INTRODUCTION
The Miss Universe Canada pageant is the most prestigious national beauty competition, celebrating the empowerment, intelligence, and diversity of women in our country. Beyond the glamorous runway walks and evening gowns, the MUC competition emphasizes the values of leadership, community involvement, and self-expression.
Since 2002, the Beauties of Canada organization has held the exclusive rights to select Canada’s representative for the Miss Universe® pageant. Over the past 24 years, Canada has proudly celebrated remarkable achievements, including Natalie Glebova’s victory as Miss Universe 2005 and multiple Top 20 placements. Our former titleholders have gone on to excel as influencers, television hosts, legal professionals, entrepreneurs, and much more.
This legacy of success continues with a fresh chapter in 2025. Under the leadership of National Director Sonny Borrelli, we aim to bring renewed vision, backed by years of experience in the pageant industry. Our focus is on rebuilding the MUC brand, delivering an exceptional experience for each delegate, and providing our next titleholder with the resources and support needed to excel on the Miss Universe stage. We are excited and honoured to lead this next chapter of MUC and look forward to a transformative year ahead
FROM THE
DIRECTORS
“Congratulations on the embarkment of a remarkable journey filled with selfdiscovery, empowerment, and purpose. This experience is about more than just a title—it’s a celebration of unique stories, commitment to making a positive impact, and dedication to representing Canada on the greatest world stage. We are honoured to witness passion, strength, and resilience from every delegate throughout this competition. We wish everyone an unforgettable pageant week and continued success in all future endeavours.”
SONNY BORRELLI
National Director
JILLIAN PARENT
Director of Operations
HOST CITY
We are excited to welcome all delegates competing for the title of Miss Universe Canada 2026 to WINDSOR, ONTARIO. Back for a third year in a row, we are excited to show you what the beautiful city of Windsor has to offer.
Windsor is a vibrant city located on the southernmost point of the country, directly across from Detroit, Michigan. Known as the “Automotive Capital of Canada,” Windsor has a rich history in manufacturing and trade, with a strong connection to the automotive industry. The city is also celebrated for its diverse cultural scene, beautiful waterfront parks, and historic landmarks such as the iconic Ambassador Bridge and Caesars Windsor. With a growing arts community, excellent culinary offerings, and a unique blend of Canadian and American influences, Windsor is a dynamic city with a welcoming atmosphere.
PAGEANT
PREPARATION
RUNWAY
INTERVIEW
WARDROBE
FITNESS
OWN THE RUNWAY
A runway walk is a key element of a pageant performance, showcasing confidence, poise, and personality. We expect all delegates to demonstrate a strong, graceful walk with controlled movements and engaging eye contact. Practice is essential—focus on smooth transitions, good posture, natural arm movements, and a captivating smile. Remember, the stage is where most of the judging happens, so give it everything you’ve got.
MASTER THE ART OF SPEAKING
The interview and on-stage question segments are an opportunity to showcase intelligence, authenticity, and ability to communicate effectively under pressure. Judges will be assessing poise, confidence, and the substance of the answers. Deliver clear, thoughtful responses with sincerity and composure. Remember to stay true to yourself, maintain eye contact, and engage with both the judges and audience. This is the time to make a lasting impression.
BEING HEALTHY IS WEALTHY
Fitness is an essential part of preparation; it’s about the commitment to health, discipline, and self-care. Being in your best shape isn’t just about appearance—it’s about feeling confident, building healthy habits, and cultivating long-term strength and resilience. Delegates are expected to maintain a balanced fitness routine and healthy eating habits that enhance both physical and mental wellbeing.
WARDROBE
Pageant week is an exciting whirlwind of activities, including rehearsals, dinners, sponsored events, photoshoots, athletic challenges, charity engagements, and glamorous opening and closing galas. While the itinerary varies, one thing remains constant: the importance of presenting your best, most authentic self. Whether you’re attending a formal event or an athletic outing, dress to impress and let your unique personality shine through every look!
Orientation & Registration
Opt for a chic, tailored outfit like a fitted blazer with matching trousers or a sophisticated dress. Keep it polished with minimal jewelry and classic heels.
Photoshoots
Bring versatile outfits that reflect your personality, from glamorous evening dresses to modern cocktail looks. Choose vibrant colours that pop on camera and bring out your best features.
