Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest

Beauty contest

A beauty pageant or beauty contest, is a competition that mainly focuses on the physical beauty of its contestants, although such contests often incorporate personality, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria...

 that is run by the Miss Universe Organization

Miss Universe Organization

The Miss Universe Organization is the organization that currently owns and runs the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA beauty contests. Based in New York, it is owned jointly by NBC Universal and Donald Trump. The current president is Paula Shugart...

. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers.

The contest was founded in 1952 by California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

 clothing company Pacific Mills. The pageant became part of Kayser-Roth

Kayser-Roth

Kayser-Roth Corporation is an intimate apparel and hosiery manufacturer based in Greensboro, North Carolina. The company currently markets two brands in North America, No Nonsense and HUE.-History:...

 and then Gulf and Western Industries, before being acquired by Donald Trump

Donald Trump

Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...

 in 1996.

In 1998, Miss Universe changed its name from Miss Universe, Inc.