Press Releases
MISS UNIVERSE LIVE FINALE TOPS ROKU, TELEMUNDO, AND SOCIAL CHARTS
December 14, 2023
NEW YORK -- The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) announces today that their live broadcast event outdelivered the past two years on television, streaming, and social media, achieving its largest global cross-platform audiences ever.
The Miss Universe competition was the #1 entertainment program on Saturday night primetime across all of broadcast and cable among Adults 18-34 and Adults 18-49. It was also the #1 program of all types in major markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.
At Roku, in their second year of airing Miss Universe, the 72nd Finale marked the first time that The Roku Channel programmed a live event into its Roku Movies and TV Fast channel. The event broke viewership records for the Roku Movies and TV channel, driving it to become the most streamed FAST channel on The Roku Channel, both on and off the Roku platform, on the competition’s broadcast date.
For Telemundo, the program also broke records, delivering 122 million total engagements across platforms, the highest ever for an entertainment event on the network. Among people aged 25-54, viewership rose 74% from 2021, making it the #1 most watched program outside of live sports.
The exclusive Spanish-language digital and social coverage delivered an average of 2.48 million viewers via linear delivery and generated 113 million video views online across their website and social platforms, marking a +88% increase from the 71st Miss Universe edition in January 2023. In addition, a total of 37 million minutes were consumed across the network’s official digital and social media platforms, up +290%.
Television ratings in the host country, El Salvador, were similarly robust, with 2.4 million viewers (38% of the country’s population) for the final broadcast, which was shown live on Telecorporación Salvadoreña (TCS).
The Preliminary Competition and National Costume Show, which were streamed live on Youtube, have a combined 20 million additional views. From the Live Final, the crowning moment video was played almost 40 million times across Instagram and Tiktok. According to the Google Trends Data team, Miss Universe is “the most searched beauty pageant of all time, worldwide.
On social media, the events added a combined total of over 3.4 million followers to Miss Universe and the new titleholder’s social accounts over the course of November. Collectively, the show’s delegate Instagram followings increased from a combined 6.2 million to 14.5 million.
This year’s show was Executive Produced by Paula Shugart and Sergio Alfaro’s InventTV, and concluded with Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua winning the Miss Universe title. The 73rd show will take place in Mexico and will once again be streamed in English on Roku, and broadcast in Spanish on Telemundo. The date has not yet been announced.
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71st MISS UNIVERSE R’BONNEY GABRIEL PARTNERS WITH QUEENLY TO DONATE ICONIC DRESSES
NEW YORK – The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) is excited to announce a partnership with formalwear marketplace Queenly and 2022 Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel. MUO and R’Bonney have officially donated many of the iconic outfits from her reign as Miss Universe to be sold on Queenly’s platform, with the proceeds donated to Houston’s Magpies and Peacocks. The dresses are available to the public at queenly.com or on the Queenly app for purchase prices ranging from $300 to $600, and come from designers such as Nicole Miller and BCBG. Gabriel, a sustainable fashion designer, is listing one of her own designs.
Queenly and Gabriel are a perfect fit as she continues her mission as a sustainable fashion leader, inspiring others to make environmentally-friendly choices, one step at a time. In addition to offering dresses for every kind of event from sorority formals, quinceañeras to weddings, Queenly is known for being an accessible and inclusive destination for all types of formal and pageant wear with a wide range of sizes, styles, designers, and price points. By purchasing one of the gowns, buyers will be supporting circular fashion and breaking down the barriers of access to formalwear that’s usually expensive and only available through exclusive channels offline. Aspiring designers may also find inspiration for altering and upcycling the gowns like R’Bonney herself, who is known for deconstructing and bringing new life to vintage and used clothing.
“I am always telling others, and myself, ‘If not now, then when?” she said. “Queenly is the perfect first step for women who want to shop sustainable fashion, and make a difference. I’m so excited to be able to share these dresses, which are a part of so many joyful memories.”
