Miss Universe 1994

Manila was announced as host city for the pageant in October 1993.[2] It was the second time the pageant was held in the Philippines, after it was staged in Manila in 1974.[2] The country expected to make ₱10 million (US$357,000) profit out of the pageant, as well as the accompanying media exposure.[3] The ₱150 million ($5.3 million) spent on hosting the pageant was funded from the private sectors, with sponsors such as Nestlé, Kodak and Hertz.[3] Some of the expected sponsorship money did not materialize, leading the shortfall to be covered by the government.[4] In the midst of power shortages around the time of the pageant, the Philippine government promised to ensure that the weekend of the pageant's coronation night would be "blackout-free".[5] By mid May, as the contestants were already in Manila, organizers confirmed that they were short of money and were unsure whether a profit would be made from the event.[6] There was also a probe by the Commission on Human Rights during May as to whether a police round-up of street children was intended to improve Manila's international image during the pageant events.[7] This was also criticised by Miss Thailand, Areeya Sirisopha Chumsai, even though the same incident occurred in Thailand in the Miss Universe 1992 pageant.[8]

During rehearsal on the day prior to the pageant, a small homemade bomb exploded outside the pageant venue where the contestants had earlier been rehearsing, though it caused minimal damage and there were no injuries were taken.[9] As a result, more than 3000 Filipino police officers were involved in protecting the delegates, as well as dozens of policewomen assigned as personal or group bodyguards.[10]

The pageant came under public attack from the Nationalist Movement of New Women, a branch of the National Democratic Front, which claimed that it was being used to promote sex tourism.[11] The cost of the event was also criticized by the Philippine Congress, despite it being endorsed by President Fidel V. Ramos.[11] A social function attended by the delegates held prior to the final broadcast was picketed by the women's group, who opposed the nature of the pageant and the lavish spending.[12]

Miss Malaysia, Liza Koh, made a public apology on behalf of her country about the arrest of 1200 Filipina domestic helpers in Kuala Lumpur.[13] As a result, the Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi admonished her not to make any further political remarks.[14]

Miss Philippines Charlene Gonzales, gained criticism for winning the Best National Costume award, as the judges were also criticized for allegedly favouring the host nation's delegate. Miss British Virgin Islands, Delia Jon Baptiste, publicly declared that Gonzales won the award, because of Filipino favouritism, and that the other delegates disagreed with the choice. Miss Venezuela Minorka Mercado, won the Philippine costume Terno award, followed by Slovakia, who was also celebrating her birthday, and Miss Mexico by their respective placements.[15]

Prior to the final telecast, all contestants competed in pre-pageant shows including the national costume and opening show held at the Araneta Coliseum, and swimsuit and evening gown during the preliminary competition held at its main venue, the Philippine International Convention Center. They also participated in interviews with the judges.

During the final competition, the ten semifinalists competed in the swimsuit, evening gown and interview. The top six contestants participated in a final round of on-stage interviews, and cut to the final top three before the runners-up were announced and the new Miss Universe named.

• Carlos Arturo Zapata - Colombian fashion designer[16]
• Florence LaRue - American Singer[16]
• Richard Dalton - Princess Diana's stylist and confidante[16]
• Beulah Quo - Chinese-American actress[16]
• Emilio T. Yap - Publisher and Business tycoon
• Stephanie Beacham - English actress[16]
• Jonas McCord - Chinese-Filipino business tycoon and philanthropist[16]
• Mona Grudt - Miss Universe 1990 from Norway[16]

•  Russia - attended for the first time, after separating from Soviet Union. Inna Zobova was the winner of Miss Russia in 1993, which was the national pageant.
•  Slovakia attended for the first time, after separating from Czechoslovakia. Silvia Lakatošova was the winner of Miss Czech and Slovak Republic in 1993, which was the national pageant together with the Czech Republic.
•  Zimbabwe

Last competed in 1992:

•  Cook Islands
•  Egypt
•  Republic of China — Joanne Wu was allowed to wear Republic of China sash while she was off-staged. There were two sashes for her, one was written (Taiwan) R.O.C., and the other was written Republic of China as stated above.

•  El Salvador - Eleonora Carrillo, Miss El Salvador 1994 couldn't take part due she was underage before February 1.[17] Her 1st—Runner up, Claudia Méndez was sent for the event, although Carrillo competed the following year at the Miss Universe 1995 finishing in the Top 10.

•  Lithuania — Loreta Brusokaitė - withdrew due to unknown reasons, made a debut in Miss Universe 2012

•  Indonesia - Venna Melinda was not allowed to compete in the pageant because of her country's conservative Islamic prejudice towards the swimsuit competition, though she eventually traveled to Manila to watch the pageant instead.[19]