Johannesburg – According to reports, the 2019 Miss Universe pageant will take place on 8 December in the United States.
On the night of the pageant, Catriona Gray will hand over her title to her successor with a brand-new crown that will be unveiled at the competition.
So yes, 8 December will be a big night for one lucky lady, but don't be fooled, choosing a winner starts long before the contestants hit that runway.
There are a number of stages that participants have to go through in order to win the Miss Universe title.
Here's how the pageant typically runs:
PRELIMINARY ROUND
Before the live show, there is a preliminary round, which, according to the Miss Universe website, includes "a swimsuit or athletic wear and evening gown presentation show."
The site states the preliminary round is "especially important" because this is where the judges and the fans first get to know the contestants.
It's also the "driving force" when it comes to selecting the semi-finalists.
Watch the 2017 preliminary round below to see how it works. This was the year that Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters was crown.
THE LIVE SHOW
The live show is where the winner of the Miss Universe pageant will be crown. This year, it will once again be hosted by award-winning TV personality Steve Harvey.
The live show starts by introducing the audience to the contestants who have made it to the semi-finals of the competition.
The semi-finalists will take to the stage in their swimwear or athletic wear.
From there, the evening gown portion of the show follows. "The judges and fans will see the contestants' personal style as they walk the stage in their evening gown of choice," the site explains, adding that the design of the contestants' gowns does not affect the total score.
FINAL QUESTION ROUND
Once the evening gown segment ends, the top six contestants are chosen based on their scores. This brings us to the most nerve-wracking part of the show – the final question round.
This round is designed to show off the ladies' ability to articulate themselves under pressure, while at the same time allowing them to give people a more in-depth look into their personalities, what they stand for, and what they could bring to their reign.
Once the scores from the final question round are tallied, we are left with our top 3 contestants.
Watch the 2018 final question round here:
FINAL LOOK
Without-a-doubt the best part of the night. The top ladies gather to show off their final looks as the host announces who will be crowned the new Miss Universe.
Relive the crowning of Catriona Gray:
Compiled by Nikita Coetzee (Soucres: Miss Universe organisation, Channel24, Rappler)