Big Four beauty pageants facts for kids
The Big Four or the Big League Pageants are the four most important international beauty contests for women. These are Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss International, and Miss Earth.
Newspapers like China Daily first called them "the world's four major beauty contests" in 2004. Later, South China Morning Post and Chosun Ilbo also described them as "top beauty pageants." In 2017, the Latin Times said they were the "most important pageants in the world." NBC News called them the "four biggest international pageants" in 2018. In 2019, Agencia EFE named them the "four most influential beauty pageants."
Many beauty contests happen every year, but the Big Four are seen as the most famous. They get a lot of attention and are shown widely by news groups. Major news organizations like The Wall Street Journal, BBC News, CNN, Xinhua News Agency, and global news agencies like Reuters, Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse all call these four contests the "Big Four."
Contents
The Big Four Pageants
- Miss World is the oldest big international beauty contest. It started in the United Kingdom in 1951 by Eric Morley. After he passed away in 2000, his wife, Julia Morley, now helps lead the pageant.
- Miss Universe is another international beauty contest. The Miss Universe Organization runs it. As of 2022, a company from Thailand called JKN Global Group owns it. The pageant began in 1952. Over the years, it has been owned by different companies, including Donald Trump from 1996 to 2015.
- Miss International, also known as "Miss International Beauty," is an international beauty contest based in Tokyo, Japan. The International Culture Association organizes it. This pageant first took place in 1960.
- Miss Earth is an annual international beauty contest that focuses on the environment. It helps people learn about environmental awareness. Carousel Productions in Manila, Philippines, organizes it through the Miss Earth Foundation. It started in 2001. The pageant works with groups like Greenpeace, World Wildlife Foundation, and the United Nations Environment Program.
| Miss World | Miss Universe | Miss International | Miss Earth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Started | July 29, 1951 | June 28, 1952 | August 12, 1960 | April 3, 2001 |
| Main Office | London, England | New York City, United States Samut Prakan, Thailand Mexico City, Mexico |
Tokyo, Japan | Manila, Philippines |
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JKN Global Group |
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In October 2005, Cynthia Kanema from Zambia became the first woman to compete in all four of the top beauty pageants. She joined Miss World 2003, Miss International 2004, Miss Universe 2005, and Miss Earth 2005. In 2011, Miss South Africa Bokang Montjane was the first woman to compete in all Big Four pageants and also place in one of them. She was in the Top 16 at Miss Earth 2007. She also competed in Miss International 2009, Miss Universe 2011, and was in the Top 7 at Miss World 2011.
Records
Most Wins by Countries
Some countries and territories have won each of the Big Four pageants at least once. Here are some of them:
| Country/Territory | Total wins | Miss World | Miss Universe | Miss International | Miss Earth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Brazil |
6 |
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 Philippines |
15 |
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 Puerto Rico |
10 |
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 United States |
16 |
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 Venezuela |
24 |
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Brazil
Brazil was the first country to win all four major international pageant titles. This happened when they won Miss Earth 2004. Brazil has won two Miss Universe titles, two Miss Earth titles, one Miss World title, and one Miss International title.
Venezuela
When Venezuela won Miss Earth 2005, it became the second country to win titles in each of the Big Four pageants. Venezuela has the most wins in the Big Four pageants overall. They have two Miss Earth titles, seven Miss Universe titles, nine Miss International titles, and six Miss World titles. By winning Miss Earth 2013, Venezuela became the first country to win all four pageants more than once.
Philippines
The Philippines became the third country to win all Big Four titles after winning Miss World 2013. The Philippines has six Miss International titles, four Miss Universe titles, and four Miss Earth titles. They have the most wins in the Miss Earth pageant's history. They also have one Miss World title. The Philippines achieved many wins quickly, winning Miss World 2013, Miss International 2013, Miss Earth 2014, Miss Earth 2015, and Miss Universe 2015 in just three years. They also hold the record for the longest winning streak in all four major beauty pageants, with wins for six years in a row.
Puerto Rico
After winning Miss Earth 2019, Puerto Rico became the first territory and fourth country to win all Big Four titles. Puerto Rico has ten Big Four crowns in total. These include five Miss Universe titles, two Miss World titles, two Miss International titles, and one Miss Earth title.
United States
The United States became the fifth country to win all Big Four titles after winning Miss Earth 2020. The U.S. has nine Miss Universe crowns, which is the most in that pageant's history. They also have three crowns in Miss World and three crowns in Miss International.
Longest Winning Streak
The Philippines holds the record for winning at least one of the Big Four pageant titles for the longest time in a row. They won titles for six straight years from 2013 to 2018. This includes Miss World 2013, Miss International 2013, Miss Earth 2014, Miss Universe 2015, Miss Earth 2015, Miss International 2016, Miss Earth 2017, and Miss Universe 2018. They are the only country to win at least once in all Big Four pageants during a winning streak.
Multiple Wins in the Same Year
France was the first country to win at least two Big Four beauty pageant titles in the same year. They won Miss Universe and Miss World in 1953. Other countries have also done this. Brazil won Miss Universe and Miss International in 1968. Australia won Miss Universe and Miss World in 1972. Venezuela won Miss Universe and Miss World in 1981, and Miss Universe and Miss Earth in 2013. India won Miss Universe and Miss World in 1994 and 2000. Ecuador won Miss International and Miss Earth in 2011. The Philippines won Miss World and Miss International in 2013, and Miss Universe and Miss Earth in 2015.
Back-to-Back Wins
In Miss World, three countries have won two years in a row. Sweden won in Miss World 1951 and Miss World 1952. The United Kingdom won in Miss World 1964 and Miss World 1965. India had back-to-back wins with Yukta Mookhey in Miss World 1999 and Priyanka Chopra in Miss World 2000.
In Miss Universe, Venezuela is the only country to win two years in a row. Stefanía Fernandez won Miss Universe 2009, following Dayana Mendoza who won Miss Universe 2008. This earned Venezuela a Guinness World Record.
In Miss Earth, the Philippines is the only country to win two years in a row. Angelia Ong won Miss Earth 2015, after Jamie Herrell won Miss Earth 2014.
Miss International has not yet had a country win two years in a row.
Images for kids
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Miss World 1951
First winner of Miss World
Kiki Håkansson,
Sweden -
Miss Universe 1952
First winner of Miss Universe
Armi Kuusela
Finland -
Miss Earth 2001
First winner of Miss Earth
Catharina Svensson
Denmark
See also
- List of beauty pageants
