The Miss Universe crown has undergone nine transformations over its 70-year history.
The Romanov Imperial Nuptial Crown which previously belonged to the Russian monarchy was the first crown and was used to crown Armi Kuusela in 1952.
The Romanov Diadem Crown (or Metal Bronze Crown) replaced the Nuptial Crown. Christiane Martel, Miss Universe 1953, was the only bearer of this crown.
The Star of the Universe (1954–1960) was named for its star-shaped design at the top. It comprised approximately 1,000 oriental and black pearls, set in pure gold and platinum, weighing 56 kg. It was insured for $500,000.
The Coventry Crown (1961–2001) was made of rhinestones. It was first introduced in 1961 as part of the 10th anniversary of the Miss Universe competition. The crown was updated in 1963 to include a female figure holding a scepter in its central part. The lower cost of the diamonds in this crown allowed for the creation of replicas that were awarded to outgoing titleholders. The design was modified again in 1973 to be more suitable for wearers, and it was renamed the Lady Crown. It was used until 2001, with Denise Quinones being the last holder.
The Mikimoto Crown (2002–2007, and 2017–2018) was used for the 50th anniversary of the Miss Universe organization. This crown features a rising phoenix, symbolizing status, power, and beauty. It contained 500 natural colorless diamonds weighing nearly 30 carats, 120 South Sea and Akoya pearls ranging from 3 to 18 mm in diameter, with a total value of $250,000. Catriona Gray was its last bearer in 2019 before it was retired.
The CAO Crown was used to crown Dayana Mendoza in 2008. This tiara was valued at $120,000 and made from a combination of 18-carat white and yellow gold, featuring over 1,000 gemstones, including 555 white diamonds (30 carats), 375 brown diamonds (14 carats), 10 quartz crystals (20 carats), and 19 morganite gemstones (60 carats). The yellow sheen of the gold represented Vietnam’s prosperous economy, symbolized by the Vietnamese crane. However, Mendoza refused to wear this crown, insisting on the Mikimoto crown when she crowned Stefanía Fernández as her successor.
The Diamond Nexus Crown (2009–2013) featured 1,371 gemstones, with a total weight of 416 carats. The crown included synthetic rubies reflecting the Miss Universe platform for education and awareness about HIV/AIDS.
The DIC Crown (2014–2016) was valued at $300,000 and was produced by the Czech company Diamonds International Corporation (DIC). The entire production process took approximately four months and involved the work of ten artists. The crown resembled the Manhattan skyline and consisted of 311 diamonds, 5 pieces of blue topaz, 198 pieces of blue sapphires, 33 fire-treated crystals, and 220 grams of 18-carat white gold. The total weight of the crown was 411 grams. The crown was retired in 2017 due to copyright infringement and subsequent payment issues between DIC and the Miss Universe organization.
The Mouawad Power of Unity Crown (2019–2021), valued at nearly $6 million, is the most expensive crown in the history of the competition. The crown featured a golden diamond and symbolized ambition, diversity, community, and beauty.
The Mouawad Force for Good Crown (2022 to present) contains 110 carats of blue sapphires, 48 carats of white diamonds, and a 45-carat royal blue sapphire at its center.