THE FIRST TIME EVER IN THE HISTORY OF MISS UNIVERSE

*The first Miss Universe Pageant was held in Long Beach, California in 1952. It was won by Armi Kuusela from Finland, who gave up her title to get married to a Filipino tycoon, Virgilio Hilario, shortly before her year was complete. Miss Universe is the most publicized beauty contests in the world.

*The pageant was first televised in 1955. CBS began nationally broadcasting pageant from 1960. In 2003 NBC took over the television rights.

*In 1972, the Miss Universe Pageant was held outside the continental US for the first time, taking place in Dorado, Puerto Rico.

*In 2008, the Miss Universe Pageant was held in a current Communist state for the first time, taking place in Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam.

*Miss Universe 1957, Gladys Zender from Peru was the youngest Miss Universe in history. She was 17 when she won the title.

*At 64 inches (1.63 m) tall, Miss Thailand 1965, Apasra Hongsakula is the shortest Miss Universe ever crowned.

*Trinidad & Tobago's Janelle Commissiong became the first woman of black descent to be crowned Miss Universe, in 1977 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

*In 1999, Botswana sent Mpule Kwelagobe as its first ever delegate to the pageant and she won.

*The first black African to win Miss Universe of was Mpule Kwelagobe, of Botswana, crowned in 1999 at Chaguaramas, Trinidad & Tobago.

*Only once have black women won Miss Universe in succession. Wendy Fitzwilliam of Trinidad & Tobago won the title in 1998, followed by Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana in 1999.

*In 2007 Jamaica sent the first ever Rastafari contestant.

*This year, Kosovo has sent its first ever delegate.

*Interestingly, two delegates who fell wearing their evening gowns advanced to the final question round. They were Miriam Quiambao, Miss Philippines 1999 who tripped and gracefully recovered during the preliminaries; and Rachel Smith, Miss USA 2007 who slipped during the evening gown competition. Quiambao managed to place as first runner-up while Smith ended up as 4th runner-up.

*2002's winner, Oxana Fedorova of Russia, became the first Miss Universe who officially did not finish her reign, making first runner-up Justine Pasek the first Panamanian to hold the title. It is unclear whether Fedorova was fired for failure to perform her duties (the official version), or chose to resign because she had not expected the heavy workload.

*Natalie Glebova of Canada, Miss Universe 2005 reigned for the longest period in Miss Universe history: one year and two months from the time she was crowned on May 31, 2005 in Bangkok, Thailand.

*The largest interval between a nation winning Miss Universe (at present) is Japan; Akiko Kojima won the title in 1959 and, 48 years later, Riyo Mori became the second recipient from Japan.

*The shortest gap is two years; USA won in 1954 and 1956, then in 1995 and 1997 and Venezuela won in 1979 and 1981. Curiously, between the Venezuelan triumphs of 1979 and 1981, the winner was from the USA, and between the two USA wins in 1995 and 1997, the winner was from Venezuela.

*The Philippines has won the Miss Photogenic award seven times (including a back-to-back and a three-peat), followed by the UK and Puerto Rico, both with five. Puerto Rico won its five awards during a six-year period (1999-2004, did not win in 200o).

*Colombia has won the Best National Costume Award six times.

*Guam has won the Miss Congeniality award four times.

*The Miss Universe crown used from 2002-2007 was designed by Mikimoto, the official jeweler sponsor of the Miss Universe Organization. For Miss Universe 2008 a new crown was unveiled. Valued at $120 thousand dollars, it is made of 18K white and yellow gold. But this Vietnamese crown will use in the 57th edition only and the Mikimoto crown will return in 2009. The 2008 Miss Universe Pageant will be held in Nha Trang, the capital of Khanh Hoa Province in Vietnam. Nha Trang is famous for its beautiful beaches and seaside resorts such as Vinpearl. 80 contestants are expected to compete in the event[3] which will be broadcast via NBC and Telemundo to TV outlets in more than 180 countries. The final presentation show is on July 8, the dress rehearsal on July 13 and the live telecast on July 14.

Goodluck to our very own candidate, Binibining Pilipinas Universe, Jennifer Barrientos!

I would like to acknowledge wikipedia for the image and the complete information regarding this topic. Thanks!