Queenly is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play for anyone looking to shop sustainable formalwear and all kinds of dresses. Founded in 2019, Queenly has quickly acquired over 1M+ users on their platform, expanded into the Canadian market earlier this year, and signed on with over 50 retail partners, including Mac Duggal, Vienna Prom, Terani Couture, Portia & Scarlett, and more. In previous years, Queenly had recently partnered with Netflix, Fever and Miss USA as it continues to expand its footprint within the secondhand and formalwear markets.
“We are excited to deepen our partnership with R’Bonney and the Miss Universe Organization, in order to promote our shared mission of sustainable fashion, women empowerment through owning your confidence and now, true inclusivity within the pageant industry," said Trisha Bantigue, CEO and co-founder of Queenly. “At our core, we are working to democratize the formalwear space through our technology by providing access, convenience and affordability that hasn’t been available before.”
As a native Texan, Gabriel was working with Magpies and Peacocks as a sewing instructor before she won the 71st Miss Universe title. They are a Houston-based non-profit design house dedicated to the collection and sustainable reuse of post consumer clothing. As Gabriel takes the next steps in her career, this partnership with Queenly has provided an ideal opportunity to give back to her community.
About Queenly
Queenly is the leading marketplace and search engine for the formalwear industry. Whether it's for a pageant, prom, quinceanera, or a wedding, we help women of all ages and all sizes find the exact dress they're looking for. Founded in 2019, Queenly is the best place to find your dream dress for any special occasion and its mission has always been to empower all their users to look AND feel like a queen.
Our company finds a home in a diverse and inclusive community of queens trying to push the boundaries of what it means to feel beautiful and confident in the modern age—that such traits can come in all shapes and sizes, and that together, we can embrace these beliefs wholeheartedly.
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72nd MISS UNIVERSE TO BE HOSTED BY OLIVIA CULPO, JEANNIE MAI, & MARIA MENOUNOS
New York, NY — The Miss Universe Organization (MUO), which oversees the annual MISS UNIVERSE competition, is thrilled to announce that Olivia Culpo and Jeannie Mai will return to the Miss Universe stage to host the 72nd annual competition, joined by television host, presenter, actress, New York Times-bestselling author, entrepreneur, Emmy Award-winning journalist, and host of “Heal Squad,” Maria Menounos. This is only the second time in MOU history that the show will feature an all-female hosting team.
MISS UNIVERSE will take place in El Salvador on November 18th, 2023. The competition will be streamed on The Roku Channel and broadcast by Telemundo within the United States, and will be Executive Produced by Sergio Alfaro and his LA-based team at InventTV.
Menounos joins the program from her work in the entertainment world including Access Hollywood, Extra, E! News, The Today Show, and NBC Nightly News, as well as an actress in various tv shows and films. This is her first time hosting, but she has been a part of the MOU community since winning the title of Miss Teen Massachusetts in 1995.
She’s accompanied by Emmy Award winning TV host, producer and advocate Jeannie Mai, who hosted the show in 2011 and 2022, and actress and model Olivia Culpo. Mai hosted the show in 2011 and 2022, and can be seen co-hosting the CBS game show Raid The Cage this fall. Culpo has also hosted twice before, in 2022 and 2014, after winning Miss Universe and Miss USA in 2012. She was last seen on the screen this year in the semi-finals of Fox’s The Masked Singer.
The show will also feature two backstage correspondents: Filipina model, singer, television personality, and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray; and Emmy Award winning TV host, actress, and producer Zuri Hall. Hall is currently a co-host of Access Hollywood and NBC’s American Ninja Warrior. Both Catriona and Zuri return after last appearing as the backstage correspondents at the 71st MISS UNIVERSE. Multi-platinum artist, EGOT recipient, songwriter, producer, and activist John Legend will perform live at the event as well.
For the Spanish-language telecast, Telemundo will feature renowned TV personalities Jacqueline Bracamontes and Danilo Carrera. Joining them are Andrea Meza, Carlos Adyan, and Julia Gama, who will be on site bringing viewers all the excitement with exclusive behind-the-scenes access and special coverage.
