The biggest scandals in the history of Miss Universe

Controversial incidents have not been absent from the most important beauty contest in the world which started in 1952. Foul play with pepper spray, tacky tattoo and panty reveals, and Donald Trump – it is all in there. Let's have a look!

The United States was disqualified in 1957 when its representative, Leona Gage, turned out to be married. It's not a "Mrs." competition!

Another memorable scandal happened at the 2015 edition of Miss Universe, the year in which presenter Steve Harvey mistakenly (and for a few seconds) named Colombia's Ariadna Gutiérrez as the winner of the contest. Soon afterwards, he apologied and crowned Pia Wurtzbach from the Philippines as the legitimate Miss Universe.

In 2021, after he had hosted four consecutive Miss Universe galas, Harvey heard that he wasn't going to present the 69th edition of the contest. The official explanation for his replacement was a late contract renewal, but some media have suggested that his epic mistake was the cause of his dismissal. By the end of 2021, for the December gala, he was invited back again - but only together with his daughter Lori.

In 2014, controversy came with a striking costume. Kimberly Castillo, the representative of the Dominican Republic, dressed up in the image of the Virgin of Altagracia, the protector of the Dominican people. Many considered her outfit an offense against a religious symbol.

Anyella Grados won the crown to represent Peru at the 2019 Miss Universe pageant, but a wild party ruined everything for her. After a video circulated of Anyella in a state of drunkenness, the organization disqualified the beauty queen from any further participation. It cited her contract, prohibiting smoking, drinking, or any other acts that could threaten the reputation of the contest.

Image: @anyellapamela / IG

Camila Canicoba, Miss Peru Teen 2019, turned out to be involved in this scandal. She confessed to having recorded the drunken Anyella and to spreading the video in order to make Miss Peru's misconduct public. The organization did not praise her, though. It penalized her for having been at the same party against its rules. Two Peruvian queens now lost their crowns.

Image: @camilacanicoba / IG

Lebanon's Georgina Rizk, Miss Universe 1971, was chosen to deliver the crown to her successor in Puerto Rico, but she did not show up after allegedly receiving a death threat.

Jennifer Hawkins, the 2004 Miss Universe winner, was criticized for her poor choice of underwear after her skirt fell off during a parade and her panties were on display.

In 2001, France's representative Elodie Gossuin was involved in a scandal. Rumor had it she was a transgender woman. Shortly thereafter, however, people realized it had been a joke by Elodie's friends.

The transgender Miss Canada, Jenna Talackova, could not participate in the Miss Universe competition because it did not allow transgender participants. Following a big controversy, she managed to come back in the race and made it to the semi-finals.

After this incident, Miss Universe began to accept transgender competitors. By late 2022, the competition was even owned by a transgender woman, Anne Jakkaphong.

Right after being crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2008, Ingrid Rivera claimed someone had pepper-sprayed her outfit during the contest.

Miss Israel, Doron Matalon, 'photobombed' a selfie that included Miss Lebanon. This joke during the 2014 pageant caused much indignation among the Lebanese audience.

Earlier, in 2002, Miss Lebanon Christina Sawaya had withdrawn from the contest because of the presence of Miss Israel, Yamit Har Noy.

Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008, was criticized for posing without clothes during the year in which she reigned as the beauty queen. The contest organizers approved the controversial photos.

A small tattoo on the crotch of Spanish candidate Desiré Cordero caught the world's attention in 2014. It was a tattoo in the form of the symbol Om, one of the most sacred mantras of the dharma religions.

Puerto Rico's representative Brenda Robles attended the contest in 1994 while being pregnant. The organizers of the national competition dismissed her and did not let her hand over the crown to her successor.

Image: Brenda Robles PR / Facebook

Crowned Miss Universe in 1996, Alicia Machado was later criticized for drastically gaining weight. Donald Trump even called her an "eating machine."

The presence of Donald Trump at the pageants was in itself a recipe for scandals. The man who would later become president of the United States bragged about walking into the beauty queens' dressing rooms while they were changing.

In 2002, the Russian Oxana Fedorova resigned from her post four months after being crowned. The ex-queen said she was not comfortable with some of the things required of a Miss Universe. So she decided to quit.

Something similar happened in 1974, when the Spanish Miss Universe, Amparo Muñoz, resigned a few months after being crowned. The reasons have always been up to speculation. The queen was not replaced that year.

The first Miss Universe crown was a miniature replica of the crown used by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. The organization used it only in the first edition of the pageant.

The United States tops the list of Misses Universe with nine winners.

It is followed by Venezuela with seven winners and Puerto Rico with five.

In the past 10 years, Miss Universe juries have selected five Latina contestants as winners.

Image: Miss Colombia in 2023

The only countries that have never missed a single edition of Miss Universe are Canada and France.

Image: Miss France in 2021

Janelle Commissiong of Trinidad and Tobago was the first black woman to be crowned Miss Universe in 1977. For her country, it has been a national pride.