Miss Universe - 2022

Introduction

Miss Universe is an international beauty pageant held annually. It is run by the Miss Universe Organization or MUO, a US and Thailand-based company. The Miss Universe title is widely coveted, and is one of the Big Four international beauty pageants alongside Miss Earth, Miss International and Miss World.

Table of Content

• Details

• History

• Theme 

• Registration

• Celebrities

• Schedule

• Conclusion

Details

History

The International Pageant of Pulchritude first used the title “Miss Universe” in 1926; however, the event was discontinued due to World War II and the Great Depression. In 1952, Pacific Knitting Mills founded the present Miss Universe pageant alongside Miss USA. The first event was held in Long Beach, California, and Armi Kuusela, hailing from Finland, was crowned the first Miss Universe. However, she later gave up the title to get married.

Miss Universe was televised for the first time in 1955, and CBS became the first network to televise it in 1960. In 1996, Donald Trump bought the pageant, and by 1998, Miss Universe Inc. had been changed to Miss Universe Organization.

In 2015, MUO again changed hands from Trump to WME/IMG. Then, Thailand-based JKN Global Group, owned by Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, bought the organization, making her the first transgender woman to own Miss Universe.

2022 was a milestone year for MUO for more than one reason. It was also the first year in which it was hosted by an all-female panel, following criticisms about Miss Universe and beauty pageants, in general, being sexist.

The pageantry also has had some popular hosts over the years. John Charles Daly was its first host, and he continued hosting from 1955 to 1966. Bob Barker was Miss Universe’s longest-serving host, spanning 20 years from 1967 to 1987.

Steve Harvey was one of its more popular hosts, having hosted the event from 2015 to 2019. However, despite Miss Universe being a female-centric event, it’s only had four female hosts, Daisy Fuentes, Mel B, Nancy O’Dell and Natalie Morales, prior to 2022.

2022 Theme

The Miss Universe pageant does not involve any talent shows. Instead, there are three categories based on which contestants are judged, namely, swimsuit, evening gown, and personal interview.

Although two categories involve judgements based on looks, the pageant is more than a beauty contest. According to organisers, contestants are also judged based on their intelligence, confidence, personality, outlook on life, and manners.

The winner receives a cash prize of $250,000 and an annual salary of $250,000, which covers the responsibilities she needs to carry out as a Miss Universe titleholder. She is also supposed to take up a cause.

The winner will also become the MUO ambassador to spread messages of peace, control of diseases, and other humanitarian causes, like minority rights and climate change globally, especially in low-income countries.

Winners also get a New York Film Academy scholarship, keys to an apartment in New York City, free access to beauty, accessory, and fitness products by sponsors, as well as get invited to modelling opportunities, casting calls, galas, and fashion shows.

2023 Registrations 

Miss Universe is essentially the culmination of national beauty pageants. Winners of national beauty pageants from across the globe represent their respective countries at the Miss Universe event. The selection process starts with city-level pageants, whose winners then compete at the national level.

To register for Miss Universe 2023, contestants must first meet the eligibility criteria:

• The contestant’s age should be between 18 and 27 years old as of 1st January of that year.

• Contestants must be a winner of the national beauty pageant.

• Contestants must be unmarried.

To enter the competition, candidates must register through the National Director of their respective nations.

Once selected, candidates will have to go through a preliminary interview round to move on to the semi-final round. In the semi-finals, contestants will have to walk in evening gowns, swimsuits, or other athletic wear.

Only 6 candidates make it to the final round, where they are asked different questions. Finally, it’s whittled down to 3 contestants, who all face the same question. The winner is decided based on whose answer impresses the judges the most.

In Miss Universe 2022, 84 contestants participated. R’Bonney Gabriel of the USA was crowned Miss Universe 2022. Of these, the top 16 candidates are listed below.

Miss Universe Celebrities

Sushmita Sen

PlaySushmita Sen is one of the most popular celebrities to break out of the Miss Universe pageant. She was the first Indian to win the title in 1994 at the age of 18. Before being crowned Miss Universe, she had won Femina Miss India in 1994.

After her victory, Sushmita Sen worked as an actor in Indian films. She has also starred in films like Aarya, https://www.tring.co.in/celebrity-list/aaryaSirf Tum, Main Hoon Na, Aankhen, and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya. Since 2020, Sushmita Sen has been starring in the web series, Aarya, for which she has also bagged the Filmfare OTT Award for Best Actress.

Lara Dutta

Lara Dutta was the second Indian to win the Miss Universe title in 2000 after winning Miss Intercontinental 1997 and Femina Miss India 2000. She had scored the highest score ever in the finalist interview round, with most judges giving her 9.99 marks.

After Miss Universe, Lara Dutta went on to star in Hindi films, making her debut with Andaaz. She had won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for Andaaz. She has also starred in films like Partner, No Entry, Bhagaam Bhaag, Housefull, Don 2, and Masti. Lara Dutta made her web series debut in 2020 with Hundred.

Pia Wurtzbach

Pia Wurtzbach is the winner of Miss Universe 2015. She is a model, actress, advocate, entrepreneur, host, and aspiring athlete. Pia Wurtzbach is considered the most popular Miss Universe winner ever owing to her Instagram popularity, where she has over 14 million followers.

She is the first Filipina woman to win the Miss Universe title in 40 years and the third overall, after Gloria Diaz (1969) and Margie Moran (1973). Wurtzbach is also the first Filipina woman to win this title in the 21st century. She’s also been acting since age 4 and has appeared in many Philippine shows such as K2BU, ASAP, Your Song, Sa Piling Mo, and Bora, among others.

Steve Harvey

Steve Harvey is a popular American comedian, television host, and producer. He has hosted five editions of the Miss Universe pageant from 2015 to 2019. He’s known for his many comedy shows, which include Family Feud, Family Feud Africa, Celebrity Family Feud, The Steve Harvey Morning Show, and Judge Steve Harvey.

He began his career as a stand-up comedian in the 1980s. Over his illustrious career that spans nearly 40 years, Steve Harvey has won 7 Daytime Emmy Awards, two Marconi Awards, and 14 NAACP Image Awards.

Schedule

The Miss Universe pageant was officially founded in 1952, and the first-ever event was held in Long Beach, California. Since its inception, the pageant has had varying schedules.

Between the 1970s and the early 80s, Miss Universe was a month-long show usually held anytime between March and June. Most recently, over the past decade, it’s become a two-week show, held anytime from early November to late January.

The latest edition, Miss Universe, was held on 14th January 2023 in New Orleans, USA. Miss Universe 2023 is slated for December 2023 in El Salvador.

Conclusion

Miss Universe is a coveted title worldwide owing to the platform it gives to individualistic, impressionable, and intelligent women across the globe. While the pageantry has had its fair share of controversies, it continues to attract talent every year. It’s also one of the most popular events worldwide, with viewership reaching nearly 500 million across 190 nations.