Charity dinners, swimsuit shows and cooking contests: Miss Universe hopefuls go head-to-head in world's most glamorous competition
- Nearly 90 contestants from around the world have landed in Miami for contest
- In next few weeks will learn golf, salsa, cooking and model swimsuits
- Preliminary competition includes evening gown, swimsuit and interviews and happens on January 21
- Final is held on January 25 - Gabriela Isler of Venezuela took home last year's crown
They may be known for their glossy hair, picture-perfect make-up and bikini bodies, but judging by the packed itinerary, the Miss Universe contestants will have to prove they are both beauty and brains.
Nearly 90 of the world’s most beautiful women descended on Miami on Monday ahead the 2014 Miss Universe pageant and it looks like they've got a tough few weeks ahead.
The preliminary competition, which includes evening gown, swimsuit and the interview rounds, will take place on Wednesday 21 January - but that doesn't mean the preparations haven't begun.
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(l-r) Josselyn Garciglia, Miss Mexico , Noyonita Lodh, Miss India, and Silvia Prochadzkova, Miss Slovak Republic, pose in Yamamay for Miss Universe swimwear upon arriving to Trump National Doral Miami for the 63rd Annual Miss Universe Pageant, Miami, Florida, America
Women from dozens of countries - including Albania, El Salvador, Great Britain and Haiti - have been preparing backstage for the biggest week of their lives.
The event's official photographer followed the women, who are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete, and captured the lengthy preparation processes, from getting their haired coiffed to having dresses fitted.
The events schedule kicks off on Friday with a drinks reception. Miss Universe contestants will be introduced to the public and to the City of Doral, where the event is being held, for the first time on stage at the Downtown Doral Park. Quite fittingly, there will be a pink carpet for VIP arrivals.
To show off their modelling skills, on Saturday the Miss Universe contestants will be showcasing fashion brand Chinese Laundry's spring 2015 collection while wearing the latest footwear styles from the label. Later in the day, the ladies will put their best foot forward with salsa dancing lessons.
The women, including Valentina Bonariva, Miss Italy, who poses with her country flag, left, and Josselyn Garciglia, Miss Mexico, have a tough couple of weeks ahead of them before the Miss Universe finals on January 25
Miss Australia Tegan Martin poses in her evening gown at the 63rd annual Miss Universe Pageant in Miami ahead of the week of events
(l-r) Artnesa Krasniqi, Miss Kosovo, Pimbongkod Chankaew, Miss Thailand, and Ivana Misura, Miss Croatia, all pose in their evening gowns ahead of the event, which will see them attending cocktail receptions and fashion shows
Silvia Prochadzkova, Miss Slovak Republic, gets her hair done while she poses for photographs backstage
Silvia Prochadzkova, Miss Slovak Republic, reclines on a lounger at the hotel, owned by Donald Trump
On Sunday, they will enjoy a Graffiti Art Experience by visiting pop artist Romero Britto’s studio for an interactive painting event. Then, they will take part in the celebration of the nations with a cultural parade and an afternoon of live music, dancing, food carts, and mingling.
The parade will feature marching bands and a variety of luxury cars showcasing the Miss Universe contestants. Local restaurants will hold a gastronomic festival and multicultural dances will take place.
The following week kicks off with a golf putting tournament, zumba lessons and a cooking contest. Contestants will also show their charitable side when they accompany Miss Universe 2014, Gabriela Isler, on a visit to FFP, the largest international charity in the United States that serves the poor in countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.
There will also be a Yamamay swimsuit fashion show and a gifting auction. Every year, the contestants bring a gift from their country that will be donated to a silent auction to support a selected charity. This is a special annual event and this year proceeds will go to Best Buddies, a long-term partner of the Miss Universe Organization’s.
The ladies will also get to let their hair down ahead of the preliminary competition at a VIP cocktail reception at Image Skincare, the official skincare sponsor. There will be a DJ, red carpet and the women will carry out interviews with press.
Following on from the preliminary round, the top 15 women will be chosen and they will go straight into the National Costume round the same night.
The finals will be held at the FIU Arena on Sunday 25 January, when Venezuelan Miss Universe 2013, Gabriela Isler, will hand over her crown.
Grace Levy, Miss Great Britain, captures a picture of herself using a selfie stick as she waits poolside
Miss Australia Tegan Martin and one of her fellow competitors pose with their shopping bags and post the snap on Instagram
The Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the Miss Universe 2014 crown to be decided on 25 January in Miami. Here, Miss Universe India, Noyonita Lodh, has her hair done by a stylist backstage
(l-r) Josselyn Garciglia, Miss Mexico, Noyonita Lodh, Miss India, and Silvia Prochadzkova, Miss Slovak Republic pose in swimwear in Miami
Grace Levy, Miss Great Britain, and Yoo Bin, Miss Korea, pose in Yamamay in Miss Universe robes after arriving to Trump National Doral Miami
Nia Sanchez, Miss USA, poses in Yamamay swimwear upon arriving at the event before the week-long events
Miss Australia Tegan Martin sits down with Miss Universe Chief Photo Editor Francis L. Szelwach to review her photos after posing in swimwear at the 63rd annual Miss Universe pageant
Miss Hungary, Henrietta Kelemen, gets her hair done at the 63rd annual Miss Universe Pageant in Miami, Florida, ahead of the grand finale
Aiday Issayeva, Miss Kazakhstan poses in her evening gown as she joins pageant contestants preparing to compete for the crown
Johana Riva Garabetian, Miss Uruguay, poses in her dazzling pink evening gown
Miss Puerto Rico Gabriela Berrios poses in her evening gown, left, and Miss Italy Valentina Bonariva poses with her country flag, right
The contestants, including Niketa Barker, Miss Universe Guyana, left, and Miss Hungary, Henrietta Kelemen, right, get primped and primed by the make-up artists backstage
Henrietta Kelemen tries on her Sherri Hill gown with wardrobe assistant Mark Zappone backstage at the event in Miami
Miss India 2014, Noyonita Lodh, has her hair tousled backstage as she and the other women prepare to go head-to-head in the pageant
Donald J. Trump and Paula M. Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, recently revealed that Today show host Natalie Morales and MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts will host the 63rd pageant, a three-hour show that airs on NBC.
