Top 12 is OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED.
The pageant will go from 12 - 9 - 6 - 3
Competition Rules
The winner of Miss Universe must be confident. She must understand the values of our brand and the responsibilities of the title. She must have the ability to articulate her ambition as Miss Universe. A contestant should demonstrate authenticity, credibility and exhibit grace under pressure. The women who compete embody the modern, global aspiration for the potential within all women.
The MISS UNIVERSE® Competition begins with three days of preliminary interviews that includes a swimsuit and evening gown presentation show. These preliminary events are especially important as it will be the first time the judges and fans really get to know the contestants. The preliminary competition is the driving force in selecting the Top 12 contestants whom will be named during the televised event.
The live telecast and final competition kicks off with an announcement of the Top 12. Each of these contestants will walk the runway during the swimsuit segment displaying her dedication to a healthy lifestyle. Scores from each judge and home viewers via the Miss Universe Global Fan Vote will be averaged. The Top 9 is determined by the nine highest averaged scores during the first stage of competition.
The Top 9 contestants move on to the second stage of the competition during the evening gown segment. The judges and fans will see the contestants' personal style as they walk the stage in their evening gown of choice. However, the exact design of the gown does not count towards the total score and instead the judges focus on how confidently each woman presents herself. Each contestant receives an averaged score from the panel of judges including the home vote, furthering the contestants with the highest averages to move forward in the competition.
From the scores given in the evening gown competition, the Top 6 competitors are chosen, bringing them to the Final Question round. Each woman selects a judge at random who presents a question focused on various social, cultural and political topics affecting their country and/or the world. In the event that a translator is needed, one will be provided at the request of the contestant. The Final Question round will determine the contestant’s ability to articulate themselves under pressure while sharing a thoughtful, well-informed response. Again, all scores are averaged and the Top 3 contestants move on to the Final Look.
During the last stage of the competition, the judges and home viewers are asked to make a decision based on their overall performance through the Final Look. Rather than score, this segment is ranked, meaning the judges and home viewers base their vote on who they think should win the title.
The event concludes with the host announcing the winner of Miss Universe. In the event that the winner is unable to fulfill her duties, the first-runner up will take her place as Miss Universe.
http://missuniverse.com/about#rules