The 74th annual Miss Universe pageant came to a close in Bangkok, bringing an end to one of the most dramatic seasons of the event to date.
Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch was crowned Miss Universe, just weeks after she went head-to-head with a pageant director who yelled at her. She wore a glittering red gown to ascend the throne.
Bosch’s shimmering dress was par for the course for modern Miss Universe contestants, who typically wear sparkly gowns with eye-catching details. However, contestants have chosen simpler dresses for the pageant in years past, and in its earliest days, Miss Universe was crowned wearing a swimsuit.
Take a look back at the outfits contestants have worn to be crowned Miss Universe throughout the pageant’s history.
Armi Kuusela was crowned the first Miss Universe in 1952.
Wearing a classic bathing suit from the ’50s, Armi Kuusela of Finland was crowned the first-ever Miss Universe.
Christiane Martel represented France at the 1953 Miss Universe pageant.
Christiane Martel accepted her crown in a strapless swimsuit.
Miriam Stevenson was the first Miss USA to become Miss Universe.
Miriam Stevenson donned a halter-top swimsuit with crystals when she was crowned.
Hillevi Rombin represented Sweden in the 1955 Miss Universe pageant.
Looking closely at Hillevi Rombin’s swimsuit top, you’ll notice the pearl detail, which perfectly matches the Miss Universe crown and scepter.
Gladys Zender of Peru became the first Latin American woman to win Miss Universe in 1957.
The cascading pearls on Gladys Zender’s swimsuit top help draw your eye.
Luz Zuluaga, who won in 1958, was the only Colombian to win Miss Universe until 2014.
Luz Zuluaga’s V-neck swimsuit was a welcome change from the sweetheart neckline of past winners.
Akiko Kojima was the first Japanese woman to win the Miss Universe competition in 1959.
Akiko Kojima’s blue one-piece was an unexpected pop of color that stood out against the red coronation robe.
Linda Bement was crowned Miss Universe in 1960.
The one-shoulder chiffon dress made Linda Bement look ready for a ball.
Iêda Maria Vargas was the first Brazilian to be crowned Miss Universe in 1963.
Iêda Maria Vargas took the crown wearing a sky-blue gown with sewn crystals all over and a chiffon sleeve made to blow in the wind as she walked onstage.
Corinna Tsopei of Greece paid tribute to the country’s flag with the colors of her winning gown.
In addition to its eye-catching blue color, Corinna Tsopei’s gown featured bedazzled frills hanging off her shoulders, which matched the bling of her crown and scepter.
Apasra Hongsakula represented Thailand in the 1965 Miss Universe pageant.
Bling is the first word that comes to mind after seeing Apasra Hongsakula’s winning gown.
Margreta Arvidsson was the second Swedish woman to win the Miss Universe crown in 1966.
Margreta Arvidsson wore a pink strapless gown to accept her crown. If you look closely, you’ll see the hem detail also matches the outline of the scepter.
Sylvia Hitchcock represented the US at the 1967 Miss Universe competition.
Sylvia Hitchcock’s white gown, featuring a one-shoulder strap across her chest, was unexpected but added just the right amount of edge.
Martha Vasconcellos chose a blue and silver gown for the Miss Universe pageant in 1968.
The silver tiers of Martha Vasconcellos’ blue dress resembled tinsel.
Kerry Anne Wells wore a muted, flowy dress at the 1972 Miss Universe competition.
Kerry Anne Wells’ dress was made for flowing in the wind as she walked down the stage with her Miss Universe crown on.
Margarita Moran chose an elegant, embellished gown at the Miss Universe pageant in 1973.
Margarita Moran’s long gown included a cape-like shoulder detail, a high neckline, and minimal embellishments throughout.
Shawn Weatherly stole the show with this beaded gown in 1980.
The beaded stripes on the dress were a great contrast to the crystals hanging from the cuffs.
Irene Sáez was pretty in pink at the 1981 Miss Universe pageant.
Irene Sáez wore a pink gown covered in crystals and complete with dramatic flower sleeves.
Karen Baldwin was the first Canadian to win the Miss Universe competition in 1982.
Unlike previous winners, Karen Baldwin went for a black gown with a bedazzled bodice detail.
Yvonne Ryding’s dress at the 1984 Miss Universe pageant looked simple at first glance.
Yvonne Ryding wore a layered look, donning a white, long-sleeved gown with an overlay and floral embroidery throughout.
