Donald Trump owns part or is the boss of many major beauty pageants
Donald Trump shared ownership of the Miss Universe Organization, which also included the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants, from 1996 until 2015. In the final preparations of a pageant, Trump would casually drop by the contestants a day or two before it started. Former contenders described how Trump would make his way among the young women, shaking their hands and chit-chatting with each one of them while occasionally turning to speak with Paula Shugart, the head of the Miss Universe Organization, who followed him at a discreet distance.
The pageant took place four times under Trump: twice in Puerto Rico, twice in Florida, and twice in Las Vegas. In the other years, Trump held the pageant in warm-weather locales such as Panama City, So Paulo, Quito, and Mexico City to maintain the contest's original purpose as a swimsuit competition.
In September 2015, Trump sold the Miss Universe Organization, which also includes Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. WME/IMG, a talent agency, and entertainment company purchased the business; however, no financial information was provided.
