History of the Pageants

1989 marks the 38th anniversary of the MISS USA and MISS UNIVERSE pageants, which began in 1952 as concurrent events in Long Beach, FL, from 1960 through 1971. In 1965, the two pageants became separate primetime live television specials, and since 1972 have been telecast from exciting locations around the globe.

The MISS TEEN USA pageant debuted in August 1983 in Lakeland, FL, and has already become the premier pageant for teen girls. The pageant is broadcast from a new site each year.

Miss Universe

Satellite developments in the 1970s allowed the MISS UNIVERSE pageant to travel outside the United States. The first event of MISS UNIVERSE's new era of broadcasting was held in 1972 when the pageant was seen live, via satellite, from the Cerromar Beach Hotel in Dorado, Puerto Rico. The pageant marked the start of an unprecedented series of annual television specials which presented the culture and attractions of some of the most spectacular regions of the world to an international audience. From Puerto Rico, the pageant traveled on to other exotic locales:

The 40th Annual MISS UNIVERSE Pageant was held in Las Vegas, NV, in 1991. The pageant attracted extensive, worldwide coverage by both print and broadcast media and provided a major opportunity for the United States to showcase its rich cultural blend and unique attractions to the entire world. Approximately 600 million viewers in 60 countries shared in the glamour and excitement of the live international telecast when Lupita Jones, Miss Mexico, became MISS UNIVERSE 1991.

Miss USA

Since the MISS USA Pageant began in 1952, 38 MISS USA titleholders, 2,041 state titleholders, and tens of thousands of local contenders have contributed to making the MISS USA Pageant a national tradition.

In 1972, the 21st Annual MISS USA Pageant was held in Puerto Rico and was broadcast live by satellite for the first time. Since then, the pageant has traveled to diverse American cities, including:

On February 7, 1992, an estimated 400 million viewers in 30 countries watched the pageant as it was telecast from Wichita, Kansas. Shannon Marketic of Malibu, CA, captured the MISS USA crown.

Miss Teen USA

The MISS TEEN USA Pageant became an annual event after it attracted strong ratings during its 1983 debut in Lakeland, FL. Since then, the pageant has been held in:

On August 16, 1991, Jonelle Bishop of New Hampshire was named the eighth MISS TEEN USA in Biloxi, Mississippi, as 200 million viewers in 20 countries tuned in to the live event.