Miss Universe, since its inception in 1952, has emerged as one of the most coveted pageants in the pageantry. It is an annual beauty pageant that is run by the United States–based Miss Universe Organization. With an estimated audience of over 500 million viewers in over 190 territories, Miss Universe has become one of the most watched pageants in the world. Along with Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth, Miss Universe is one of the Big Four international beauty pageants.

Miss Universe Organization is currently owned by the WME/IMG talent agency with Telemundo owning the licensing rights to air the pageant for the next 5 years. The pageant's advocacy is ‘humanitarian issues and is a voice to affect positive change in the world’.

Miss Universe was first televised in 1955 while CBS began broadcasting the combined Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants in 1960, and as separate contests in 1965. Donald Trump bought the pageant in 1996 from ITT Corp, with a broadcasting arrangement with CBS until 2002. During this time, in 1998, Miss Universe, Inc. changed its name to the Miss Universe Organization, and moved its headquarters from Los Angeles to New York City.

In 2002, Trump entered a joint venture with NBC and from 2003 to 2014, the pageant was broadcast in the United States on NBC. In June 2015, NBC cancelled all business relationships with Trump and the Miss Universe Organization in response to controversial statements about illegal immigrants who crossed the border from Mexico. As part of the legal settlement, in September 2015, Trump bought out NBC's 50% stake in the company, making him the company's sole owner. Three days later, he sold the whole company to WME/IMG. In October 2015, With the change of ownership, Fox and Azteca became the official broadcasters of the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants. The current president of the Miss Universe Organization is Paula Shugart, who has held this position since 1997.

The current Miss Universe is Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa who was crowned Miss Universe 2019 on 8th December 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia. Tunzi was crowned by Catriona Gray of the Philippines. Zozibini will now crown her successor at Miss Universe 2020 which will be held on 16th May 2021, in Hollywood, Florida.

United States dominates the Miss Universe pageant with a total of eight crowns under its belt followed by Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Philippines who hold seven, five and four crowns, respectively. South Africa and Sweden each hold three crowns and stand fifth on the leaderboard.

2021

Miss Universe 2021, the 70th edition of Miss Universe, was held on 12th December 2021, at Universe Dome in Eilat, Israel. Harnaaz Sandhu of India was crowned as the new Miss Universe by her predecessor Andrea Meza of Mexico at the end of the event finale. India broke it’s pageant-drought after 21 years at Miss Universe. The 2021 edition saw return of Steve Harvey as host and Fox as the official broadcaster of the show after being absent for the previous edition.

The newly crowned Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu’s court included Nadia Ferreira of Paraguay and Lalela Mswane of South Africa who were adjudged first and second runners-up respectively.

2020

The 69th edition of Miss Universe i.e., Miss Universe 2020, was held on 16th May 2021 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, United States where Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa crowned Andrea Meza of Mexico as the new Miss Universe at the end of the event finale.

Andrea Meza’s court included 1st Runner-up – Miss Universe Brazil 2020 Julia Gama, 2nd Runner-up – Miss Universe Peru 2020 Janick Maceta, 3rd Runner-up – Miss Universe India 2020 Adline Castelino and 4th Runner-up – Miss Universe Dominican Republic 2020 Kimberly Jiménez. Andrea became the third Mexican woman to win the crown, following Lupita Jones in 1993 and Ximena Navarrete in 2010.

2019

Miss Universe 2019, the 68th edition of Miss Universe, was held on 8th December 2019 at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa was crowned the new queen by Catriona Gray of the Philippines at the end of the event finale. Zozibini’s court included first runner-up Madison Anderson of Puerto Rico and second runner-up Sofia Aragon of Mexico.

This was South Africa's third win after their victory in 2017. Miss Universe 2019 also saw the crowning of the first black woman winner since Leila Lopes was crowned in 2011. At the 2019 edition, the new Mouawad Power of Unity crown made its debut. Swe Zin Htet of Myanmar became the first openly lesbian contestant to compete for the Miss Universe title.

2018

Miss Universe 2018, the 67th edition of Miss Universe, was held on 17th December 2018 at IMPACT Arena, Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi Province, north of Bangkok, Thailand. Catriona Gray of the Philippines was crowned the new queen by Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa at the end of the event finale. This was the fourth win for the Philippines.

