document_title: Miss Universe

question_text: what are the qualifications to become miss universe

root

text: Miss Universe

text: History[edit]

text: The title "Miss Universe" was first used by the International Pageant of Pulchritude in 1926. This contest was held annually until 1935, when the Great Depression and other events preceding World War II led to its demise.

tag: p

text: The current Miss Universe pageant was founded in 1952 by Pacific Knitting Mills, a California-based clothing company and manufacturer of Catalina Swimwear. The company was the sponsor of the Miss America pageant until 1951, when the winner, Yolande Betbeze, refused to pose for publicity pictures wearing one of their swimsuits. In 1952, Pacific Knitting Mills organized the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, co-sponsoring them for decades to follow.

text: The first Miss Universe Pageant was held in Long Beach, California in 1952. It was won by Armi Kuusela from Finland, who gave up her title, though not officially, to get married, shortly before her year was completed.[13] Until 1958, the Miss Universe title, like that of Miss America, was dated by the year following the contest, so at the time Ms. Kuusela's title was Miss Universe 1953.

text: Since its founding by Pacific Mills, the pageant has been organized and conducted by the Miss Universe Organization. Eventually Pacific Mills and its subsidiaries were acquired by the Kayser-Roth Corporation, which was in turn acquired by Gulf and Western Industries.

text: The pageant was first televised in 1955. CBS began broadcasting the combined Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants in 1960, and as separate contests in 1965. John Charles Daly hosted the pageant from 1955 to 1966, Bob Barker from 1967 to 1987, Alan Thicke in 1988, John Forsythe in 1989, Dick Clark from 1990 to 1993, and Bob Goen from 1994 to 1996.

text: Donald Trump bought the pageant in 1996 from ITT Corp.[14] Trump struck a broadcasting arrangement with CBS until 2002, in 20. In 1998, Miss Universe, Inc. changed its name to Miss Universe Organization, and moved its headquarters from Los Angeles to New York City.[15][16] In late 2002 Trump entered into a joint venture with NBC,[1][17] which in 2003 outbid the other markets for the TV rights.[18] From 2003 to 2014, the pageant was broadcast in the United States on NBC.

text: In September 2015, when NBC cancelled all business relationships with Trump and the Miss Universe Organization, in response to ccontroversial statements about illegal immigrants who crossed the border from Mexico.[19][20] As part of the legal settlement, in September 2015, Trump bought out NBC's 50% stake in the company making him the company's sole owner. Three days later he sold the whole company to WME/IMG.[21][22] Following the change of ownership, in October 2015, Fox and Azteca became the official broadcasters of the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants.[23] The current president of the Miss Universe Organization is Paula Shugart, who has held this position since 1998.[24]

text: Contestant selection[edit]

text: For a country to participate in the Miss Universe, a local company or a person, should buy the local rights of the competition, through a franchise fee, which involves the rights of image, brand and everything related to the pageant.Often, the owner of this franchise for contractual breaches or financial reasons, returns the franchise to the Miss Universe Organization, which resells it to a new stakeholder. Something that is recurrently common in the history of the event.The number of candidates in the contest is inconstant, precisely, because of the question of the franchisees. In addition, there are problems related to the calendar of the pageant.For example, in Miss Universe 2016 were 80 candidates, the following year, the number jumped to 92.

text: Usually a country's candidate selection involves pageants in your local subdivisions, whose winners compete in a national pageant, but there are some exceptions. For example, from 2000 to 2004, Australian delegates were chosen by a modelling agency. Although such "castings" are generally discouraged by the Miss Universe Organization, Jennifer Hawkins was chosen to represent the country in Miss Universe in 2004 (where she would eventually win the crown). When Australia resumed its national pageant in the later year, Michelle Guy became Miss Universe Australia 2005.

text: Recent arrivals in the last ten years of the pageant include: Serbia, Montenegro and Tanzania (2007), Kosovo (2008), Gabon and Lithuania (2012), Azerbaijan (2013), Sierra Leone (2016), and Cambodia, Laos and Nepal (2017).

text: There have also been efforts to revive strong national pageants in, South Africa, Canada, Spain, Japan, Southeast Asia and Latin America. The organization makes continual efforts to expand the pageant, but the participation of some countries such as Algeria and has proven difficult due to cultural barriers to the swimsuit competition, while others such as Armenia and Mozambique have balked at sending representatives due to the cost.