Deborah Carthy-Deu was the second Miss Puerto Rico to win the Miss Universe competition in 1985.
The gold stripes of Deborah Carthy-Deu’s gown balanced out with the thicker gold sequins running down the front.
Angela Visser represented Holland at the 1989 Miss Universe competition.
Angela Visser glowed in this floor-length evening gown made with gold, silver, and white sequined scales.
Mona Grudt was the first Norwegian to win the title of Miss Universe in 1990.
Although Mona Grudt chose a classic white gown, the dramatic flare of the skirt made it a statement-worthy piece.
Lupita Jones was the first Mexican woman to win the title of Miss Universe in 1991.
Lupita Jones wore a beaded, off-the-shoulder red gown.
Dayanara Torres, who was crowned Miss Universe in 1993, wore a white gown with a daring slit.
The thigh-high slit of Dayanara Torres’ floor-length white gown added an unexpected sexy element. It also had a strapless neckline and a fitted bodice.
After winning the 1994 Miss Universe competition, Sushmita Sen went on to pursue a career in Bollywood.
When she accepted her crown, Sushmita Sen wore a beaded dress with gold floral sleeves.
Chelsi Smith was the first Miss USA to be crowned Miss Universe in 15 years.
Chelsi Smith looked regal in this sweetheart chiffon gown. The matching scarf and red lipstick completed the look.
After winning Miss Universe 1996, Alicia Machado pursued acting and appeared on various reality competition shows.
The silver spikes on Alicia Machado’s mint gown gave it an edgy feel.
After winning Miss Universe 1997, Brook Lee went on to host TV shows in Asia and the United States.
The sparkly halter, beaded waistband, and thigh-high slit design elements of Brook Lee’s dress worked together seamlessly.
Wendy Fitzwilliam made history at the 1998 Miss Universe pageant as the first contestant to win wearing a bikini in the swimsuit competition.
When she was crowned Miss Universe, Wendy Fitzwilliam wore statement earrings and a beaded gown.
Mpule Kwelagobe, crowned in 1999, was Botswana’s first-ever Miss Universe winner.
A simple, flowy skirt made the sparkly off-the-shoulder top of Mpule Kwelagobe’s gown stand out.
Lara Dutta took the Miss Universe crown in 2000.
Lara Dutta brought the festive vibes with this sparkly red gown.
Denise Quiñones won the Miss Universe title in 2001.
Denise Quiñones’ white halter gown, featuring different-colored beads throughout, matched the crystals on the Miss Universe crown.
Oxana Fedorova was crowned Miss Universe in 2002.
Like other Miss Universe winners in the past, Fedorova went with a simple white gown for her crowning.
Four months after she was crowned Miss Universe, though, Fedorova was dethroned because “she was unable to fulfill her duties,” the former president of the Miss Universe Organization, Paula Shugart, said, according to CBS News.
The first runner-up, Miss Panama Justine Pasek, was then crowned Miss Universe 2002.
Amelia Vega was the first person from the Dominican Republic to win the Miss Universe title in 2003.
Amelia Vega took the traditional white gown a step further with the crystal-embellished sleeves and shoulder straps.
Jennifer Hawkins looked like a walking gold statue at the 2004 Miss Universe competition.
Jennifer Hawkins stunned judges when she appeared onstage in a textured gold dress with flower details everywhere and a sparkling bracelet and necklace to match.
Natalie Glebova was only the second Canadian to hold the Miss Universe title.
For the 2005 Miss Universe competition, Natalie Glebova rocked a white gown with a plunging neckline and a thigh-high slit.
Zuleyka Rivera wore one of the most daring gowns of the 2006 Miss Universe competition.
With a low-cut top, a high slit in the front, and dazzling beaded work, Zuleyka Rivera had one of the most memorable looks of the 2006 competition.
Riyo Mori was the second Japanese woman to be crowned Miss Universe in 2007.
For her winning gown, Riyo Mori wore a kimono-inspired black and floral evening gown from the Spring/Summer 2007 Gucci collection.
Dayana Mendoza was crowned Miss Venezuela 2008 before winning Miss Universe.
For her crowning moment, Dayana Mendoza wore a strapless yellow gown covered in beads. The thigh-high slit and turquoise statement earrings add to the drama of the look.
Stefania Fernández’s 2009 Miss Universe win was a milestone, as it was the first time a country had won back-to-back crowns.
Unlike her predecessor, Dayana Mendoza, Stefania Fernandez went with a more extravagant look, wearing a red floor-length gown.
