The Global Story The international drama of Miss Universe
13 snips
Nov 26, 2025 
William Lee Adams, a senior journalist at the BBC and Miss Universe expert, dives into the recent chaos surrounding the Miss Universe pageant. He discusses viral moments, judges' resignations, and allegations of vote rigging. William explores the contrasting visions of key figures shaping the event and the impact of social media on public perception. He highlights how diverse contestants often become advocates for important causes, arguing for the continued relevance of pageants globally amidst shifting ideals of femininity.
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Personal Gateway To The World
- William Lee Adams describes Miss Universe as a window to the world for his Vietnamese mother in a homogenous town.
- Seeing glamorous contestants from Asia made him feel proud and inspired for his community.
How The Pageant Actually Works
- Miss Universe gathers national winners for preliminaries, interviews, swimsuit, and evening gown before a live final selects the queen.
- The process evaluates 130 contestants across backstage events and televised finals judged by selected juries.
When The Pageant Was A Global TV Event
- The pageant peaked in late 1990s–2015 when terrestrial TV and fewer entertainment options concentrated global attention.
- Social media and fragmented viewing later reduced its mass-audience cultural moment.