Finally, all the rumors have been put to rest! The President of Miss Universe organization Paula Shugart, in her recent comments on a comment thread on Facebook, confirmed that IMG/Endeavor still owns the franchise of the organization.

Shugart wrote, “No, Endeavor still owns Miss Universe organization. I believe a rumor was started by a former hairstylist. Not sure why.”

The rumor of IMG not owning the Miss Universe organization was started by Vicente Leonel Rodriguez Almeida, a Mexican who works at Farouk Systems, Inc, and a CHI Hairstylist on his Facebook. It was probably a miscommunication who would have heard somewhere that Miss USA has new owners and since Miss USA/Universe was owned by the same owner - Endeavor/IMG - he assumed that Miss Universe also had new owners.

However, only Miss USA and Miss Teen USA will split up and will be taken over by the former Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart. They will act like any other national competition and pay royalties to MUO.