Miss Polonia 2016 Izabella Krzan (centre) with I Vice Miss Dominika Szymanska (right) and II Vice Miss Katarzyna Wlodarek pose at the end of the Miss Polonia 2016 beauty contest. Krzan will now represent Poland at the 2016 Miss Universe final. Photo: EPA

Miss Universe pageant coming ‘back home’ to Manila in 2017

Published: 2:44pm, 17 Nov 2016

Officials and organisers of the Miss Universe 2016 competition confirmed on Wednesday the next pageant will be held in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, in January 2017.

Miss Universe Organisation Vice President Shawn McClain signed contracts with Philippine sponsors led by former governor Chavit Singson who will invest US$11 million into the event.

Singson said he was glad to see the Miss Universe pageant “back home”. McClain said the Miss Universe Organisation wants to host the pageant in Manila again for its “energetic” and “engaged” fan base.

Organisers and sponsors making a toast during the partners launch of the 65th annual Miss Universe competition at the Makati Shangri-La hotel in Makati City, south of Manila. Photo: EPA

The live broadcast of the competition draws 500 million viewers worldwide, including many from the Philippines, according to McClain. The Philippines was the first Asian country to host the annual competition in 1974 and again held the pageant in 1994. Filipina beauty queen Pia Wurtzbach holds the Miss Universe crown from 2015.

Organisers and sponsors sign a contract during the partners launch of the 65th annual Miss Universe competition. Photo: EPA

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