Miss Universe 2004

In September 2002, the Miss Bahamas Universe Organization announced that the Bahamas is tentatively set to host the pageant.[3] However, plans to host the pageant did not materialize, and the Bahamas hosted the pageant in 2009.[4]

Quito, Ecuador was announced as host city of the pageant on August 19, 2003. The city paid $5 million for the right to host the event, although it anticipated recouping this through visitors and promotion of the country during the televised competition.[5]

In March, Ecuador's foreign trade minister was forced to reject rumours that the pageant was at risk of being moved to China, and he urged Ecuadorians to back the pageant.[6] As an added incentive for tourists, American Airlines, official airline sponsor of the pageant, offered 5% off airfares to Quito for travel to the pageant, as well as 10% off for those who booked a month in advance.[7] The attempted use of the pageant to promote Ecuador threatened to be derailed just prior to the telecast, when a corruption scandal led to growing demands for the removal of President Lucio Gutierrez in the politically unstable country.[8]

Prior to the arrival of delegates in early May, officials in Quito attempted to renovate areas where they would be visiting, which involved temporarily removing beggars and homeless people from certain areas of the city.[9] Similar action was taken in Bangkok, Thailand prior to Miss Universe 1992[10] and in Manila, Philippines prior to Miss Universe 1994.[11] The event was protested by native Indian activists and environmentalists who accused the government of concealing the nations poverty whilst the pageant was being hosted.[12]

The delegates, judges, media and tourists were heavily protected by a security detail involving over 5000 police officers.[13] On May 16, just hours before delegates were expected to participate in a parade in Cuenca, a pamphlet bomb was deactivated by police. Although it was protesting the economic policies of the Ecuadorian government, police suspected that the bomb, found just six blocks from the parade route, was timed specifically to coincide with the event.[14]

Contestants from eighty countries and territories were selected to compete in the pageant. Two delegates were appointees to their position to replace the original dethroned winner.

Zita Galgociova was initially chosen to represent Slovakia, but she was replaced with her first runner-up Zuzana Dvorska because she was under the minimum age.[15] Miss Hanoi-Vietnam 2003 Nguyễn Thị Hồng Vân was chosen to represent Vietnam, but she was replaced by the gold medal winner of Vietnam Supermodel Award 2004 Hoàng Khánh Ngọc with unknown reasons.[16]

The 2004 edition saw the debuts of Ethiopia, Georgia, and Vietnam, and the returns of Austria, Botswana, Chile, Denmark, Ghana, Kenya, Lebanon, Paraguay, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Turks and Caicos, and Uruguay. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines last competed in 1991, Austria in 1999, Denmark in 2000, Botswana, Turks and Caicos, Lebanon, and Paraguay in 2001, while the others last competed in 2002. Albania, Argentina, Mauritius, Namibia, and New Zealand withdrew. Sabine Bourdet of Mauritius withdrew due to health problems,[17] while Petrina Thomas of Namibia withdrew due to lack of sponsorship.[18] Albania, Argentina, and New Zealand withdrew after their respective organizations failed to hold a national competition or appoint a delegate.

Maria José Girol Jimenez was set to compete at Miss Universe. However, Jimenez withdrew due to the lack of sponsorship. Dian Krishna, Puteri Indonesia 2003, was welcomed by the pageant organizers and was given the chance to attend the show in the audience as an observer. Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir of Iceland was also set to compete at Miss Universe, but withdrew due to undisclosed reasons.

Same with 2003, fifteen semifinalists were chosen through the preliminary competition— composed of the swimsuit and evening gown competitions and closed-door interviews. The fifteen semifinalists competed in the evening gown and were narrowed down to ten afterward. The ten semifinalists competed in the swimsuit competition and were narrowed down to five afterward. The five finalists competed in the question and answer round and the final look.

• Bo Derek – Film actress[20]
• Bill Rancic – Winner of the first season of The Apprentice[20]
• Katie Pritz – Today Show's "You Be The Judge" contest winner
• Wendy Fitzwilliam – Miss Universe 1998 from Trinidad and Tobago[20]
• Elsa Benítez – International supermodel[20]
• Jon Tutolo – President of Trump Model Management[20]
• Anne Martin – Vice President of Global Cosmetics and Marketing of Procter & Gamble Cosmetics[20]
• Monique Menniken – Supermodel[20]
• Petra Nemcova – Sports Illustrated supermodel[20]
• Jefferson Pérez – 1996 Ecuadorian Olympic gold medalist
• Emilio Estefan – Music producer and entertainer[20]

Note: Kwame Jackson, runner-up on the first season of The Apprentice, was initially chosen as a judge, but he was disqualified because he inadvertently visited the hotel where the delegates were staying and interacted with some of the contestants.[21]