Rehearsals
Prioritize comfort and style with fashionable athleisure or smart-casual outfits. Think sleek jumpsuits, dresses or trendy co-ord sets. Bring/ wear heels to every rehearsal, pack flats for relief.
Charity Events
Go for sophisticated daywear like a midi dress, elegant jumpsuit, or blouse with a statement skirt. Aim for polished and approachable looks that photograph well.
Evening Dinners
Showcase your glam side with cocktail dresses, elegant gowns, or highfashion separates. Be sure to incorporate standout accessories and heels.
COMPETITION
WARDROBE
INTERVIEW
Choose a sophisticated and professional look, such as a structured dress or a pantsuit in bold or neutral tones. Wear something that makes you shine and feel confident. We suggest accessories to be refined, and makeup should enhance natural beauty.
SWIMSUIT
Bring a black one-piece or bikini-style swimsuit, the style is your choice. We recommend selecting a swimsuit that makes you feel confident and looks great on stage. Please ensure your swimsuit is stage-appropriate, professional, with no thong bottoms. We ask that you submit a photo of the bathinsuit of choice for approval.
EVENING GOWN
Choose at least one full-length gown, with the option to bring a second if you wish (two is not required). While there are no specific rules or requirements regarding your choice of gown, we recommend selecting one that makes you look and feel your absolute best.
NATIONAL
COSTUME
The National Costume segment of the competition is a celebration of Canadian culture and heritage, combined with creativity. Each delegate must showcase a unique costume, dress, or outfit inspired by Canada’s traditions, symbols, and history. While this segment is not part of official judging, delegates will have time in front of both the judges and the audience, making it an important opportunity to stand out. We will select one delegate as the winner of Best National Costume, which will be announced on the finals evening and the winner will receive an award. Please note that the National Costume competition will be part of the preliminary show.
PAGEANT
EVENTS
REHEARSALS
Throughout pageant week, there will be many rehearsals to ensure that all delegates are comfortable with the stage patterns and run of show. Rehearsals may be long and tiring but they are an essential part in the preparation to becoming our next titleholder. The lead choreographer, Gino Berti has experience in all things stage and performance, especially when it comes to pageants – his goal to to make all the delegates look their best. It is important for all delegates to be on time and present when at rehearsals. Please note that family and friends will not be allowed to attend any rehearsals.
PHOTO & VIDEO SHOOTS
In addition to the photo and video shoots conducted during registration, the initial days of the pageant will feature visits to various points of interest in Windsor and surrounding areas, with coverage captured by our media team. Many of these activities will be photographed and filmed, with the content incorporated into pre-taped segments to be featured during the preliminary and final shows.
OUTINGS & ACTIVITIES
The week will be filled with a variety of meaningful and engaging activities. Delegates will visit our official charity partner, participate in sight-seeing excursions, meet with local government officials, and attend sponsor-hosted dinners, among other events. A comprehensive itinerary will be shared in the coming months once all details have been finalized.
OFFICIAL
JUDGING
PROCEDURES
Preliminary
COMPETITION
SWIMSUIT COMPETITION
This portion of the competition showcases each delegate’s dedication to physical fitness and health. This portion is meant to highlight each delegates’s confidence, energy, and stage presence.
EVENING GOWN COMPETITION
This segment of the competition emphasizes the delegate’s elegance, poise, and personal style. Selecting a well-fitted gown is key, as success is not determined by the gown’s price or designer but by the confidence and grace with which it is worn.
INTERVIEW
The interview portion is widely regarded as one of the most critical aspects of the competition. During this segment, judges assess a delegate’s ability to articulate thoughts, express values, and navigate challenging questions with confidence and poise. The interview will reveal a delegate’s personality, leadership qualities, and ability to inspire and connect with a global audience.
HUMANITARIAN WORK
Delegates will have the opportunity to collaborate with a selected charity (tbd) as part of the competition’s humanitarian component. In addition, delegates will lead their own fundraising efforts for the selected organization. Judging will be based on the ability to publicly speak, raise awareness and funds, with a 3 minute verbal presentation to the judging panel.
PARTICIPATION AND PROFESSIONALISM
Participation and professionalism evaluates each contestants engagement throughout the pageant, including punctuality, preparedness, respect, respectful conduct cooperation with staff and fellow contestants, and overall professionalism in rehearsals and events.
