Currently, there are other beauty pageants including beauty pageant for kids, for babies, and the world’s first international online beauty pageant, WMBW.

Famous Former Beauty Queens

Modern pageantry traces it roots back to 1921, when the Miss America pageant began as a beauty contest in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Pageant competitions have since produced some of the most beautiful, talented and intelligent women in media.

Nancy O’Dell, Oprah Winfrey and Vanessa Williams are just a few of the dynamos that have used beauty and scholarship pageant participation as a stepping-stone to careers in modeling, media and politics.

Let’s take a look at some famous women with pageantry pasts.

Eva Longoria Parker

We know Eva Longoria Parker as the sultry Gabrielle Solis. But before moved to Hollywood to charm on the small screen, Parker was just another Texas beauty Queen. She won in 1998 the title of Miss Corpus Christi USA.

Halle Berry

Actress and Academy Award winner Halle Berry is regarded as one of the most beautiful women in the world—Louisiana rapper Hurricane Chris even wrote a song to acclaim just how “fine” the former Bond girl is. Berry was Miss Ohio USA in 1986, eventually placing 1st runner up in the national competition. She also went on to represent the United States in the Miss World competition, where she placed sixth.

Maria Menounos

Before actress and Access Hollywood correspondent Maria Menounos got the inside dish from Lindsay Lohan and got an exclusive interview with the Obamas, the Greek American beauty represented her native Massachusetts as Miss Massachusetts Teen USA in 1996. Menounos went on to place in the Top 15 at the Miss Teen USA competition and would later compete for the title of Miss Massachusetts USA where she placed 1st runner up.

Gretchen Carlson

Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson won the title of Miss America in 1989, competing as Miss Minnesota. A graduate of Stanford University, winning the esteemed scholarship pageant surely served her well.

Claudia Jordan

Former Deal or No Deal briefcase model and Barker’s Beauty on the long running CBS daytime game show The Price Is Right, Celebrity Apprentice star Claudia Jordan has made an indelible mark as one of Hollywood’s prettiest faces.

A bona fide pageant industry veteran, Jordan continues to keep one foot in pageantry. In 2009, served as a judge for the Miss USA competition, hosted the Miss Universe pageant alongside Access Hollywood host Billy Bush and graced the cover of Pageantry magazine later that year.

Diane Sawyer

Television journalist and World News with Diane Sawyer anchor Diane Sawyer is recognized for both her intellect and beauty. As a Kentucky teenager, the news veteran won the America’s Junior Miss scholarship pageant in 1963.