A beauty pageant is a competition that has traditionally focused on judging and ranking the physical attributes of the contestants. Pageants have now evolved to include 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. The term beauty pageant refers originally to the Big Four international beauty pageants.
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, Miss Universe is one of the Big Four international beauty pageants.
Miss India or Femina Miss India is a national beauty pageant in India that annually selects representatives to compete in Miss World, one of the Big Four major international beauty pageants. It is organised by Femina, a women's magazine published by The Times Group. Since 2013, Femina also organises Miss Diva as a separate competition, with representatives competing at Miss Universe.
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.
Toyin Enitan Raji is a Nigerian former actress who was crowned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria and represented her country at the Miss Universe 1995 pageant in Windoek Namibia and at the Miss World 1995 pageant held in Sun City South African.Raji distinguished herself as Nigeria’s representative at the 1995 Miss Universe pageant in Namibia, finishing in 11th place. Miss South Africa had finished in 10th to deny Raji the chance of becoming Nigeria’s first Miss Universe semi–finalist, although she was awarded the "Miss Cogeniality" prize. The irony became more glaring later in 1995 when Raji went to South Africa for the Miss World contest. A huge favourite for the crown, Raji was prevented from participating following political controversy over Sani Abacha’s decision to execute nine dissidents. However, she was awarded the "Miss Personality" prize.
The Miss Universe Kosova is a national beauty pageant that sends representatives from Kosovo to the Miss Universe pageant.
Leila Luliana da Costa Vieira Lopes Umenyiora is an Angolan model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 2011. She had previously won Miss Angola UK 2010 and Miss Angola 2010.
Miss Universe 2012 was the 61st Miss Universe pageant, held at the PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States on 19 December 2012.
This is a list of the Philippines' representatives and their placements at the Big Four international beauty pageants. The Philippines, widely considered a beauty pageant powerhouse, has won in all four pageants, with a total of 103 placements and 15 victories:
Ada Meyo Marie Noelle is a Gabonese beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Gabon 2012.
Olivia Frances Culpo is an American model, actress, influencer and beauty queen. After winning the Miss Rhode Island USA competition, she went on to win Miss USA 2012, and then Miss Universe 2012.
Miss Gabon is a national beauty pageant in Gabon. The pageant was established in 2001 by Défis de femmes.
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.
Channa Divouvi is a Gabonese beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Winner Miss Gabon 2012 1st runner-up and she was represented Gabon at Miss International 2012 and Miss Universe 2012. After She designated as Miss Universe Gabon 2012.
Maggaly Nguema is a Gabonese beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Gabon 2014 and represented Gabon at the Miss Universe 2014.
Miss International 2015, the 55th Miss International pageant, was held on November 5, 2015 at the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa in Tokyo, Japan. Valerie Hernandez of Puerto Rico crowned her successor Edymar Martínez of Venezuela at the end of the event with a new crown created and designed by Mikimoto. The Continental Queens were awarded for the first time in this edition.
The Miss Diva is a part of Femina Miss India pageant that primarily selects India's representatives to Miss Universe, one of the Big Four major international beauty pageants. The pageant also sends representative to Miss Supranational.
Reine Ngotala is a Gabonese model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Gabon 2015 and represented Gabon at the Miss World 2015 but Unplaced.
Miss Universe 2015 was the 64th Miss Universe pageant, held at The AXIS in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States on 20 December 2015. This was the first edition of the pageant to be held under the ownership of WME/IMG, which purchased the Miss Universe Organization from Donald Trump on 14 September 2015. Consequently, it is also the first Miss Universe event to be aired by Fox and Azteca as the pageant's respective English and Spanish broadcasters instead of NBC.
The Miss Bahamas Universe or “Miss Universe Bahamas” is a national beauty pageant that selects The Bahamas representative to the Miss Universe pageant.