This is a crucial phase where all the delegates showcase their poise, personality, and stage presence ahead of finals. This competition requires all delegates to compete in swimsuit, evening gown, interviews and a presentation. Performance in the preliminary competition will determine who advances to the Top 20 to compete for the title of Miss Universe Canada.
FINALS
At the beginning of the final show, the 15 delegates with the highest scores from the preliminary competition will advance to the semi-finals and compete for the title. These 15 will be joined by the 5 fast-track award winners to form the Top 20 semi-finalists.
The semi-finalists will compete in another round of swimsuit, after which the Top 10 is selected and will compete in evening. Upon completion, the Top 5 will be selected for the final portion of the competition, a live Q&A.
There will be two speaking components for the Top 5:
- A 1-minute speech on a topic or cause (topics will be provided during pageant week).
- A 30-second answer to a random question from the judges
The delegate with the highest combined score from both the preliminary competition and the final show will be crowned Miss Universe Canada 2026. Additional international pageant opportunities may be presented to the other finalists in the year following the competition.
SPECIAL
AWARDS
Special awards are recognized during the final show, although they have no bearing on the selection of the new Miss Universe Canada.
MISS PHOTOGENIC
Awarded to the delegate who is chosen to be the most photogenic by a select group of professional photographers.
MISS CONGENIALITY
A very special honour, Miss Congeniality is voted on by all of the delegates and given to the one delegate they think has been the friendliest, helpful, and cheerful during the pageant period.
FAST TRACKS
There are five awards that will fast track delegates into the Top 20 semifinalists. The Top 3 in each category will be announced after the preliminary competition and the winners will be selected during the finals show. This is how those fast track winners will be selected:
NATIONAL COSTUME
A fast-track award recognizing exceptional national costume design for its creativity, cultural authenticity, and immediate visual impact.
BEST RUNWAY
Recognizes the contestant
who commands the stage
with confidence, style,
and elegance. It honours a
flawless walk, captivating
presence, and the ability
to bring energy and
charisma to the stage.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Recognizes the delegate
who garners the most
public support. This award
allows fans to have a direct
influence on the
competition, celebrating
the delegate’s popularity,
and ability to connect with
the public.
SOCIAL MEDIA
A fast-track award
honoring outstanding
social media presence for
creativity, engagement,
and impactful online
storytelling.
HUMANITARIAN
Recognizes the delegate
who demonstrates
exceptional commitment to
our selected charity. This
award recognizes the
contestant’s efforts to
make a positive impact on
society and dedication to
promoting meaningful
change.
WINNING
MUC 2026
Winning the title of Miss Universe Canada marks the beginning of an exciting and demanding year. The responsibilities of Miss Universe Canada commence immediately after the crowning moment. The successful delegate will attend a celebration gala with fellow delegates, transition into her own suite and participate in an official photo and video shoot the following morning. The winner will also receive a prize package from our esteemed sponsors and meet with the directors to sign the official contract.
Throughout the year, the titleholder will engage in numerous events, public appearances, photo shoots, and international travel. It is a year filled with both excitement and hard work. The winner will collaborate closely with the team of directors to prepare for the Miss Universe competition, with guidance and support provided every step of the way.
Should the winner of Miss Universe Canada 2026 be unable to fulfill her duties, the Beauties of Canada organization will appoint the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th runner-up to assume the role.
ENTRY FEE: $3,785
INCLUDES:
HOTEL STAY DURING PAGEANT WEEK
You will be paired with a roommate but if available, you may have the option to have your own room at your own expense.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
Transportation provided to all pageant week events through Windsor-Essex. Transportation to the host city and host hotel is not covered.
MEALS
If there are any dietary restrictions, we will accommodate to the best of our ability given appropriate notice.
TRAINING & WORKSHOPS
All in person training or virtual workshops will be provided from our assigned regional directors within your region. Participation in training and workshops is mandatory.
HAIR & MAKEUP SERVICES
Hair and makeup will be provided for registration day, the preliminary show, and finals from our MU Director and team. No outside MUAs are permitted.
NEXT STEPS
To kick off your journey in pageantry with Miss Universe Canada, please book your intake interview as soon as possible. After a thorough review, we will confirm delegate acceptance in the coming weeks that follow. We can’t wait to meet you and see who our next queen will be!