Paula Shugart, President of MOU and the program’s Executive Producer said, “I’m so glad to be working with such a talented, funny, and knowledgeable group of women presenters. Our hosts this year exemplify the best of the Miss Universe family, and this is going to be a fantastic show.”
The 71st Miss Universe finale, which was hosted by Culpo and Mai in January 2023, streamed for the first time on The Roku Channel. It became the most streamed live program on The Roku Channel on its broadcast date, reaching millions of streamers with the live and on-demand replay of the competition during its broadcast weekend.
The Roku Channel is free and easy to watch through Roku devices or TVs, and it's also easily accessible online at TheRokuChannel.com, iOS and Android devices, Amazon Fire TVs, Samsung TVs and Google TVs, and other Android TV OS devices.
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CLARISSE DESIGNS NAMED OFFICIAL PAGEANT WEAR SPONSOR FOR 72ND MISS UNIVERSE
October 26, 2023
New York, New York–The Miss Universe Organization (MUO), which oversees the annual MISS UNIVERSE competition, announces a new partnership today with Clarisse Designs, naming them the Official Pageant Wear Sponsor for the 72nd MISS UNIVERSE Pageant.
Clarisse Designs will provide dresses to be worn by all 90+ delegates for the opening numbers of the Preliminary and Final competitions. With a legacy of excellence and a commitment to empowering women through fashion, Clarisse Designs brings its unparalleled designs to the global stage of beauty and grace.
“Our ‘Beautifully Confident’ tagline aligns perfectly with Clarisse Designs’ mission to ensure that every woman feels beautiful and confident on her big day, whatever that day may entail,” said Paula Shugart, MUO President. “We’re very pleased to be working with this team to provide spectacular dress options for every delegate.”
“We are excited and honored to be chosen as the Official Pageant Wear Sponsor for the Miss Universe Pageant,” said Dan Adrian, Founder and President at Clarisse Designs. “Together with Miss Universe, we look forward to joining forces to inspire, empower, and celebrate women from all corners of the globe.”
The 72nd MISS UNIVERSE will take place in El Salvador on November 18th, 2023. The competition, including its live performances, will be streamed on The Roku Channel and broadcast by Telemundo within the United States. Other performers, hosts, backstage correspondents, and the selection committee will be announced shortly.
The Roku Channel is free and easy to watch through Roku devices or TVs, and it's also easily accessible online at TheRokuChannel.com, iOS and Android devices, Amazon Fire TVs, Samsung TVs and Google TVs, and other Android TV OS devices.
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JOHN LEGEND TO PERFORM AT 72ND MISS UNIVERSE
October 24, 2023
New York, NY — The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) is excited to announce that extraordinary multi-platinum artist John Legend will perform at the 72nd Annual MISS UNIVERSE competition, November 18 in San Salvador. The EGOT recipient, songwriter, producer and activist will perform on stage as part of this year’s groundbreaking competition, produced by Sergio Alfaro’s InventTV.
Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization and the program’s executive producer, said, “I first met John when he performed at Miss Universe in 2010 with The Roots. I have been a huge fan ever since, both of his music and his charity and social impact work. I know he'll bring something very special to our stage, and will take the event to a whole new level.”
Legend is a 12-time Grammy Award-winner with roots in soul, R&B, gospel, and pop music. His platinum debut album, Get Lifted, won three Grammy Awards. Since then, he has released eight studio albums and dozens of hit singles, two of which we look forward to hearing at Miss Universe this year.
The 72nd MISS UNIVERSE will take place in El Salvador on November 18th, 2023. The competition, including its live performances, will be streamed on The Roku Channel and broadcast by Telemundo within the United States. Other performers, hosts, backstage correspondents, and the selection committee will be announced shortly.
The Roku Channel is free and easy to watch through Roku devices or TVs, and it's also easily accessible online at TheRokuChannel.com, iOS and Android devices, Amazon Fire TVs, Samsung TVs and Google TVs, and other Android TV OS devices.
