Miss Universe 2010 is one of the most important beauty contests in the…well, universe.
Here are 10 essential things to know about this year’s edition.
1. This is the 59th edition of the pageant.2. The pageant was founded in 1952 by the clothing company Pacific Mills.
3. This year’s edition will be hosted by Poison lead singer Bret Michaels and NBC’s Natalie Morales.
4. The entertainment of the evening will be John Legend & The Roots and Cirque du Soleil.
5. Stefania Fernandez from Venezuela will crown the new Miss Universe at the end of the event.
6. The telecast judges will include, among others, actors Chazz Palminteri and William Baldwin, as well as actress Jane Seymour.
7. Three countries – Guatemala, Romania and Turkey – have replaced their candidates, for various reasons.
8. Eight countries have withdrawn from the contest – Bulgaria, Cayman Islands, Estonia, Ethiopia, Iceland, Montenegro, Namibia, and Vietnam.
9. Eight countries are returning into the contest this year – Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Denmark, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Trinidad & Tobago and the US Virgin Islands.
10. The pageant is the most publicized in the world. It usually has around 600 million viewers.
