CONFIRMED: Top 15 Semi-Finalists will be chosen for Miss Universe 2009

The rumor that Miss Universe 2009 pageant will go back to its old format of having Top 10 semi-finalists only, instead of 12,15 or 20 is confirmed as purely RUMOR. There's no truth about this stuff that started circulating in different Latin American beauty pageant message boards.

Miss Universe 2009 will have Top 15 semi-finalists as confirmed by a report of an American newspaper which is shown below.

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"Each contestant from more than 80 countries around the world will be judged in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview TO SELECT 15 SEMI-FINALISTS, who will vie for the coveted title of Miss Universe 2009. In recent years, worldwide distribution of the popular competiton has topped more than 180 countries."

That was the exact texts confirming that the 58th Miss Universe pageant to be held in Bahamas in August 23 will select 15 semi-finalists instead of 10.

Well, from that said report, Billy Bush and Claudia Jordan will host the pageant live from the Atlantis, Paradise Island.

Miss Universe 2009 goes back to Top 10 format

No more Top 15 or Top 20 at the Miss Universe 2009. Instead, only the Top 10 will be called at the finals.

Rumor or fact?

This is the message sent to us by a very good friend. He forwarded to me a message he copied from a Puerto Rican pageant forum. He forgot to name the said forum.

Here is the message.

Miss Universe will return to the popular 90's format of having only a Top 10. The Top 10 will compete in both swimsuit and evening gown. The scores will be averaged out and the Top 5 will be selected.

The producer of Miss Universe, Phil Gurin, affirms that with the return of the individual interviews, will come more "youtube" moments. He also mentioned that with the Top 15 format, it does not allow the public to identify themselves with any of the contestants, which has been reflected on the ratings each year.