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MISS UNIVERSE AND LIVE BASH ANNOUNCE STREAMING DEAL FOR PRELIMINARY AND NATIONAL COSTUME COMPETITIONS
October 19, 2023
The Miss Universe Organization (MUO), which oversees the annual MISS UNIVERSE competition, is pleased to name Live Bash as their official livestream partner for this year’s Preliminary Competitions and National Costume Shows. This partnership will provide fans around the world exclusive access to these exciting shows in the run-up to the 72nd MISS UNIVERSE final competition.
Live Bash will be handling the streaming of both events, which fans will be able to watch from anywhere in the world at MissUniverse.LiveBash.com. Tickets for each streaming event will be USD$5. To buy tickets, please visit missuniverse.livebash.com.
The Preliminary competition will be shown live on November 15, 2023, at 8pm EST / 7pm CST. Delegates from 85+ countries will step into the spotlight for the first time in our host country of El Salvador for the Swimsuit and Evening Gown competitions.
The following night, November 16, 2023, at 9pm EST / 8pm CST, Live Bash will livestream the National Costume Competition, in which each delegate takes the stage in a costume that embodies the spirit and traditions of their homeland. Not part of the official judging, this show is just for fun!
The MISS UNIVERSE final competition will take place in El Salvador on November 18, 2023. For that show, audiences can check their local broadcast listings to find the correct viewing option.
“At Live Bash, we're all about bringing fans experiences they love, so we are beyond thrilled to partner with MISS UNIVERSE this year to bring fans all over the world the opportunity to watch the preliminary competition and costume show,” said Kristin Patterson, CEO of Live Bash.
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MISS UNIVERSE SIGNS MULTI-YEAR DEALS WITH THE ROKU CHANNEL AND TELEMUNDO
August 3, 2023
New York, NY–The Miss Universe Organization (MUO), which oversees the annual MISS UNIVERSE competition, announces new multi-year distribution deals with The Roku Channel and Telemundo, covering the U.S. streaming and broadcast markets in both English and Spanish languages, respectively. The 72nd Annual Finale will occur on November 18, 2023.
The 2023 competition, which is set to take place live in El Salvador, will be executive produced by Sergio Alfaro and his LA-based production company InventTV, as well as Paula Shugart and Anne Jakrajutatip for Miss Universe.
“We’re very excited to be moving forward with The Roku Channel and Telemundo for the next few years,” said Amy Emmerich, MUO CEO. “To me, this is a legacy brand that people should be watching for what we’re going to do next, not what we’ve done in the past. The women we work with, and the fans who make up our core audience, are an exceptionally tuned-in crowd. We appreciate seeing them show up for us every single year - and our broadcast partners have seen that firsthand.”
In January 2023, the 71st Miss Universe finale streamed for the first time on The Roku Channel, becoming the most streamed live program on The Roku Channel on its broadcast date, reaching millions of streamers with the live and on-demand replay of the competition during its broadcast weekend.
“It is a pleasure to build on our partnership with the Miss Universe Organization, and we look forward to exclusively bringing the live experience to The Roku Channel once again,” said David Eilenberg, Head of Content, Roku Media. “The success of last year’s broadcast, which also marked The Roku Channel’s first-ever live event, not only demonstrates viewer appetite for live programming, but also the success that live programming can find in a free streaming environment.”
For Telemundo, the finale ranked as the #1 entertainment program in its Saturday night slot across broadcast and cable for adults 18-49, with an average of 875,000 viewers in the 18-49 demo and 2.4 million total viewers on linear. Locally, it was the #1 ranked Spanish-language TV program in its time slot in the Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Dallas, and Chicago markets.
“As the exclusive broadcast home of Miss Universe in the U.S., we are thrilled to bring the competition back to our audience live from El Salvador, a Latin American country full of beauty and rich in culture,” stated Ronald Day, President of Entertainment and Content Strategy for Telemundo. “This highly anticipated global event showcases our diverse cultures, while recognizing women who have positively impacted their countries and helped empower others.”