text: As of 2016, only three countries have been present at every Miss Universe since its inception in 1952: Canada, France, Germany (actually West Germany until 1990, when East and West reunified). Many European countries allow 17-year-old contestants to compete in their pageants, while Miss Universe's minimum age is 18, so national titleholders often have to be replaced by their runners-up or another candidate. Beginning in 2012, transgender women were allowed to compete, as long as they win their national pageants.[25] Since its inception, Miss Universe strictly prohibits age fabrication.

text: Some of the most successful national countries in the last decade have been Venezuela, the United States, France, the Philippines, and Colombia which command consistently high interest and television ratings in their respective countries. The live broadcasts of the Miss Universe pageant (regardless of the hosting nation) proved highly popular particularly in the Americas and Asia in recent years.[26]

text: Main pageant[edit]

text: The main Miss Universe Pageant is held over a two-week period in December. In the 1970s through the 1990s, the pageant was a month long. This allowed time for rehearsals, appearances, and the preliminary competition, with the winner being crowned by the previous year's titleholder during the final competition.

text: According to the organizers, the Miss Universe contest is more than a beauty pageant: women aspiring to become Miss Universe must be intelligent, well-mannered, and cultured[need quotation to verify]. Often a candidate has lost because she did not have a good answer during the question responses rounds; although this section of competition has held less importance during recent pageants than it did in the twentieth century. Delegates also participate in swimsuit and evening gown competitions.

text: Currently, the final placement of the finalists is determined by a ranked vote, where each judge ranks each of the final three/five candidates, with the contestant posting the lowest cumulative score (thus often, but not necessarily always, the contestant with the most number one votes) becoming the winner. If there is a tie, the higher semifinal scores become decisive.

text: The winner is assigned a one-year contract with the Miss Universe Organization, going overseas to spread messages about the control of diseases, peace, and public awareness of AIDS. Aside from the job, the winner also receives a cash allowance for her entire reign, a New York Film Academy scholarship, a modelling portfolio, beauty products, clothes, shoes, as well as styling, healthcare, and fitness services by different sponsors of the pageant. She also gains exclusive access to events such as fashion shows and opening galas, as well as access to casting calls and modelling opportunities throughout New York City. When Donald Trump owned the pageant, the winner was given the use of a Trump Place apartment in New York City during her reign, which she shared with the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA titleholders.[27] If the winner, for any reason, cannot fulfill her duties as Miss Universe, the 1st runner-up takes over.

text: Aside from the main winner and her runners-up, special awards are also given to the winners of the best National Costume, Miss Photogenic, and Miss Congeniality. The Miss Congeniality award is chosen by the delegates themselves. In recent years, Miss Photogenic has been chosen by popular internet vote (the winner used to be chosen by media personnel covering the event).

text: Final judgment[edit]

text: The competition for the Miss Universe title has seen many changes, although there have been several constants throughout its history. All the contestants compete in a preliminary round of judging (nowadays called the "Preliminary Competition") where the field is narrowed to a select number of semifinalists. This number has fluctuated over the years. The first Miss Universe pageant had ten semifinalists. For the next two years, the number of semifinalists grew to 16. In 1955, the number dropped to a stable 15, which remained through 1970. In 1971, the number was reduced to 12. That number was further reduced to 10 in 1984. This lasted until 2003, when the number of 15 was reinstated. In 2006, there were 20 semifinalists, the highest number ever. In 2007, the organization announced the Top 15 system would be back, which was also used in 2008 until 2010. In 2011, the results of a fan vote was shown on the screen during the swimsuit and evening gown competitions, but this did not affect the final outcome of the competition. From 2011 to 2013, there were 16 semifinalists, 15 chosen by judges and one chosen through Internet votes. The 16th semifinalist by fan vote has been dropped as of 2015, and the number has been reverted to 15 semifinalists. And in 2016 edition there were 13 semifinalists, 12 chosen by judges panel from the quarantine to the preliminary night and one chosen by Twitter and Vodi app. In the 2017 edition, the semifinalists were reverted back to 16 delegates divided into 4 different groups each hailing from a different region in the world, Africa & Asia-Pacific, Europe, The Americas & the Wildcard (anywhere).

text: In the early years, the contestants were judged in swimsuit and evening gown only. In later years, the contestants also competed in a preliminary interview round in a one-on-one meeting with each individual judge.

