Formation 1952 Headquarters Toronto | Type Beauty pageant Location Canada | |
 | ||
Motto Education Goals, Dreams and Anti-Bullying Membership Miss Universe
Miss International
Reina Internacional del Café
Miss United Continents
World Miss University | ||
Miss Universe Canada or "Beauties of Canada" is a national Beauty pageant in Canada.
Contents
History
Beauties of Canada Organization gained the exclusive rights to send a Canadian representative to the Miss Universe Pageant in 2002. Created by Brandon Mclennan, the company President is Nicaraguan-born Canadian Denis Davila.
The Miss Universe Canada contest was first held in 2003, with the first winner being Leanne Marie Cecile. Cecile made the Top 10 in Miss Universe 2003.
Natalie Glebova was crowned the winner in 2005 and went on to become Miss Universe 2005. Glebova's successor Alice Panikian was viewed as a strong contender to win the 2006 Miss Universe crown and placed in the Top 10.
Controversy
In 2010, Miss Universe Canada made headlines when Maria Al-Masani, the first beauty pageant contestant of Yemeni origin, competed. This was controversial due to accommodating her religious beliefs by allowing her to wear a semi-transparent sarong over her swimsuit. In 2012, CNN World News named her one of its eight "agents of change" to follow, the only Canadian to receive that designation.
The 2012 contest was accused of transphobia after disqualifying a transgender contestant, Jenna Talackova (Jana Talačková), for not being a "naturally born female". A spokesperson from Miss Universe Canada released a statement saying she was disqualified because on her entry form she stated she was born a female, which was not the case. Eventually, Talackova was let back into the competition.
After this, Sahar Biniaz dropped out of the Miss Universe pageant a few days prior to it starting, having allegedly hurt her foot. However it is believed that it was because she was over age. Adwoa Yamoah, the first runner-up, replaced her and competed in Miss Universe 2012.
On May 27, 2013, two days after the Miss Universe Canada 2013 pageant, it was announced that Denise Garrido was the winner. As it turned out, Garrido was actually 3rd runner-up and due to a mathematical error was named the winner. Calgary's Riza Santos was the actual winner. During the validation of the computerized scoring results (which occurred the following day), a typo was discovered in the top five entries, which significantly impacted the final results of the competition.
Miss Universe Canada
Miss International Canada
The following is a list of all Miss International Canada titleholders in under Beauties of Canada or Miss Universe Canada since 2008.
Miss Canada 1952-1994
In 1952-1994 Miss Canada winners in under another organization competed at Miss Universe pageant, in some years Canada was using Dominion of Canada at the pageant. In 1995 was beginning for Miss Universe Canada pageant to send the candidate to the Miss Universe pageant. On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) a runner-up is sent.