Miss Universe 1956

Contestants from thirty countries and territories were selected to compete in the pageant. This is the last edition before 2023 where women who are married and have children can participate.[3][4][5] Two contestants were selected to replace the original dethroned winner.

Guðlaug Guðmundsdóttir, the first runner-up of Miss Iceland 1956, was appointed to replace Miss Iceland 1956 Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir after it was discovered that the latter was already married.[6] Edith Noble Nakpil was replaced by Isabel Escobar Rodriguez as the representative of the Philippines due to undisclosed reasons.[7]

This edition saw the debuts of British Guiana, the Dominican Republic, Holland, and Iceland,[8] and the returns of Turkey and Peru, who last competed in 1953 and 1954, respectively. Mirva Arvinen of Finland withdrew due to undisclosed reasons. Ceylon, El Salvador, Finland, Honduras, Lebanon, Nicaragua, Norway, South Korea, and the West Indies withdrew after their respective organizations failed to hold a national competition or designate a contestant.

Same with 1955, fifteen semi-finalists were chosen at the preliminary competition that consists of the swimsuit and evening gown competition. Each of the fifteen semi-finalists gave a short speech during the final telecast using their native languages. Afterwards, the fifteen semi-finalists paraded again in their swimsuits and evening gowns, and the five finalists were eventually chosen.[12]

• Vincent Trotta – Artistic Director at Paramount Pictures
• James H. Noguer – American professor of Foreign Languages
• Tom Kelley – American photographer
• Dorothy Kirsten – American opera singer[12]
• Earl Wilson – American journalist and columnist[12]
• Alberto Vargas – Peruvian-American painter known for his "Vargas Girls"[12]
• Max Factor – American businessman and make-up man[12]
• Claude Berr – Founder and president of the Comite Pour Election de Miss Europe[12]