text: Crowns of Miss Universe[edit]

text: The crown of Miss Universe has changed 9 times over the course of its 65-year history.[28] The first crown, the Romanov Imperial nuptial crown, was previously owned by the now-defunct Russian monarchy. It was used when Armi Kuusela of Finland became the first Miss Universe in 1952.[28]

text:
Romanov crown / Metal Bronze crown — When Christiane Martel of France became Miss Universe 1953, the nuptial crown was replaced by a metallic bronze crown. She was the only Miss Universe titleholder to wear this crown.[28] From 1954 to 1960, "The Star of the Universe" was used. It was named as such due to the star shape at the top of the crown. It is made up of approximately 1,000 Oriental cultured and black pearls set in solid gold and platinum and only weighed 1.25 pounds. It was insured for $500,000.[28]
The Rhinestone crown / Coventry crown — (purely made from rhinestones) was debuted in 1961, as part of the 10th anniversary of the pageant. Only Marlene Schmidt (Miss Universe 1961) and her successor Norma Nolan (Miss Universe 1962) wore this crown.[28] In 1963, renowned jewellery maker Sarah Coventry was the one responsible for making the new rhinestone Miss Universe crown which featured a female figure (holding a scepter) as its centerpiece. It is also known as The Lady or The Queen crown. The cheap rhinestone design made it possible to create exact replicas of the crown to be given to outgoing titleholders. The design was slightly modified in 1973 for the wearer's ease. This crown was used until 2001, when it was replaced due to a sponsorship deal, thus ending the tradition.[28]
The Mikimoto Crown — used from 2002–2007 for the 50th commemorative anniversary of the Miss Universe organization was designed by Tomohiro Yamaji for the Mikimoto Company, the official jewel sponsor of the Miss Universe Organization. The crown depicted the phoenix rising, signifying status, power and beauty, as stipulated in their sponsorship deal. The crown has 500 natural colorless diamonds of almost 30 carats (6.0 g), 120 South Sea and Akoya pearls, ranging in size from 3 to 18 mm diameter and is valued at $250,000.[28] The Crown was designed for the pageant on Mikimoto Pearl Island in Japan with the Mikimoto crown and tiara being first used for Miss Universe 2002.[29] Among pageant connoisseurs, the Mikimoto crown is reputedly the most sought among beauty title holders. The crown was again used when Iris Mittenaere of France crowned Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa as Miss Universe 2017.
CAO crown — In 2008, Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela was crowned with a tiara designed by Rosalina Lydster of Jewelry by Rosalina and Ms. Dang Thi Kim Lien of CAO Fine Jewelry. The crown, valued at $120,000, is made of 18-carat white and yellow gold. It is composed of over 1,000 precious stones; including 555 white diamonds (30 carats), 375 cognac diamonds (14 carats), 10 smoky quartz crystals (20 carats) and 19 morganite gemstones (60 carats). The yellow lustre of the gold represents the prosperous thriving economy in Vietnam. White, light pink, and cognac are the main hues in the crown which represent inspiration and feeling. Each piece of the crown was designed to represent an important attribute of the Miss Universe Pageant. The curves of inlaid precious stones represent the strong development and potential of each country. The image of the crane (Lac Bird) symbolizes Vietnamese spirit and culture. The image of the heart represents unified breath, rhythm, and vision, which are powerful internal forces that stress faith, hope, and unity. However, Mendoza declined to use this crown and thus insisted on the Mikimoto crown when she crowned her own Venezuelan compatriot Stefania Fernandez as successor.
The Nexus crown — From 2009–2013, Diamond Nexus Labs made the Miss Universe crown. The crown is set with 1,371 gemstones, weighing a total of 416.09 carats (83.218 g). It contains 544.31 grams of 14k and 18k white gold as well as platinum.[citation needed] The crown features synthetic rubies to represent Miss Universe's HIV/AIDS education and awareness platform. Diamond Nexus Labs is the first ever eco-friendly Official Jeweler of Miss Universe and was selected as part of NBC Universal's "Green is Universal" initiative.[30][31]
The DIC crown — From 2014–2016, Paulina Vega, Pia Wurtzbach, and Iris Mittenaere were decorated with a crown estimated to be worth US$300,000, produced in the workshop of Czech company DIC - Diamonds International Corporation.[32][33] The whole production process, from the first sketches to the production itself, took approximately four months. The shape of the crown is reminiscent of Manhattan skyline. Its production required the work of 10 people and the crown is made up of 311 pcs of diamonds, 5 pieces of blue topaz, 198 pieces of blue sapphire, 33 pieces of crystal and 220 grams of gold. Total weight of the crown is 411 g.

