During the early 20th century,
the island city of Galveston, recovering
from the devastating Hurricane of 1900,
launched efforts to strengthen its tourism industry,
building new venues such as the famed Hotel Galvez
                     & organizing regular waterfront events;
Beauty contests had existed
                     around the U.S.
                               since the 19th century as a means
                      to build tourism for local communities;
generally local affairs
featuring women
from the communities themselves;
In 1920 promoter C.E. Barfield organized
a new event in Galveston known as "Splash Day".
          The event featured a "Bathing Girl *****"
      competition as the centerpiece of its attractions;
"Splash Day"                      was the kick-off
                                       of the summer tourist
season in the city & carried forward annually;
At its height the event was one of the
largest beauty contests and would
literally triple the island's population
        during the weekend when it ran,
attracting spectators from around the nation;

A trend toward national beauty contests
developed in many nations such as Turkey,
France, and Brazil, as well as the United States
where both the Galveston event &
the younger Miss America event in
                  Atlantic City attracted contestants
                                   from around the nation;
In 1926, taking advantage of this trend,
the Galveston event became an international competition
       known as the International Pageant of Pulchritude;
The winner of the contest was awarded the title of Miss Universe.
In 1927 the contest became two separate events
held over two days: one to award the title of "Miss United States"
& one to award Miss Universe.
The Miss United States pageant
drew contestants from as far away as New York & Utah;
The "Miss Universe" pageant included contestants
from a variety of countries, including England,
Russia, Turkey, Austria, Egypt, Thailand,
Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, Brazil & many others,
however, despite the contest title,
there were no contestants from other sectors
                                   of the known Universe;
      Prizes were given to the top competitors:
In 1929            "Miss Universe" was given
   US$2000 in gold
  [US$29,000 today]           & a silver plaque;

The event became an international sensation
although, ironically, the national media
in the United States gave the event far less attention
than the press in other countries; the media in Brazil
was particularly enamored with the 1929 contest.
Huge crowds were reported near the offices of Brazil's
major newspapers awaiting word of the fate of Miss Brazil.
She did not, however, even place in the contest;
Angered, Brazil hosted its own "Miss Universe"
contest in 1930 leading to two separate titleholders
in that year. As w/ the American contest,
           no extraterrestrials
are known to have participated;
However, in the Brazilian event,       "Miss United States"
      was unable to place in the competition;

The event in Galveston discontinued in 1932
b/c of the Great Depression. "Miss Universe" events
were instead held in Belgium in 1932 &1935;
After 1935 international competitions
were discontinued, until the modern Miss Universe pageant was created in 1952 in California