Miss Universe 2024 crown goes to Denmark: How the pageant began, its tryst with Trump and bankruptcy

Do you cognize however the Miss Universe pageant came into being? Here’s the reply to that, on with different absorbing facts astir the contest.

1. 01

   When was the archetypal Miss Universe pageant held?

   While quality pageants successful assorted forms whitethorn person been astir for centuries, a formal, large-scale lawsuit with wealth riding connected it became fashionable successful the USA successful the 1900s. Before the Miss Universe arsenic we cognize it today, contests similar Miss World and Miss America were taking place. In fact, the Miss Universe pageant was calved retired of a quality betwixt a victor of Miss America and the event's sponsor, Pacific Knitting Mills.

   Pacific Knitting Mills was a California-based institution that owned a swimwear enactment called Catalina Swimwear. In 1951, the victor of Miss America, Yolande Betbeze, refused to airs for pictures wearing a swimsuit, due to the fact that of her Catholic schooling. Pacific Knitting Mills past pulled retired of Miss America, and from 1952, became 1 of the sponsors of rival pageants Miss USA and Miss Universe.

2. 02

   Donald Trump owned Miss Universe

   The President-elect of the US, Donald Trump, was the proprietor of Miss World from 1996 to 2015. Trump had a tie-up with NBC, and since 2003, the lawsuit was broadcast connected that channel. However, NBC chopped ties with Trump successful 2015 aft his arguable remarks astir Mexican immigrants. “[Mexico] are sending radical that person tons of problems, and they are bringing those problems to us. They are bringing drugs, and bringing crime, and their rapists,” the businessman said, arsenic reported by The Guardian. Trump past bought retired NBC's stake, becoming the sole proprietor of the company, lone to merchantability it days later.

   Trump has since been accused of sexist behaviour during his clip astatine Miss Universe. Under him, the pageant travelled to Moscow successful 2013. He had past tweeted, “Do you deliberation Putin volition beryllium going to The Miss Universe Pageant successful November successful Moscow - if so, volition helium go my caller champion friend?”

3. 03

   Current proprietor has filed for bankruptcy

   At present, Miss Universe is owned by Thai conglomerate JKN Global Group and Legacy Holding Group USA Inc.

   When JKN Global Group's Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip bought the Miss World organisation and brand, she made past by becoming the archetypal transwoman — and the archetypal pistillate — to ain it. Under her, the pageant allowed mothers and joined women to enactment from 2023, arsenic reported by BBC.

   However, successful November 2023, JKN Global filed for bankruptcy. Jakrajutatip past posted connected Instagram, “No substance what … I ever enactment the Miss Universe Organization arsenic my archetypal precedence successful life. No substance however joyful oregon achy it's gonna be...I volition sacrifice and bash everything for the large occurrence of OUR UNIVERSE!”

   After this, fractional the stakes successful Miss Universe were sold to Legacy Holding.