tag: ul

text: Gallery[edit]

text:
The Lady or The Queen crown, as worn by Miss Universe 1980, Shawn Weatherly

The Mikimoto Crown used from 2002-2007 and in 2017, as worn by Miss Universe 2003, Amelia Vega

The CAO Crown used in 2008, as worn by Miss Universe 2008, Dayana Mendoza

The Diamond Nexus Crown used from 2009–2013, as worn by Miss Universe 2011, Leila Lopes

The DIC Crown with the reminiscent of Manhattan skyline, used from 2014-2016, as worn by Miss Universe 2015, Pia Wurtzbach

text: Recent titleholders[edit]

text:
Edition
Country
Name
National Title
Location
Number of Entrants

2017
 South Africa
Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters
Miss South Africa
Las Vegas, United States
92

2016
 France
Iris Mittenaere
Miss France
Manila, Philippines
86

2015
 Philippines
Pia Wurtzbach
Binibining Pilipinas
Las Vegas, United States
80

2014
 Colombia
Paulina Vega
Señorita Colombia
Doral, United States
88

2013
 Venezuela
Gabriela Isler
Miss Venezuela
Moscow, Russia
86

tag: table

text: Gallery of winners[edit]

text:
Miss Universe 2016
Iris Mittenaere
France

Miss Universe 2015
Pia Wurtzbach
Philippines

Miss Universe 2014
Paulina Vega
Colombia

Miss Universe 2013
Gabriela Isler
Venezuela

Miss Universe 2012
Olivia Culpo
United States

Miss Universe 2011
Leila Lopes
Angola

Miss Universe 2010
Ximena Navarrete
Mexico

Miss Universe 2009
Stefanía Fernández,
Venezuela

Miss Universe 2008
Dayana Mendoza,
Venezuela

Miss Universe 2007
Riyo Mori,
Japan

Miss Universe 2006
Zuleyka Rivera,
Puerto Rico

Miss Universe 2005
Natalie Glebova,
Canada

Miss Universe 2004
Jennifer Hawkins
Australia

Miss Universe 2003
Amelia Vega,
Dominican Republic

Miss Universe 2002
Justine Pasek,
Panama

Miss Universe 2001
Denise Quiñones,
Puerto Rico

Miss Universe 2000
Lara Dutta,
India

Miss Universe 1999
Mpule Kwelagobe,
Botswana

Miss Universe 1997
Brook Lee,
United States

Miss Universe 1994
Sushmita Sen,
India

Miss Universe 1993
Dayanara Torres,
Puerto Rico

Miss Universe 1991
Lupita Jones,
México

Miss Universe 1989
Angela Visser, Netherlands

Miss Universe 1987
Cecilia Bolocco, Chile

Miss Universe 1984
Yvonne Ryding, Sweden

Miss Universe 1980
Shawn Weatherly, United States

Miss Universe 1977
Janelle Commissiong, Trinidad and Tobago

Miss Universe 1976
Rina Mor, Israel

Miss Universe 1967
Sylvia Hitchcock, United States

Miss Universe 1957
Gladys Zender, Peru

Miss Universe 1956
Carol Morris, United States

Miss Universe 1953
Christiane Martel, France

Miss Universe 1952
Armi Kuusela, Finland

text: Miss Universe Organization[edit]

text: The Miss Universe Organization is the organization that currently owns and runs the Miss Universe, Miss USA[34] and Miss Teen USA beauty contests. Based in New York, the organization is owned by WME/IMG. The current president is Paula Shugart. The organization sells television rights to the pageants in other countries.

text: Miss Universe Organization titleholders[edit]

text: The following is a list of all Miss Universe Organization titleholders over the years.

text:
Edition

Miss Universe
Country

Miss USA
State

Miss Teen USA
State

2017
Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters
 South Africa
Kára McCullough
 District of Columbia
Sophia Dominguez-Heithoff
 Missouri

