The Rigorous Road to the Crown: Understanding How Miss Universe is Chosen

Once the national titleholders are selected, they converge in the host country for several weeks of activities, preliminary competitions, and judging. This period allows the contestants to interact with one another, participate in photoshoots, attend events, and most importantly, be evaluated by a panel of preliminary judges. These preliminary judges are typically composed of industry experts, former titleholders, and influential figures from various fields. They assess each contestant across several categories, including their performance in the swimsuit and evening gown competitions, as well as their poise, confidence, and overall presentation. A crucial component of this preliminary judging is the closed-door interview, where the judges have the opportunity to engage in conversation with each contestant, evaluating their communication skills, intelligence, personality, and their views on various social and global issues.