The Miss Universe pageant was established on June 28, 1952. The inaugural title was won by Armi Kuusela from Finland. The event attracts approximately one billion viewers worldwide each year.

Miss Universe started in 1952 as a marketing stunt by a California clothing company, Pacific Knitting Mills, after the winner of rival pageant Miss America refused to wear one of its swimsuits.

Miss Universe Winners (1952-2024): Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that showcases contestants from ...

For the first time since 1952, the Miss Universe Pageant has removed the age limit to qualify. Now, any woman 18 and up will have a chance to compete in the Miss category.

In its inception in 1952, Miss Universe contestants’ ages were required to fall in the strict range of 18 to 28 years old and be single with no children.

Out of all beauty pageants, Miss Universe, which began in 1952, makes the boldest claim: that it can single out one person to represent an idealized vision of womanhood suitable for the entire ...