This year, women from 90+ countries, covering six continents, will compete for the Miss Universe title and the opportunity to bring their social-impact cause to a global audience. The organization has a storied history of launching women’s careers in entertainment, politics, fashion, advocacy, and more. Recent past winners include India’s Harnaaz Sandhu, who founded a coalition for menstrual equity, and current titleholder R’Bonney Gabriel of Houston, TX, who has her own sustainable fashion line and has partnered with sustainable initiatives like RCGD Global.
“I’m thrilled to be working with The Roku Channel, Telemundo, and InventTV for our 72nd global event,” said MUO President and longtime producer Paula Shugart. “I’ve known Sergio’s work for many years and we’re so excited to finally be partnering on a show that will demonstrate our collective passion for women’s empowerment.”
“Miss Universe is a global organization that needs cross-cultural expertise to thrive,” said Alfaro, whose production experience spans the Alma Awards, Emmy Awards, and the Critics' Choice Awards, as well as large-scale live events like the inauguration of President Barack Obama. “I welcome the chance to bridge the English- and Spanish-speaking markets by producing an amazing show for the 165 countries that will view it. I appreciate Paula Shugart and Anne Jakrajutatip trusting me with this endeavor!”
MUO is owned by JKN Global Group Public Company Limited, a major media, content, and commerce holding company (Stock Exchange of Thailand: JKN).
About The Miss Universe Organization
The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) exists to advocate for a future forged by women and good for all. It is a global community that supports women to realize their goals through experiences that build self-confidence and create opportunities for success. Their programs provide an international platform to affect positive change through influential humanitarian and professional efforts for 10,000 women who participate annually. The delegates and titleholders are leaders and role models in their communities; they develop personal and professional goals, and inspire others to do the same. To learn more, visit www.missuniverse.com.
About JKN Global Media Public Company Limited
JKN Global and its subsidiaries provide services and distribute copyrighted content sourced from around the globe, including TV shows, documentaries, and feature films. JKN’s content has driven phenomenal ratings on various television stations, including their digital TV channel JKN18. The company also has several goods and product lines. JKN stands for Jakapong Network, derived from the name of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip. As JKN Global Group increases their footprint as a major provider of news and entertainment content in Southeast Asia, they are proud to own the Miss Universe Organization and to help empower the next generation of women leaders.
About Roku
Roku pioneered streaming on TV. We connect users to the content they love, enable content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and provide advertisers with unique capabilities to engage consumers. Roku TV™ models, Roku streaming players, and TV-related audio devices are available in various countries around the world through direct retail sales and/or licensing arrangements with TV OEM brands. Roku-branded TVs and Roku Smart Home products are sold exclusively in the United States. Roku also operates The Roku Channel, the home of free and premium entertainment with exclusive access to Roku Originals. The Roku Channel is available in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Roku is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., U.S.A.
Marks included in press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of Roku, Inc. in the U.S. and in other countries. Tradenames, trademarks, and services marks of other companies appearing in this press release are the property of their respective holders.
About NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises:
NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises leads the media industry in the production and distribution of Spanish-language content for U.S. Hispanics and audiences around the world. The company serves U.S. Hispanics through its national broadcast network, the cable network Universo, and digital platforms including the Telemundo app and streaming services, such as Peacock, among others. The Telemundo Network offers Spanish-language entertainment, news, and sports content reaching 95% of U.S. Hispanic TV households in 210 markets through 30 owned stations and 61 affiliate stations. Telemundo also owns an independent station serving Puerto Rico. Telemundo is the exclusive U.S. Spanish-language home of the world’s two most popular sporting events, the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games, as well as the Premier League and Mexican soccer team Chivas. The #1 producer of scripted Spanish-language content in the U.S., Telemundo Global Studios includes Telemundo Television Studios, Telemundo Streaming Studios, and Underground Producciones. Telemundo’s new Tplus content brand on Peacock features programming developed for the full spectrum of Hispanics. NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises is a division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
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MISS UNIVERSE ORGANIZATION BIDS A FOND FAREWELL TO USA FRANCHISE PARTNER
August 1, 2023
The Miss Universe Organization today announces a new chapter for the MISS USA and MISS TEEN USA brand and license. MUO, Miss Brand, and former USA national director Crystle Stewart have chosen to end their partnership.
