MUMBAI: English GEC Zee Caf? will showcase Miss Universe 2012 live, as 88 women battle it out at Las Vegas in the US.

Zee Caf? will showcase Miss Universe 2012 on 20 December at 6.30 am and a repeat telecast at 9 pm. Miss Universe will additionally be simulcast on Zee Studio and Zee Trendz.

Miss India Universe Shilpa Singh will compete in the event.

The 1952 local "bathing beauty" competition, spearheaded by Catalina Swimwear in Long Beach, transformed into an international annual tradition with countless young women around the world vying to become a part of the Miss Universe history.

The Miss Universe Organisation owns and manages the annual Miss Universe Finals, a competition that has grown into one of the World?s biggest.

This year, apart from the Miss Universe 2012 award, the challenge events includes the following titles: National costume round, Sports, Swimsuit Round, Evening gown round

These participating women are savvy, goal-oriented and aware. Those who become part of the Miss Universe display those characteristics in their everyday lives, both as individuals, who compete with hope of advancing their careers, personal and humanitarian goals, and as women who seek to improve the lives of others. The Indian winners in the past have been Sushmita Sen and Lara Dutta.

Zee Network business head niche channels Anurag Bedi said, "After the immense response received from last year, Zee Caf? is proud to be associated with Miss Universe this year as well. Apart from showcasing the latest and the best of English shows, Zee Caf? gets to you live and exclusive telecasts of the biggest world events. For Miss Universe this year, we have Amway on board as the presenting sponsor and Microsoft, Tata Nano, Hitachi, and Quikr.com as the associate sponsors to celebrate this much awaited event."

MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises (Zeel) is gearing up to live telecast the 60th annual Miss Universe pageant, a property that was with Star World last year, on 13 September.

Zeel will simulcast the event on Zee Cafe, Zee Studio and Zee Trendz.

The competetion will see contestants from 89 countries and territories fighting for the title, surpassing the previous record of 86 contestants in 2006.

Zee Cafe has roped in Aaj Tak, Radio City, 160by2, Fun Cinemas and Whats on India as partners for promotion of the beauty pageant.

Miss Universe 2011, the 60th anniversary of the Miss Universe pageant, will be held at the Credicard Hall, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Ximena Navarrete of Mexico will crown her successor.

 
In the first of its kind initiative, Zee Caf? has created a special on-air prequel as a lead on to the main event, called Diaries of a Diva. The segment will start off with Indian representative for Miss Universe last year Ushoshi interviewing Sushmita Sen and sharing her experiences.

The segment will also cover a day in the life of Vasuki, India?s representative for Miss Universe this year. It will focus on her daily grooming before the event.

Zee Cafe is also running an on air contest. The website hosts a microsite for Miss Universe where people could send in their pictures. The winner will get a chance to be groomed by the experts.

Zee Cafe business head Anurag Bedi said, "It‘s a proud moment for us to be associated with Miss Universe 2011. We are associated with many prestigious awards and Miss Universe is another feather on our hat. We have always ensured that we provide our viewers with content that our audience demands; Miss Universe 2011 is another step in that direction."

The show will be presented by Natalie Morales, Andy Cohen, Jeannie Mai and Shandi Finnessey.

For the first time in the pageant?s history, candidates‘ supporters 16 years of age or older "may vote online up to 10 times per e-mail address per day."

Online voting began last 19 August and will end on 11 September. The winner of the online voting will gain an automatic spot into the semifinals of the pageant.

The contestants will compete in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview.