An inaugural ceremony of the 2008 Miss Universe Contest was organized by the Hoan Cau Company at the Diamond Bay Resort in the coastal Nha Trang Town on Monday, June 30. This is here where the main contest will be held on Tuesday, July 8 with the finale of the 2008 Miss Universe contest slated for July 14. Among those who attended Monday’s ceremony included officers from Khanh Hoa People’s Committee apart from President Paula Sughart and other Miss Universe Organization members and the 80 pageant participants. The exotic Diamond Bay Resort cost an investment of US $10million.

It comprises a sprawling Crown Convention Center covering a 10,000-square-meter area as well as a huge press center to seat the hundreds of local and international media persons who will fly in for the Miss Universe contest. A huge TV screen has been propped up in the background of the 770-square-meter stage at the Vinpearl Land, which will feature the 80 contestants during the swimsuit round. A lot of effort is being undertaken by the Miss Universe Organization to publicize this year’s contest all over the globe. In New York City’s Times Square, a substantial billboard featuring the Miss Universe crown for this year’s winner has been erected to arrest the attention of the passersby.

The Miss Universe crown is worth $120,000. Made out of 18-carat gold, the crown is embellished with 1,000 gems and precious stones. The Miss Universe crown has been created by a leading Vietnamese jewelry company, the Ho Chi Minh City-based PNJ. While the 2008 Miss Universe will be awarded with a cash prize of $3,000 from the sponsors of the contest, the runners up will get $ 2000, whereas the third and fourth finishers will be awarded $1,000 apiece. Apart from this, there is also the Traditional Costume Prize and title of Miss Congeniality for that participant who has been chosen by fellow contestants as the most inspirational figure.