The 2018 edition also saw Ángela Ponce of Spain become the first openly transgender contestant to compete for the Miss Universe title. Catriona Gray’s court included Tamaryn Green of South Africa and Sthefany Gutierrez of Venezuela who were adjudged first and second runners-up, respectively.

2017

Miss Universe 2017, the 66th Miss Universe pageant, was held on 26th November 2017 at The AXIS at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa was crowned the new queen by Iris Mittenaere of France at the end of the event finale. Demi-Leigh’s court included Laura González of Colombia and Davina Bennett of Jamaica who were adjudged first and second runners-up respectively.

2016

Miss Universe 2016, the 65th edition of Miss Universe, was held on 30th January 2017 at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines. Iris Mittenaere of France was crowned the new queen by Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines at the end of the event finale. Iris’ court included Raquel Pélissier of Haiti and Andrea Tovar of Colombia who were adjudged first and second runners-up respectively.

After waiting 63 years, it was the second time France won the Miss Universe title, following Christiane Martel in 1953. This is also Europe's first win in 26 years, as the last European Miss Universe was the Norwegian Mona Grudt who was crowned on the 1990 pageant.

Miss Universe 2016 was also just the second time in the history of the competition that the pageant skipped the entire year, following the 2014 pageant which was held in January 2015.

2015

Miss Universe 2015, the 64th edition of Miss Universe, was held on 20th December 2015 at The AXIS in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines was crowned the new queen by Paulina Vega of Colombia at the end of the event finale. Ariadna Gutiérrez of Colombia and Olivia Jordan of USA were adjudged first and second runners-up respectively.

After 42 years, it was the third time the Philippines won Miss Universe, after Margarita Moran in 1973. This was the first edition of the Miss Universe pageant to be held under the ownership of WME/IMG. IMG purchased the Miss Universe Organization from Donald Trump on September 14, 2015, three days after NBCUniversal sold him its 50% interest in the organization in exchange for Trump's dropping a breach of contract lawsuit he filed against the media company in August for terminating NBC's contract to televise the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants.

2014

Miss Universe 2014, the 63rd Miss Universe pageant, was held on 25 January 2015 at the American Airlines Arena at the Florida, United States. Gabriela Isler of Venezuela crowned her successor Paulina Vega of Colombia at the end of the event finale.

This is the second time that Colombia has won the title. This edition saw a new crown manufactured by Diamonds International Corporation. Nia Sanchez of USA, Diana Harkusha of Ukraine, Yasmin Verheijen of Netherlands and Kaci Fennell of Jamaica were adjudged first, second, third and fourth runners-up respectively.

2013

Miss Universe 2013, the 62nd edition of Miss Universe, was held on 9th November 2013 at the Crocus City Hall, Krasnogorsk, a suburb of Moscow, Russia. Gabriela Isler of Venezuela was crowned the new queen by Olivia Culpo of the USA at the end of the event finale. Patricia Yurena Rodríguez of Spain, Constanza Báez of Ecuador, Ariella Arida of Philippines and Jakelyne Oliveira of Brazil were adjudged first, second, third and fourth runners-up respectively.

2012

Miss Universe 2012, the 61st edition of Miss Universe, was held on 19th December 2012 at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Olivia Culpo of the United States was crowned the new queen by Leila Lopes of Angola at the end of the event finale. Olivia’s win at the 2012 edition making the eighth crown for the United States at Miss Universe.

Janine Tugonon of Philippines, Irene Esser of Venezuela, Renae Ayris of Australia and Gabriela Markus of Brazil were adjudged first, second, third and fourth runners-up respectively.

2011

Miss Universe 2011, the 60th edition of Miss Universe, was held on 12th September 2011 at Credicard Hall, São Paulo, Brazil. Leila Lopes of Angola was crowned the new queen at the end of the event finale by her predecessor Ximena Navarrete of Mexico.

Lopes became the first woman from Angola, and the fourth woman from Africa to win the title after South Africa in 1978, Namibia in 1992 and Botswana in 1999.  Olesya Stefanko of Ukraine, Priscila Machado of Brazil, Shamcey Supsup of Philippines and Luo Zilin were adjudged first, second, third and fourth runners-up respectively.