Miss World
and
Miss Universe
are the two most famous international competitions in the world.
Clémence Botino
, Miss France 2020, participated in Miss Universe in 2021 and will represent France this Saturday March 9 at Miss World.
The two competitions, one English and the other American, each have their own specificities.
To discover
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73 and 72 years of existence
Miss World is the oldest of the two competitions... give or take a little over a year.
It was created in 1951 by Eric Morley, an English television presenter, and was then called the "Bikini Contest" because the young women paraded in swimsuits.
During this first year, the winner was elected in this beach outfit for the one and only time in the history of the election.
The competition was then quickly renamed Miss World.
It was broadcast on the BBC from 1959 until the 1990s. In 2000, Julia Morley, the widow of Eric Morley, took over the reins of the competition after the death of her husband.
She is still at the helm of Miss World to this day.
Miss Universe was launched in 1952 in Long Beach, California by the clothing brand Pacific Mills.
It was first broadcast on American television in 1955. Today it is broadcast live in 190 countries.
From 1996 to 2014, the election was run by Donald Trump.
In 2015, the former president of the United States sold his shares to the IMG group.
In 2022, Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, a transgender Thai businesswoman, bought the competition and runs it today.
Read alsoMiss World: on which channel and at what time to follow the ceremony live with Clémence Botino?
Different areas of development
In 1980, Miss World went beyond the framework of a simple beauty contest by integrating new values with the slogan “Beauty with a purpose” which literally means: beauty with a purpose.
The organization then sets up a certain number of challenges and tests focused on the intelligence, personality, culture and above all the commitment of the candidates.
To further support this, Miss World is canceling its swimsuit parade in 2014.
With this decision, the organization intends to show that it focuses more on the inner beauty of the participants than on their plastic beauty.
On election night, the candidates parade only in national costume and evening dresses.
They answer many questions and above all must support a cause that is close to their heart.
“Each candidate has a project and must defend it, it’s really the DNA and philosophy of Miss World
,” explains Clémence Botino.
Miss Universe, for its part, focuses more on physical beauty and show.
It’s the reign of “too much” with false eyelashes and heavy makeup.
“Miss Universe is very much about image.
The competition has a very social media aspect.
There are immediately girls who stand out, it’s quite obvious
,” continues the French candidate.
The parade on stage is a very important moment.
However, since 2015 and the departure of Donald Trump, the American competition has put more emphasis on the personality of the candidates, their general knowledge and their eloquence.
The questions asked of the finalists often relate to politics and international relations.
Also read “I will be your Marie-Antoinette”: Clémence Botino reveals her astonishing national costume for Miss World
Diverging qualifying challenges
The candidates for Miss World leave three weeks before the election for a preparation stay in the country hosting the competition.
During this time, they participate in different tests which allow them to make their personality known to the jury.
“There is Head to Head which allows us to highlight our eloquence.
Beauty with a purpose during which each candidate carries a charitable project and which represents the very essence of the competition.
There is also the Sport challenge, the Multimedia challenge, the Top model challenge, on how to parade, and the Talent challenge
,” continues Clémence Botino.
The winners of these challenges qualify directly into the Top 40, which represents around twenty candidates.
The other finalists are chosen by the jury.
Before the election, each participant spoke to the jury during an interview.
The preparation for Miss Universe lasts two weeks.
During their stay, the contenders for the crown first pass the pre-selection interview.
The jurors then ask the candidates questions in order to get to know them better and understand their motivations.
Three days before the evening of the election, the Misses participate in the Preliminary show.
An evening during which they must parade in an outfit of their choice, then in a swimsuit and, finally, in an evening dress.
The jury observes them.
He must then determine the 20 finalists based on these first two steps.
Two days before the show, the participants parade during an evening in their national costumes.
A moment that does not count in the choice of finalists.
Also read: Candidates, rules, jury, France's chances... Everything you need to know about the Miss Universe 2023 election
Selection criteria that evolve
To participate in Miss World, candidates must be between 17 and 27 years old, they must not be married or mothers.
They do not have to be born in the country they represent but must, however, reside there.
For a long time, the criteria for participating in Miss Universe were the same as for Miss World.
When she arrived at the head of the competition in 2022, Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip greatly relaxed the rules.
From now on, there is no longer any age limit, except being at least 18 years old.
During the last election last November, Bulgaria's representative was 30 years old.
Married women and mothers can also compete.
Two transgender women were also part of the 2023 election, Miss Portugal and Miss Netherlands.
Also read: Diane Leyre looks back on her Miss Universe adventure: “I was the victim of cyberharassment, I received a big wave of hatred”
Note that cosmetic surgery is authorized in both competitions and that there is no height criterion, unlike Miss France where candidates must be at least 1.70.
For the moment, three French women have managed to win international titles: Christiane Martel won the crown of Miss Universe 1953 and Iris Mittenaere, that of 2016. Denise Perrier, for her part, is the only French representative to have won the sash of Miss World in 1953. Clémence Botino hopes to follow in the footsteps of the latter this Saturday March 9, 2024. An election to follow on Paris Première from 3 p.m. French time and on our live stream.