2016
Iris Mittenaere
 France
Deshauna Barber
 District of Columbia
Karlie Hay
 Texas

2015
Pia Wurtzbach
 Philippines
Olivia Jordan
 Oklahoma
Katherine Haik
 Louisiana

2014
Paulina Vega
 Colombia
Nia Sanchez
 Nevada
K. Lee Graham
 South Carolina

2013
Gabriela Isler
 Venezuela
Erin Brady
 Connecticut
Cassidy Wolf
 California

2012
Olivia Culpo
 United States
Nana Meriwether
 Maryland
Logan West
 Connecticut

2011
Leila Lopes
 Angola
Alyssa Campanella
 California
Danielle Doty
 Texas

2010
Ximena Navarrete
 Mexico
Rima Fakih
 Michigan
Kamie Crawford
 Maryland

2009
Stefanía Fernández
 Venezuela
Kristen Dalton
 North Carolina
Stormi Henley
 Tennessee

2008
Dayana Mendoza
 Venezuela
Crystle Stewart
 Texas
Stevi Perry
 Arkansas

2007
Riyo Mori
 Japan
Rachel Smith
 Tennessee
Hilary Cruz
 Colorado

2006
Zuleyka Rivera
 Puerto Rico
Tara Conner
 Kentucky
Katie Blair
 Montana

2005
Natalie Glebova
 Canada
Chelsea Cooley
 North Carolina
Allie LaForce
 Ohio

2004
Jennifer Hawkins
 Australia
Shandi Finnessey
 Missouri
Shelley Hennig
 Louisiana

2003
Amelia Vega
 Dominican Republic
Susie Castillo
 Massachusetts
Tami Farrell
 Oregon

2002
Justine Pasek
 Panama
Shauntay Hinton
 District of Columbia
Vanessa Semrow
 Wisconsin

Oxana Fedorova[a]
 Russia

2001
Denise Quiñones
 Puerto Rico
Kandace Krueger
 Texas
Marissa Whitley
 Missouri

2000
Lara Dutta
 India
Lynnette Cole
 Tennessee
Jillian Parry
 Pennsylvania

1999
Mpule Kwelagobe
 Botswana
Kimberly Pressler
 New York
Ashley Coleman
 Delaware

1998
Wendy Fitzwilliam
 Trinidad and Tobago
Shawnae Jebbia
 Massachusetts
Vanessa Minnillo
 South Carolina

1997
Brook Lee
 United States
Brandi Sherwood
 Idaho
Shelly Moore
 Tennessee

1996
Alicia Machado
 Venezuela
Ali Landry
 Louisiana
Christie Lee Woods
 Texas

1995
Chelsi Smith
 United States
Shanna Moakler
 New York
Keylee Sue Sanders
 Kansas

1994
Sushmita Sen
 India
Lu Parker
 South Carolina
Shauna Gambill
 California

1993
Dayanara Torres
 Puerto Rico
Kenya Moore
 Michigan
Charlotte Lopez
 Vermont

1992
Michelle McLean
 Namibia
Shannon Marketic
 California
Jamie Solinger
 Iowa

1991
Lupita Jones
 Mexico
Kelli McCarty
 Kansas
Janelle Bishop
 New Hampshire

1990
Mona Grudt
 Norway
Carole Gist
 Michigan
Bridgette Wilson
 Oregon

1989
Angela Visser
 Netherlands
Gretchen Polhemus
 Texas
Brandi Sherwood
 Idaho

1988
Porntip Nakhirunkanok
 Thailand
Courtney Gibbs
 Texas
Mindy Duncan
 Oregon

1987
Cecilia Bolocco
 Chile
Michelle Royer
 Texas
Kristi Addis
 Mississippi

1986
Bárbara Palacios
 Venezuela
Christy Fichtner
 Texas
Allison Brown
 Oklahoma

1985
Deborah Carthy-Deu
 Puerto Rico
Laura Martinez-Herring
 Texas
Kelly Hu
 Hawaii

1984
Yvonne Ryding
 Sweden
Mai Shanley
 New Mexico
Cherise Haugen
 Illinois

1983
Lorraine Downes
 New Zealand
Julie Hayek
 California
Ruth Zakarian
 New York

1982
Karen Baldwin
 Canada
Terri Utley
 Arkansas
↑ No Pageant Held
(established in 1983)

1981
Irene Sáez
 Venezuela
Kim Seelbrede
 Ohio

1980
Shawn Weatherly
 United States
Jineane Ford
 Arizona

1979
Maritza Sayalero
 Venezuela
Mary Therese Friel
 New York

1978
Margaret Gardiner
 South Africa
Judi Andersen
 Hawaii

1977
Janelle Commissiong
 Trinidad and Tobago
Kimberly Tomes
 Texas

1976
Rina Messinger
 Israel
Barbara Peterson
 Minnesota

1975
Anne Marie Pohtamo
 Finland
Summer Bartholomew
 California

1974
Amparo Muñoz
 Spain
Karen Morrison