After her Miss Universe win in 2010, Ximena Navarrete went on to star in Spanish soap operas.
Ximena Navarrete accepted her Miss Universe crown wearing a flowy, floor-length red gown. What you can’t see under the sash is the one-shoulder strap adorned with red beads and the slit underneath her skirt.
Leila Lopes made history as the first woman from Angola to win the Miss Universe pageant in 2011.
Leila Lopes wowed the audience with her sleeveless white gown covered in white, silver, and blue beads and feathers.
After being crowned Miss USA, Olivia Culpo went on to win the title of Miss Universe in 2012.
For her crowning moment, Olivia Culpo wore a red dress with long velvet sleeves and a plunging neckline.
When Gabriela Isler was crowned Miss Universe 2013, she made history as the seventh woman from Venezuela to win.
Gabriela Isler stepped onto the stage in a long-sleeved silver gown embellished with crystals and a striped pattern that resembled Jennifer Lopez’s 2012 Zuhair Murad dress.
Paulina Vega won the title of Miss Universe in 2014.
The silver beaded and striped details on Paulina Vega’s gown made for an elegant look.
Pia Wurtzbach was the third woman from the Philippines to win the Miss Universe title in 2015.
Pia Wurtzbach’s royal-blue gown matched the gems on the Miss Universe crown.
When Iris Mittenaere won in 2016, she was the first Miss France to do so in 63 years.
Iris Mittenaere took home the Miss Universe crown in a long-sleeve sparkling gold gown with geometric details.
Demi Nel-Peters was the second Miss Universe winner from South Africa.
Demi Nel-Peters dazzled in this flesh-colored dress stitched with silver crystals in a geometrical pattern.
Catriona Gray was crowned Miss Universe in 2018.
Catriona Gray wore a red dress featuring a plunging, asymmetrical neckline and a thigh-high slit.
Zozibini Tunzi represented South Africa at the 2019 Miss Universe competition.
Zozibini Tunzi’s silver, gold, and blue sequined evening gown stood out on the Miss Universe stage. The draped sleeves and high neckline balanced out the thigh-high slit and peekabo detail across the chest.
Andrea Meza was only the third Miss Mexico to be crowned Miss Universe.
Like many others, Andrea Meza wore a sparkly gown when she was crowned Miss Universe.
The gown had a high neckline and a dramatic cutout on the bodice, as well as tiers of tassels on the skirt and a removable cape.
Harnaaz Sandhu was also the third Miss India to be crowned Miss Universe.
Harnaaz Sandhu’s look was one of the most daring dresses a Miss Universe has worn to be crowned.
Her floor-length dress had a plunging neckline, offsetting the sparkly, see-through fabric that covered the dress in a geometric pattern. Tassels flowing down the center of the gown completed the look.
Putstyle and Saisha Hinde designed Sandhu’s gown, and Bharat Gupta was the fashion director for her look.
R’Bonney Gabriel was the ninth Miss USA to be crowned Miss Universe.
R’Bonney Gabriel is a Texas-based fashion designer with her own sustainable clothing line.
According to the Manila Bulletin, Gabriel’s blue dress was designed by Filipino designer Rian Fernandez.
Sheynnis Palacios was the first Miss Nicaragua to win Miss Universe in the pageant’s history.
Sheynnis Palacios was 23 when she was crowned Miss Universe wearing a heavily beaded dress.
Nidal Nouaihed designed the dress, which featured a sweetheart neckline and semi-sheer paneling on the bodice.
The rest of the dress was completely covered in intricate beading, and a blue cape that honored Nicaragua’s flag accented the look, as Nouaihed shared on Instagram.
Likewise, Victoria Kjær Theilvig became the first Miss Denmark to be crowned Miss Universe in 2024.
Victoria Kjær Theilvig popped in a pink gown when she was named Miss Universe 2024.
The dress, which was covered head-to-toe in sparkles, featured off-the-shoulder sleeves made of strands of beads. Coordinating gloves completed her regal look.
Fátima Bosch became the fourth Miss Mexico to win Miss Universe in November 2025.
Bosch, 25, was crowned Miss Universe in a red gown, as the other three Miss Mexicos who had won the top crown had done before her.
The form-fitting gown had long sleeves and a high neckline, and it was covered in red sparkles. An intricate pattern of gold adorned the front and cuffs of the sleeves, and a sheer cape flowed out behind her.
The look was regal even before Bosch added the Miss Universe tiara to it.
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