The annual Miss Universe is one of the most awaited beauty contests in the world.
It has become part of the lives of many people and considered as Super Bowl of Beauty.
Every year, 80 plus young, stunning women from different countries is vying for the most coveted Miss Universe crown.
All of them will undergo the preliminary competition when the contestants will probably be judged in swimsuit, evening gown and preliminary interview.
This will determine the Top 16 semifinalists, 15 chosen by judges’ panel and 1 chosen by internet votes.
That number will be further reduced to 10 then advance to the Top 5 as the competition continues.
Who are the powerhouses in Miss Universe?
| Country/Territory | Miss Universe Titles | Winning Years |
|---|---|---|
| USA | 8 | 1954, 1956, 1960, 1967, 1980, 1995, 1997, 2012 |
| Venezuela | 7 | 1979, 1981, 1986, 1996, 2008, 2009, 2013 |
| Puerto Rico | 5 | 1970, 1985, 1993, 2001, 2006 |
| Philippines | 4 | 1969, 1973, 2015, 2018 |
| Sweden | 3 | 1955, 1966, 1984 |
| Colombia | 2 | 1958, 2014 |
| Mexico | 2 | 1991, 2010 |
| Japan | 2 | 1959, 2007 |
| Canada | 2 | 1982, 2005 |
| Australia | 2 | 1972, 2004 |
| India | 2 | 1994, 2000 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 2 | 1977, 1998 |
| Thailand | 2 | 1965, 1988 |
| Finland | 2 | 1952, 1975 |
| Brazil | 2 | 1963, 1968 |
| France | 2 | 1953, 2016 |
| South Africa | 2 | 1978, 2017 |
In the world of pageantry, it has become one of the traditions to most fans to have their predictions or hot picks.
This will happen as soon as Miss Universe is around the corner when the lovely women are done with their official photo shoots and interviews.
Critics’ assessments are based on how the candidates flaunt their bodies in swimwear and how they carry their gowns with elegance on stage during the preliminary competition.
Moreover, their interviews can also be a factor since their personalities and intelligence was being judged on this portion.
Powerhouse countries on the other hand are determined based on the results in the last 60 years.
This includes the countries that have placed in the Miss Universe pageant from its first edition in 1952 to the most recent competition in 2012.
To know this can also be of great help because until now most powerhouse countries still able to make the cut and considered as front-runners in the competition.
Top 10 lists of Powerhouses in Miss Universe:
Miss India
| Rank | Country | Miss Universe | 1 st Runner Up | 2 nd Runner Up | 3 rd Runner Up | 4 th Runner Up | Semifinalists | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | India | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 20 |
Though there were times India did not make it to the semifinals, still this country has produced girls with beauty, elegance and intelligence similar to their Miss Universe winners, Sushmita Sen (1994) and Lara Dutta (2000) that until now wow the whole world by their answers on the final questions.
Oh! recently, Shilpa Singh from India made it to the Top 16 cut in Miss Universe 2012, if I may add.
Miss Japan
| Rank | Country | Miss Universe | 1 st Runner Up | 2 nd Runner Up | 3 rd Runner Up | 4 th Runner Up | Semifinalists | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Japan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 18 |
Things have been gradually changing for Japan’s representatives these past few years. However, their distinct personalities remain.
They have this aura that capture people’s attention.
A very good example to this is Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori who had been unforgettable because of that wonderful performance she had during her time.
Miss Australia
| Rank | Country | Miss Universe | 1 st Runner Up | 2 nd Runner Up | 3 rd Runner Up | 4 th Runner Up | Semifinalists | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Australia | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 16 |
Australia is getting better every year. Since 2008 this country never failed to give us strong contenders that left the fans in awe.
Recently Renae Ayris from Australia possessing a beautiful face and body like a Victoria Secret Angel became the 3rd runner up in Miss Universe 2012.
This fact is enough to scare the front-runners in the competition.
Miss Finland
| Rank | Country | Miss Universe | 1 st Runner Up | 2 nd Runner Up | 3 rd Runner Up | 4 th Runner Up | Semifinalists | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Finland | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 18 |
In the recent years, Finland was not able to continue the momentum. Almost 3 decades had passed, since this country became the Miss Universe winner and it was Ann Marie Pohtamo in the year 1975.
