MISS Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. Along with its rival contests, Miss World and Miss Earth, this pageant is one of the most important and publicized beauty pageants in the world. It is held in more than 190 countries worldwide and seen by more than half a billion people annually.
The pageant was founded in 1952 by the California-based clothing company Pacific Knitting Mills and manufacturer of Catalina Swimwear. The company was the sponsor of the Miss America pageant until 1951, when the winner, Yolande Betbeze, refused to pose for publicity pictures wearing one of their swimsuits. So in 1952 Pacific Knitting Mills organised the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, co-sponsoring them for decades to follow.
The Miss Universe Organization and the brand is currently owned, along with Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, by WME/IMG. Miss Universe Organization licenses local organizations that wish to select the Miss Universe contestant for their country, and approves the selection method for national delegates. The current Miss Universe logo – "the woman with stars" – was created in 1998.
New US President Donald Trump bought the operating company, Miss Universe, Inc., in 1996 from ITT Corp. Trump struck a broadcasting arrangement with CBS for a few years. In 1998, Miss Universe, Inc. changed its name to Miss Universe Organization, and moved its headquarters from Los Angeles to New York City. In 2002 Trump entered into a joint venture with NBC, which in 2003 outbid the other networks for the TV rights. From 2003 to 2014, the pageant was broadcast in the US on NBC.
NBC and Univision dropped the pageant in September 2015 when NBC cancelled all business relationships with the Miss Universe Organization and with Trump in response to his political comments in June 2015 about illegal immigration during his campaign for the presidency of the United States. As part of the legal settlement, in September 2015, Trump bought out NBC's 50% stake in the company making him the company's sole owner. Three days later he sold the whole company to WME/IMG. Following the change of ownership, in October 2015, Fox and Azteca became the official broadcaster of the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants. The current president of the Miss Universe Organization is Paula Shugart.
The title "Miss Universe" was first used by the International Pageant of Pulchritude in 1926. This contest was held annually until 1935, when the Great Depression and other events preceding World War II led to its demise.
The first Miss Universe Pageant was held in Long Beach, California in 1952. It was won by Armi Kuusela from Finland, who gave up her title, though not officially, to get married, shortly before her year was completed. Until 1958, the Miss Universe title, like that of Miss America, was dated by the year following the contest, so at the time Ms. Kuusela's title was Miss Universe 1953.
The pageant was first televised in 1955. CBS began broadcasting the combined Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants in 1960, and as separate contests in 1965. John Charles Daly hosted the pageant from 1955 to 1966, Bob Barker from 1967 to 1987, Alan Thicke in 1988, John Forsythe in 1989, Dick Clark from 1990 to 1993, and Bob Goen from 1994 to 1996.
Last week, some candidates of Miss Universe 2016 went up north to visit our City for a series of activities. At least 28 of the contestants, along with outgoing Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, took part in parade onboard floats adorned with flowers, a prelude of sorts to the forthcoming Panagbenga float parades.
Twenty-five-year-old Maxine Medina is our country's bet for this year's Miss Universe. She's got a background in interior design having graduated from the Philippine School of Interior Design and De La Salle-College of St Benilde.
She is a member of the Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP). Like her 2016 batchmates Kylie Verzosa (Bb Pilipinas International) and Jennifer Ruth Hammond (Bb Pilipinas Intercontinental), Maxine is a member of PMAP, an organization formed by top models back in the late '80s. Members of the organization include models Kelsey Merritt, Katarina Rodriguez, Miss World Philippines 2014 Valerie Weigmann, and more.
Maxine tried for the 2012 edition but didn't push through. She was supposed to be part of the 2012 roster of candidates but didn't push through due to contractual obligations.
"I think my greatest fear is the expectations of everyone here in the Philippines because we have the Miss Universe [crown]. As Nichole [Manalo] said we have to give more effort and practice more..." ~ Maxine Medina
It's going to be a very tough act to win back-to-back but let's all pray and hope for the best. Go go go Pilipinas!
r