Trivia

The Miss Universe is a prestigious international event that has grown since its inception from 1952. The international beauty pageant with participants from over 80 nations is bound to have some interesting trivia. In this space we have provided you with such information that is not very commonly known. The origin of the Miss Universe beauty pageant was shrouded with a controversial start. The local bathing beauty contest, spearheaded by Catalina Swimwear in Long Beach, CA metamorphosed into the international annual tradition of Miss Universe 2008. It was when Miss America 1951 Yoland Betbeze refused to wear swimwear for Catalina Swimwear that the brand’s manufacturer Pacific Mills pulled out of the event and started Miss Universe beauty pageant.

The controversies related to the event began from the inception of the beauty pageant. Armi Kuusela of Finland, who became the first Miss Universe in 1952, gave up her crown shortly before her one year reign as the Miss Universe ended. The beauty from Finland did so as she wished to get married to a Filipino tycoon, Virgilio Hilario. Another Miss Universe who resigned prior to the full one year completion as her Miss Universe reign was Miss Universe 1974, Amparo Munoz. Ms Munoz resigned her title in the six month of her reign.Though the event is bases on global harmony and equity, there have been incidents in the past when protests have occurred against some of the contestants of the event. In 1993, Miss USA Kenya Moore was booed by the local crowds, when the event was held in Mexico. Fourteen years later in 2007, when the event was again organized in Mexico, Miss USA Rachel Smith was booed by the local crowds owing to what they saw as US unfriendliness toward illegal immigrants. In another interesting incident Miss Universe 1996, Alicia Machado of Venezuela was warned by the Miss Universe organization as she had exceeded the maximum weight required during her reign.

In the year 1999, Miss Guam Universe Trisha Elaine Heflin was barred from participating in the Miss Universe 1999 for being pregnant. The Miss Universe 1999, Mpule Kwelagobe however won the title that year as she gave a fitting reply to the controversial question, whether a Miss Universe who became pregnant be allowed to continue her reign. The young lady from Botswana to the question replied that a Miss Universe should be allowed to continue her reign as being pregnant was a sign of femininity, which Miss Universe stands for. The Miss Universe 2007 was also a hotbed for interesting and unique information. Miss Sweden, Isabel Lestapier Winqvist, unexpectedly pulled out from the event owing to complaints in her country that the beauty pageant degrades women. Sweden has won the coveted crown three times in the past. It will be an interesting fact to note that no Miss Congeniality has ever gone to win the Miss Universe title. The newly constituted nation Kosovo has sent its delegate for Miss Universe 2008 for the first time in the beauty pageant in Vietnam.