A spokesperson for the organization said:
The Miss Universe Organization is grateful for the longstanding relationship with Crystle Stewart over the years. As a stakeholder in the Miss USA brand, Crystle and her team enhanced prize packages, increased visibility of titleholders, secured a remarkable location for the Miss USA pageant, and strengthened brand partnerships. Crystle has been a trusted friend of the organization, an exemplary titleholder, and has consistently demonstrated her unwavering dedication and commitment to both the Miss Universe Organization and the Miss USA pageant.
After a thorough and extensive investigation, it was found that accusations of rigging of the 2022 Miss USA Pageant were false. Sincere gratitude to Crystle and the entire Miss Brand staff and employees for their unwavering cooperation and transparency throughout the entire investigation. Their willingness to provide full assistance and support during that challenging time is a testament to their professionalism and integrity.
However, after much discussion and consideration, MUO and Crystle were unable to reach an agreement as to Crystle and Miss Brand’s continuing involvement with Miss USA and the Miss Universe Organization.
Crystle has decided to leverage the success she has had with the Miss USA Organization to pursue other entrepreneurial passions. We wish Crystle, and her team at Miss Brand, all the best and have no doubt that she will excel in this next chapter.
Paula Shugart, MUO President, said, “Crystle has been a close part of the Miss Universe family, from her own pageant days through the many challenges of this past year at Miss USA. We appreciate her help in moving us through this tough time, and wish her much luck and success on her future projects. We can’t wait to see what’s next for her and for Miss Brand.”
More information from the new USA National Director, including information on this year’s program, will be forthcoming shortly.
For additional information on Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, please visit MissUSA.com.
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MISS UNIVERSE ADDS NEW CRO AND GLOBAL SALES TEAM
JULY 11, 2023
New York, New York–The Miss Universe Organization (MUO), which oversees the annual MISS UNIVERSE competition, has hired media executive Nina Lawrence as the company’s first ever Chief Revenue Officer.
Lawrence, whose background includes executive stints at Conde Nast, The Wall Street Journal, Time Inc., and Artsy, was most recently CRO at Tinybeans. She brings deep experience to MUO as a revenue driving leader focused on overall brand strategy that drives growth in engaged audiences and monetization of those connections.
Her role will be focused on capitalizing on MUO’s sky-high brand awareness and passionate fan base to expand sponsorship and partnership opportunities in all industries, from fashion and beauty to tech and telecoms.
“The universe is expanding. Opportunity is growing rapidly for women-focused events, which are attracting the largest audiences and experiencing the greatest financial success ever,” said Lawrence. “Our stated purpose is: Miss Universe exists to advocate for a future forged by women. Our plan is to lean into that, and power up our franchise with the support of brand partners who take advancing women’s issues globally as seriously as we do.”
Lawrence will be building out a global sales team that includes several other recent hires, including Ahmed Kajee, VP, who will be heading up new global business initiatives under travel, skincare, and spa lines, and was previously Managing Director of 444 Media Asia. Liew Min San, Partnerships Director for Southeast Asia, joins with two decades of media experience working on international platforms such as ESPN Star Sports, Fox, and the National Geographic Channel. Voranuch “Nora” Narongsak, Partnership Manager for Southeast Asia, brings twenty years of entertainment industry experience, including past stints working with Sony Pictures, Paramount, Dreamworks, and Adidas.
Also working with Lawrence are Florente Mario Garcia, Marketing Solutions and Business Development, with previous key roles at Nestle and Philippine Airlines, based in Manila, Philippines; and Kristina Galants, multilingual Global Sales Manager coming from the sports and entertainment industry and based in New York City. Lawrence joins CEO Amy Emmerich, President Paula Shugart, and CFO Lauren Peters to round out the organization’s all-female leadership team at their New York City headquarters.
