By weighting interview at 50% of a contestant’s overall score, the Miss Universe Organization is reminding contestants of the importance of public speaking ability. The best way to showcase your skills is through the final pageant onstage question competition.
There’s no denying how impactful great pageant onstage question can be in a contestant’s final placement. At best, a great onstage question performance will capture the judges’ hearts and rank you as the winner in a final ballot. At worst, a bad onstage question can keep you from the crown entirely. This, combined with the pressure of a live audience, is what makes the competition so nerve-wracking!
A great way to prepare for such a daunting area of competition is by practicing questions. After all, practice makes progress. There are thousands of pageant questions online, but how many of them have been asked in a real competition setting?
Each of these questions were asked at a state, national, or international Miss Universe competition. You can also practice with our lists of interview and onstage questions. Although they are great practice, you should not memorize answers to these questions. Instead, focus on learning how to articulate your opinions and connect to your brand when relevant without alienating the judges or audience.

Miss Universe Onstage Questions
- If you win Miss Universe, how would you work to demonstrate this pageant as an empowering and progressive organization?
- Miss Universe has inspired generations of women. What do you want to say to the ones watching you now?
- What’s more important: being liked or being respected, and why?
- When something bad is happening in your life, what gives you power to keep going?
- How would you live your life differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
- What qualities must someone have to be a truly successful leader?
- Describe the ideal woman of today. What do you have in common with her?
- Miss Universe recently made an inclusive change, allowing mothers and married women to compete. What’s another change you would like to see, and why?
- If you are crowned Miss Universe, how would you represent ALL of this year’s delegates throughout your reign?
- If you had the opportunity to speak with the president of your country, what would you want to discuss?
- What is the most significant obstacle that women in your country face, and what should be done about it?
- Tell me about a time you felt shame, and how you turned that feeling into fuel.
- Many people think climate change is a hoax. What would you to do convince them to take it seriously?
- Should tweets and social media comments from a person in their teenage years be held against them years later?
- According to Global Citizen, 95% of the world’s countries are led by a male head of state. How would the world be different if more women were in charge?
- Given the ever-changing COVID situation, what is your opinion of mandating a universal vaccine passport?
- How can women best handle body shaming?
- Share a final statement about: changing beauty standards.
- Share a final statement about: free speech and the right to protest.
- Share a final statement about: mental health.
- Share a final statement about: global poverty.
Miss USA Onstage Questions
- It is known that social media apps collect personal information and sell it to third parties. Does this influence your decision to use them?
- We live in a politically polarized nation. What must be done to bring it back together?
- Only 1/3 of Americans could pass the US citizenship test. Why do you think this is the case, and how can we solve this?
- Social justice groups and their allies are advocating for police reform. Do you agree? What steps should be taken?
- More and more people get their news from social media. Should platforms fact check or would it suppress free speech?
- If you had to deliver a speech to teens from the White House, what would you tell them?
- If you could change one law, what would it be?
- If you could change an event in the past century, what would you change?
- How do you feel about the college admissions scandal?
- What three traits should a titleholder have?
- What is the best advice you have received?
- What qualities do you have that would help you as Miss [State] USA?
- What is one valuable piece of advice you would give your younger self?
- What is the greatest challenge young women face in today’s society?
- What quality in yourself are you most proud of and how would you apply this quality to your role as Miss [State] USA?
- Which woman do you admire for her contributions to society?
- Do you believe the media has a positive or negative impact on body image?
- If you could advise the president on any topic, what would you talk to them about?
- What is the greatest contribution women have made to society?
- What matters more: education or experience?
Miss Teen USA Onstage Questions
- Describe yourself in three words that start with the same letter as your name.
- How would you welcome a foreign exchange student into your school?
- What advice would you give to a friend about to make a bad decision?
- What advice would you give to someone about to make a social media account?
- Which celebrity do you consider to be a positive role model?
- Do you believe social media has had a positive or negative impact on your generation?
- What is the greatest challenge teenage girls are facing today?
- What is the most rewarding community service project or activity you have participated in?
- What is the most important life lesson that you’ve been taught?