It has also been rumoured that Filipino boxer, Manny Pacquioa, will be a judge, although he is yet to confirm his place on the panel.
Among the notable contestants is Miss Great Britain, Grace Levy, an events executive from London.
Grace, who studied psychology in Bristol, worked as an event manager of her own annual charity event and starred on popular British dating show, Take Me Out.
Miss Australia, 22-year-old Tegan Martin, hails from Newcastle, the same town as Miss Universe 2004, Jennifer Hawkins.
Tegan, who worked as a model in Paris, came second in Miss Universe Australia twice before she won on her third and final attempt.
Nia Sanchez, Miss USA 2014, left, is interviewed by Director of New Media, Dena Muehlfeld, upon arriving to Trump National Doral Miami
90 of the world's most beautiful women descended on Miami to compete in the annual Miss Universe competition
How do I look? One Miss Universe contestant checks back her photo taken by one of the competition's photographers
Tegan, who is studying for a Bachelor of Nutritional Medicine, has hopes of raising awareness of mental health in youth. She is also part of a youth mentoring program helping schoolgirls struggling with confidence.
Miss USA, 24-year-old Nia Sanchez, is half Hispanic, and has travelled across the world on countless mission trips.
After working as a full-time model for the past seven years, she landed a face character role at Hong Kong Disney World.
The popular contest was established in 1952 as a local 'bathing beauty' competition spearheaded by Catalina Swimwear in Long Beach, California.
Speaking about the pageant, a spokesperson for the event said: 'These women are savvy, goal-oriented and aware. The delegates who become part of the Miss Universe Organization display those characteristics in their everyday lives, both as individuals, who compete with hope of advancing their careers, personal and humanitarian goals, and as women who seek to improve the lives of others.'
This year's event hasn't come without controversy; tensions are rife in the event's city of Doral, who pledged $2.5million from its reserves to support Trump’s beauty pageant, according to the Miami Herald.
Nia Sanchez, Miss USA; and Zuleica Wilson, Miss Universe Angola; try on their Sherri Hill gowns upon arriving to Trump National Doral Miami
Doron Matalon, Miss Universe Israel, relaxes while waiting to pose in Yamamay for Miss Universe swimwear
Zuleica Wilson, Miss Universe Angola, gets makeup done by an OP Makeup Studio Cosmetics artist
After having their hair and make-up perfected, the competitors pose for a series of official Miss Universe photographs
Miss Myanmar Sharr Eaindra poses in her evening gown. She competed in the Miss Universe Myanmar 2014 pageant, which was only the second time in over 50 years the pageant was held for the country
Mary Jean Lastimosa, Miss Philippines, left, and Jimena Espinosa, Miss Peru, right, pose in their evening gowns
Miss Paraguay poses for a scenic snap ahead of the competition kicking off
The contestants, including Miss Brazil and Miss Kosovo, prepare for the swimsuit round
MISS GREAT BRITAIN REVEALS HER 'PATRIOTIC' NATIONAL COSTUME
Grace Levy, Miss Great Britain, revealeds her 'patriotic' costume on Facebook
Grace Levy, Miss Great Britain, recently revealed her national costume on her Facebook page.
Alongside the image, she wrote: 'My national costume is the epitome of Great Britain, and mostly London where I live.
'My costume portrays a sense of how I feel about being a modern day woman in my city; passionate, strong and empowered, whilst at the same time giving me the opportunity to represent something which people immediately know as British.
'It also reflects the protection of the monarchy and how patriotic I feel towards them.
'I spent days exploring my city to find inspiration and I discovered that London is a city which is completely dedicated to them; hence why I finally decided to base my national costume on the Royal Guards of Buckingham Palace.
'My costume was designed by myself and handmade using the same textiles and embellishments from the same factory that make all official regalia for the royal family and their guards.
'This has made my costume that little bit more special. The factory also happens to make the costumes for smash hit British TV series Game of Thrones.
'I can't wait to represent the greatness of Britain on stage in Miami! To the people of GB..... This is for YOU.'
However, not everyone was taken with Miss GB's patriotic look.
Fashion writer Simon Glazin (theverysimong.com) todl FEMAIL: 'This, she says, shows how she feels about the Monarchy. Not a great deal, by the looks of it!
'It looks more like a cheap, tacky tribute to Cheryl Cole.'There is nothing here that will protect the Monarchy.
'In fact, if I was the Queen, I'd make sure she's ousted from the country immediately.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2900263/Miss-Universe-hopefuls-head-head-world-s-glamorous-competition.html#ixzz3OB1TBfxv
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