“Since our acquisition late last year, we’ve been very excited to deepen our work with the passionate MUO community and the brands that support us,” said Emmerich. “The Miss Universe Organization hosts the Superbowl of pageants and engages with over 27 million people worldwide year round. We are excited to serve that audience alongside our brand partners - it’s a global win-win opportunity to drive value and recognition for amazing women and their communities around the world."
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MISS UNIVERSE PARTNERS WITH BODYGUARD.AI
May 1, 2023
New York, New York–The Miss Universe Organization (MUO), which oversees the annual MISS UNIVERSE competition, announces a new partnership today with AI-based online content moderation group Bodyguard AI. The partnership aims to lessen online toxicity across key Miss Universe social media accounts by using Bodyguard AI’s technology to flag, delete, and report bullying comments in real time. This innovative solution uses AI to ensure protection of the MUO events, community, and the staff who will no longer be exposed to harmful content.
“Through broadcasts in 165 countries, more than half a billion people across the world watch Miss Universe annually. We’re a global program that’s regularly in the news and is covered by dozens of popular social media accounts, across nearly a hundred different countries. We expect to deal with a fair amount of the usual online toxicity, and we know from research that women are more likely to report online sexual harassment than men - but that doesn’t mean such treatment is acceptable,” said MUO CEO Amy Emmerich. “We’re thrilled to have found a 24/7 solution to keep our channels an inspirational and enjoyable space for fans and the amazing women who make up the Miss Universe Organization.”
While Bodyguard’s AI screens out misogyny, harassment, and other forms of direct toxicity, its artificial intelligence doesn’t censor all critiques, allowing criticism that promotes healthy dialogue. The technology will be deployed on META, YouTube, and Tiktok across all MUO brand accounts including current titleholder R’Bonney Gabriel’s handles. The AI platform will flag harmful words and phrases, assess whether a message has targeted an individual, and make a recommendation according to thresholds set by internal conversations with the MUO team.
“The mental health of our delegates and titleholders is a huge concern for us,” said MUO President Paula Shugart. “Based on a sample of the messages we’ve seen over the last few years, as well as what women report globally, we felt this was a needed step to create the safest space that we can for our community and delegates.”
“For any company, social networks provide an exceptional opportunity to communicate with customers and prospects and to engage its online community, but this opportunity is constantly challenged by the toxic content that proliferates online," said Bodyguard.ai President and Co-Founder Matthieu Boutard. “We’re honored to be working with a diverse and international platform like Miss Universe to help make the internet a more humane place.”
MUO is owned by JKN Global Group Public Company Limited, a major media, content, and commerce holding company (Stock Exchange of Thailand: JKN).
About The Miss Universe Organization
The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) exists to advocate for a future forged by women and good for all. It is a global community that supports women to realize their goals through experiences that build self-confidence and create opportunities for success. MISS UNIVERSE® programs provide the 10,000 women who participate annually an international platform to affect positive change through influential humanitarian and professional efforts. The delegates and titleholders are leaders and role models in their communities; they develop personal and professional goals, and inspire others to do the same. To learn more, visit www.missuniverse.com.
About Bodyguard AI
Bodyguard.ai is a real-time moderation solution that helps organizations protect their community experience and revenues at scale, while maintaining individuals’ freedom of speech. Its technology combines contextual understanding with human accuracy to eliminate 90% of toxic and undesirable content on social networks and platforms (racism, homophobia, spam, scam, fraud, etc.). Bodyguard.ai’s moderation solution covers a wide range of use cases for its clients including leading sport institutions, gaming companies, and global brands. To learn more, visit www.bodyguard.ai.
About JKN Global Media Public Company Limited
JKN Global Group Public Company Limited and its subsidiaries are a group of companies that engage in the business of providing services and distributing copyrighted content. Our services and content have driven phenomenal ratings on various television stations and the company has successfully entered the Stock Exchange of Thailand under the name JKN. Our name stands for Jakapong Network, which is the name of our Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Jakapong Jakrajutatip. JKN Global Group Public Company Limited also sells goods and products as well as commercial time through JKN18, a digital TV channel. As we increase our footprint as a major content commerce company, we are proud to own the Miss Universe Organization and to help empower the next generation of women leaders.