Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest run by the Miss Universe Organization. Along with its rival contests – Miss World and Miss Earth – this pageant is one of the most publicized beauty contests in the world.
According to the organizers, the Miss Universe contest is more than a beauty pageant: women aspiring to become Miss Universe must be intelligent, well-mannered, and cultured. Often a candidate has lost because she did not have a good answer during the question responses rounds; although this section of competition has held less importance during recent pageants than it did in the twentieth century. Delegates also participate in swimsuit and evening gown competitions.