Nevertheless, their 2012 representative Sara Chafak might be the good start of their comeback.
She may have failed to be one of the semifinalists but this girl has left her mark by having those strong assets – her fierce looks and sexy body.
Miss Brazil
| Rank | Country | Miss Universe | 1 st Runner Up | 2 nd Runner Up | 3 rd Runner Up | 4 th Runner Up | Semifinalists | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Brazil | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 31 |
No doubt, Brazil sent strong and stunning candidates oozing with confidence, because for 2 consecutive years in the pageant arena, it has produced 2 runner ups namely Priscila Machado (Miss Universe 2011 2nd Runner Up) and Gabriela Markus (Miss Universe 2012 4th Runner Up).
This country is indeed in the right track to win in the coming Miss Universe pageant.
Miss Sweden
| Rank | Country | Miss Universe | 1 st Runner Up | 2 nd Runner Up | 3 rd Runner Up | 4 th Runner Up | Semifinalists | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Sweden | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 29 |
Sweden we all know is one of the countries that have candidates with mesmerizing beauties and intelligence.
So far in history of Miss Universe, they already have 3 winners: Yvonne Ryding (1984), Margarita Arvidsson (1966) and Hillevi Rombin (1955).
And it was last 2011 when Ronnia Fornstedt, country’s representative won the Miss Photogenic Universe 2011.
Miss Philippines
| Rank | Country | Miss Universe | 1 st Runner Up | 2 nd Runner Up | 3 rd Runner Up | 4 th Runner Up | Semifinalists | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Philippines | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 18 |
The success of Venus Raj, Shamcey Supsup, Janine Tugonon, Ariella Hernandez Arida, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, and Catriona Gray in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018 (Miss Universe 2018) respectively brought back the country Philippines in the powerhouses.
Their signature catwalks and charm contribute to their advantages.
Every year its place in the competition instantly climbed up from 4th runner up, 3rd runner up to 1st runner up, and recently takes home the Miss Universe 2015 and Miss Universe 2018 title.
Will Philippines can dominate again the next year’s Miss Universe?
Miss Puerto Rico
| Rank | Country | Miss Universe | 1 st Runner Up | 2 nd Runner Up | 3 rd Runner Up | 4 th Runner Up | Semifinalists | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Puerto Rico | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 19 |
With 5 Miss Universe winners (1970, 1985, 1993, 2001 and 2006), beauties from Puerto Rico has been one of the most-watched candidates every year.
Their strong catwalks on the ramp with bodies that gave the real “sexy” meaning plus their alluring looks have become their greatest advantages in the competition.
To add, even Bodine Koehler did not make it the Top 16 cut in the recent concluded Miss Universe 2012, but she was one of the hot picks of pageant fanatics.
Miss Venezuela
| Rank | Country | Miss Universe | 1 st Runner Up | 2 nd Runner Up | 3 rd Runner Up | 4 th Runner Up | Semifinalists | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Venezuela | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 38 |
Venezuela is one of the countries overlooked by most fanatics and critics because of its consistent record of accomplishment in the pageant.
It remains one of the top favorites to win the crown because of its winning final and preliminary performance the last few years.
In addition, it is only country that won back-to-back title in the history of Miss Universe and it happened last 2008 and 2009 when both Dayana Mendoza and Stefania Fernandez managed to outdo other beauties.
Miss USA
| Rank | Country | Miss Universe | 1 st Runner Up | 2 nd Runner Up | 3 rd Runner Up | 4 th Runner Up | Semifinalists | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | 8 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 28 | 56 |
Darkhorse, smart, and competitive, these are few words that best describe USA’s representatives.
When it comes to beauty-and-performance wise candidates, USA has that.
Being on the lead, having 8 Miss Universe winners (1954, 1956, 1960, 1967, 1980, 1995, 1997, and 2012) is incredibly evident that American beauties can rock the stage every MU final night.
Certainly, this country has been one of the strongest contenders to win the crown every year.
