How Miss Universe works

Founded in 1952, Miss Universe is the oldest of the major international competitions still running, and the most watched. Each participating country is represented by one woman, chosen by whichever national organisation holds the franchise.

The competition runs over roughly three weeks in the host country: delegations arrive, then preliminary rounds, panel interviews, national costume, swimwear and evening gown, and finally the televised final, where the field narrows to a Top 30, then Top 12, Top 5, and the crown.

The titleholder reigns for a year. She travels, carries the competition’s causes, and hands the crown on at the next edition.

For decades France was represented by Miss France, selected by the organisation of the same name at the end of a regional circuit running most of a year.

That organisation announced it would not send a candidate in 2026. Miss Universe has since begun putting a new French selection in place, run by a committee established for the purpose. The details of that framework will be published here as soon as they are settled.

The process is open. No regional title is required beforehand: applications are made directly, and will come from women across every French region and territory: mainland, Corsica and overseas.