Date 31 May 2005 Entrants 81 | Broadcaster NBC Placements 15 | |
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Presenters Billy Bush, Nancy O'Dell Venue Impact Arena, Bangkok, Thailand | ||
Miss Universe 2005, the 54th Miss Universe pageant, was held on 31 May 2005 at Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. Natalie Glebova of Canada was crowned by Jennifer Hawkins of Australia at the event's conclusion. 81 contestants competed in this year.
Contents
Best National Costume
Miss Photogenic
Miss Congeniality
Final telecast
A panel of twelve judges evaluated contestants in the Miss Universe 2005 pageant.
Host city
Thailand publicized its bid to host the pageant 10 July 2004, during a visit by Jennifer Hawkins, Miss Universe 2004, to the country. At the time, Chile, China, and Greece were also being considered to host the event. One month later, it was announced that Bangkok, Thailand had been informally selected to host the competition, at a cost of US$6.5 million. The cost was to be funded by the Thai government in an attempt to boost tourism. In October the proposal faced difficulties when the Thai government were slow to provide the promised funds, which discouraged prospective sponsors, leading Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to become personally involved to make sure that plans were not derailed. The organization awarded official hosting rights to the Matching Entertainment company in December 2004, after an unsuccessful attempt by a different company, Showcase Thailand 2005.
In February 2005, after the Thai government confirmed plans to back the pageant, the Deputy Prime Minister refuted claims that the event would be held in Khao Lak, a resort town devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, but confirmed that Southern Thailand would host events prior to the final competition.
2005 was the second time the pageant was held in Bangkok. The city also hosted the Miss Universe 1992 competition, won by Michelle McLean of Namibia.