The Crown
The crown of Miss Universe has changed nine times over the course of its 65-year history. The first crown, the Romanov Imperial nuptial crown, was previously owned by the now-defunct Russian monarchy. It was used by the first Miss Universe in 1952.
| The Crown | The Story |
|---|---|
| Romanov Diadem / Metal Bronze Crown | When Christiane Martel of France became the 2nd Miss Universe, the nuptial crown was replaced by a metallic bronze crown. She was the only Miss Universe titleholder to wear this crown. |
| The Star Of The Universe | from 1954 to 1960, this crown was used. It was named as such due to the star shape at the top of the crown. It is made up of approximately 1,000 Oriental cultured and black pearls set in solid gold and platinum and only weighed 1.25 pounds. It was insured for $500,000 USD. |
| The Rhinestone Crown / Coventry Crown | This crown was purely made from rhinestones, debuting in 1961 as part of the 10th anniversary of the Miss Universe pageant. Only the 10th and the 11th Miss Universes wore this crown. In 1963, renowned jeweler Sarah Coventry reinvented the rhinestone crown which featured a female figure (holding a scepter) as its main centerpiece. The cheaper cost of its rhinestone design made it possible to create exact replicas of the crown to be given to outgoing titleholders. The design was slightly modified in 1973 for the wearer's convenience. This crown was dubbed as The Lady Crown and was used until 2001 wherein the Mikimoto Pearl company accepted the offer to sponsor a commemorative crown for the Miss Universe Organization. |
| The Mikimoto Crown | used from 2002–2007 for the 50th commemorative anniversary of the Miss Universe organization was designed by Tomohiro Yamaji for the Mikimoto Company, the official jewel sponsor of the Miss Universe Organization. The crown depicted the phoenix rising, signifying status, power and beauty, as stipulated in their sponsorship deal. The crown has 500 natural colorless diamonds of almost 30 carats (6.0 g), 120 South Sea and Akoya pearls, ranging in size from 3 to 18 mm diameter and is valued at $250,000 USD. The crown was designed for the pageant on Mikimoto Pearl Island in Japan with the Mikimoto crown and tiara being first used for Miss Universe 2002, which was unveiled by former propietor Donald Trump. Among pageant connoisseurs, the Mikimoto crown is reputedly the most sought among beauty title holders. The crown was again used when Iris Mittenaere of France crowned Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa as Miss Universe 2017. |
| The Cao Crown | In 2008, Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela was crowned with a tiara designed by a tandem of Rosalina Lydster and Dang Kim Lien of CAO Fine Jewelry. The crown valued at $120,000 USD, was made of 18K karat combination of white and yellow gold and composed of over 1,000 precious stones; including 555 white diamonds (30 carats), 375 cognac diamonds (14 carats), 10 smoky quartz crystals (20 carats) and 19 morganite gemstones (60 carats). The yellow lustre of the gold represents the prosperous thriving economy in Vietnam as symbolized by a Vietnamese Crane heron. However, Mendoza declined to use this crown and thus insisted on the Mikimoto crown when she crowned her own Venezuelan compatriot Stefania Fernandez as successor. |
| The Nexus Crown | From 2009–2013, Diamond Nexus Labs made the Miss Universe crown. The crown is set with 1,371 gemstones, weighing a total of 416.09 carats (83.218 g). It contains 544.31 grams of 14k and 18k white gold as well as platinum. The crown features synthetic rubies to represent Miss Universe's HIV/AIDS education and awareness platform. Diamond Nexus Labs is the first ever eco-friendly Official Jeweler of Miss Universe and was selected as part of NBC Universal's "Green is Universal" initiative. |
| The Dic Crown | From 2014–2016, the 63rd, 64th, and 65th Miss Universes were decorated with a crown estimated to be worth $300,000 USD, produced by Czech company Diamonds International Corporation (DIC). The whole production process took approximately four months and required the work of ten artisans. The crown is reminiscent of the Manhattan Skyline and composes of 311 diamonds, 5 pieces of blue topaz, 198 pieces of blue sapphire, 33 pieces of heat—fired crystals, and 220 grams of 18k karat white gold. The grand total weight of the crown is 411 grams. Accordingly, this crown was retired in 2017 due to a copyright infringement and subsequent payment issues between the Diamond International Corps and the Miss Universe Organization, thereby reverting back to the Nexus crown during the reign of Iris Mittanere of France. |
