A beauty pageant is a competition that has traditionally focused on judging and ranking the physical attributes of the contestants. Pageants have now moved towards including inner beauty, with criteria covering judging of personality, intelligence, talent, character, and charitable involvement, through private interviews with judges and answers to public on-stage questions. Pageant titles are subdivided into Miss, Mrs. or Ms., and Teen – to clearly identify the difference between pageant divisions.
Miss Universe is an annual international major beauty pageant that is run by a United States and Thailand-based Miss Universe Organization. Along with Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth, it is one of the Big Four beauty pageants.
Miss Galaxy Queen is a beauty pageant held in Nukuʻalofa, Tongatapu in Tonga, where contestants are members of Tonga's fakaleiti community. Organised by the Tonga Leitis' Association (TLA) it raises awareness of LGBTQ+ rights issues and has become a regular event in the Tongan cultural calendar.
María Stella Márquez de Araneta, often styled as Madame Stella de Araneta, is a Colombian—Filipino pageant director and beauty queen. She grew up in New York City and moved back to Colombia, where she became a pageant titleholder. As Miss Colombia, she was crowned the first Miss International in 1960. She obtained her Filipino citizenship via naturalization in 1970.
The Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria – often abbreviated as MBGN – is a pageant organised by Silverbird Group with the main purpose of sending representatives to international competitions. Originally known as Miss Universe Nigeria, it was renamed Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria after news publishers Daily Times lost their license to send delegates from rival contest Miss Nigeria to Miss World. Since 2005, the pageant has produced multiple representatives, but the MBGN World recipient is considered the overall winner. Miss Universe Nigeria was reestablished in 2023, breaking away from MBGN and operating as an entirely different pageant.
Rachel Renee Smith is an American actress, TV host, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won the Miss USA 2007 pageant and who previously had competed in the Miss Teen USA 2002 pageant. She represented the United States at Miss Universe 2007 and placed 4th Runner-Up.
Miss Nigeria is an annual pageant showcasing positive attributes of Nigerian women, and awarding university scholarships.The winner is expected to portray exemplary qualities whilst serving as a role model to young women in the country. The pageant is currently organised by Daily Times.
Miss Marianas is the national Beauty pageant in Northern Marianas.
Miss USA 2009 was the 58th Miss USA pageant, held at the Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 19, 2009. At the conclusion of the final night of competition, Kristen Dalton of North Carolina was crowned by outgoing titleholder Crystle Stewart of Texas.
The 14th Nuestra Belleza México pageant, was held at the Auditorio "Profr. Manuel Bonilla Valle" of Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico on October 6, 2007. Thirty-three contestants of the Mexican Republic competed for the national title, which was won by Elisa Nájera from Guanajuato, who later competed in Miss Universe 2008 in Vietnam where she was the 4th Runner-up. Nájera was crowned by outgoing Nuestra Belleza México titleholder Rosa María Ojeda. She is the first and only Guanajuatense to win this title.
The 18th annual Nuestra Belleza México pageant, was held at the Centro Internacional de Convenciones of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico on August 20, 2011. Thirty-four contestants of the Mexican Republic competed for the national title, which was won by Karina González from Aguascalientes who later competed in Miss Universe 2012 in United States where she was a Semifinalist in the Top 10. González was crowned by outgoing Nuestra Belleza México titleholder Karin Ontiveros and Ximena Navarrete Miss Universe 2010. She was the first Hidrocalida to win this title.
Lorraine Elizabeth Downes is a New Zealand dancer and beauty queen who won the Miss Universe title in 1983 and the New Zealand version of the reality TV show Dancing with the Stars in 2006.
Miss USA 2012 was the 61st Miss USA pageant, held on June 3, 2012, at the PH Live in Las Vegas, Nevada and it was televised live on NBC. Alyssa Campanella of California crowned her successor Olivia Culpo of Rhode Island at the end of the event. This was Rhode Island's first Miss USA title. Culpo represented the United States at Miss Universe 2012 six months later and went on to win the Miss Universe title, becoming the eighth American to do so.
Miss Earth 2013, the 13th edition of the Miss Earth pageant, was held on December 7, 2013 at the Versailles Palace in Las Piñas, Metro Manila, Philippines. Tereza Fajksová of the Czech Republic crowned her successor Alyz Henrich of Venezuela at the end of the event.
Rachel Louise Obregon Peters-Villafuerte is a Filipino model, host, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2017. She represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2017 pageant and finished as a Top 10 semifinalist.
Silvia Celeste Rabimbi Cortesi is a Filipina actress and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2022. Cortesi was previously crowned Miss Earth Philippines 2018 and represented the Philippines at Miss Earth 2018, where she finished in the top 8.
Haley Kalil is a former American model and social media personality. In 2018, Kalil was featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue as a contestant in the first ever Sports Illustrated Swim Search. As one of the two winners of the competition, alongside Camille Kostek, she officially appeared in the 2019 edition as a rookie.
Teresa Ruglio Sánchez is a Venezuelan-Maltese model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Malta 2019. She represented Malta at Miss Universe 2019 competition but Unplaced.
Eileen Mary O'Donnell, known professionally as Eileen O'Donnell, is a Northern Irish model and beauty pageant titleholder. O'Donnell started her career in 2011 and has since modelled in the categories of fashion, skincare and swimwear. She has gone on to collaborate with numerous notable brands including Pretty Little Thing, GymKing, MVMT Watches, The Couture Club, Ziaja Skincare, Benefit Cosmetics, amongst others.
Lalela Lali Mswane is a South African model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Supranational 2022. She was previously crowned Miss South Africa 2021 and participated at the Miss Universe 2021, placing second runner up.
