MISS UNIVERSE 2023
The origin of Miss Universe: beauty pageant’s history, when it started...
This weekend, entrants from over 80 countries will battle it out for the crown at the 72nd edition of the annual Miss Universe beauty contest.
Another Miss Universe pageant is upon us! The Salvadoran capital, San Salvador, will this weekend host the 72nd edition of the global beauty contest, with the 13,000-seat José Adolfo Pineda Arena the venue.
US bidding for back-to-back Miss Universe crowns
The event, at which women from 85 countries will compete to succeed 2022 winner R’Bonney Gabriel, is to be presented by former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo, TV host Jeannie Mai, and the actor and journalist Maria Menounos.
The United States won a record ninth crown courtesy of Gabriel last year - and will now look to add to its unmatched haul of Miss Universe victories through Utah’s Noelia Voigt, who earned her ticket to El Salvador when she was named Miss USA in October.
What is the origin of Miss Universe?
The US isn’t only Miss Universe’s most decorated nation; it’s also the country where the competition came into being.
Miss Universe was created in the wake of controversy at the 1951 Miss America pageant. That year, the US contest’s winner, Yolande Betbeze Fox, refused to pose for photos in a swimsuit designed by one of the event’s sponsors, Catalina Swimwear.
This led the company to end its partnership with Miss America and found two new beauty contests to promote its brand: Miss USA, for women from the States, and the international Miss Universe.
In June 1952 in Long Beach, California, Catalina held the Miss Universe pageant for the first time, with Finland’s Armi Helena Kuusela crowned as the contest’s inaugural winner.
Miss Universe 2023: what time, how to watch?
Miss Universe 2023 takes place on Saturday 18 November 2023, and is scheduled to get underway at 8pm ET/5pm PT. Viewers in the US will be able to watch the pageant on The Roku Channel and Telemundo.