 Illinois

1973
Margarita Moran
 Philippines
Amanda Jones
 Illinois

1972
Kerry Anne Wells
 Australia
Tanya Wilson
 Hawaii

1971
Georgina Rizk
 Lebanon
Michele McDonald
 Pennsylvania

1970
Marisol Malaret
 Puerto Rico
Deborah Shelton
 Virginia

1969
Gloria Diaz
 Philippines
Wendy Dascomb
 Virginia

1968
Martha Vasconcellos
 Brazil
Dorothy Anstett
 Washington

1967
Sylvia Hitchcock
 United States
Sylvia Hitchcock
 Alabama

1966
Margareta Arvidsson
 Sweden
Maria Remenyi
 California

1965
Apasra Hongsakula
 Thailand
Sue Downey
 Ohio

1964
Corinna Tsopei
 Greece
Bobbi Johnson
 District of Columbia

1963
Iêda Maria Vargas
 Brazil
Marite Ozers
 Illinois

1962
Norma Nolan
 Argentina
Macel Leilani Wilson
 Hawaii

1961
Marlene Schmidt
 Germany
Sharon Brown
 Louisiana

1960
Linda Bement
 United States
Linda Bement
 Utah

1959
Akiko Kojima
 Japan
Terry Huntingdon
 California

1958
Luz Marina Zuluaga
 Colombia
Arlene Howell
 Louisiana

1957
Gladys Zender
 Peru
Charlotte Sheffield
 Utah

Mary Leona Gage[b]
 Maryland

1956
Carol Morris
 United States
Carol Morris
 Iowa

1955
Hillevi Rombin
 Sweden
Carlene Johnson
 Vermont

1954
Miriam Stevenson
 United States
Miriam Stevenson
 South Carolina

1953
Christiane Martel
 France
Myrna Hansen
 Illinois

1952
Armi Kuusela
 Finland
Jackie Loughery
 New York

text:
a In 2002, Fedorova was dethroned by the Miss Universe Organization and replaced by Pasek, the first runner-up.
b In 1957, Gage was stripped of her Miss USA title when it was revealed that she was married and the mother of two children. Sheffield, the first runner-up, replaced her.

text:
Miss Universe 2002, Justine Pasek, with Miss USA 2002, Shauntay Hinton and Miss Teen USA 2002, Vanessa Semrow at Guantanamo Bay.

Crystle Stewart, Miss USA 2008 and Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008 at Guantanamo Bay

Shawn Weatherly, Miss Universe 1980 and Kim Seelbrede, Miss USA 1981 together with then US President Ronald Reagan

text: Licensing[edit]

text: The Miss Universe brand has been licensed for use in various products, including Farouk Systems' line of hair care products named Miss Universe Style Illuminate by CHI.[35]

text: Electronic Arts was reportedly developing a video game based on the pageant, but development status is currently uncertain due to the closure of EA Black Box, the studio allegedly developing the game.[36] A slot machine mobile game, Miss Universe: Crowning Moment, was released by High 5 Casino for iOS and Android devices in 2013.[37]

text: An official mobile companion app of the Miss Universe Organization was released in May 2016.[38]


document_title: Bass Pro Shops

question_text: where is the largest bass pro shop store

text: Bass Pro Shops

text: History[edit]

text: The majority owner, John Morris, began his career in sporting goods with a fishing section in the back of a Brown Derby liquor store owned by his father, located in Springfield MO on the road to Table Rock Lake and Branson, Missouri. That small fishing department sold homemade bait and worms, proving popular enough that Bass Pro Shops was incorporated in 1971. These homemade baits were so popular that many people wanted the opportunity to buy these when they had returned home. Thus began the Bass Pro Shops catalog, first mailed in 1974. Soon, it became the world's largest mail order sporting goods store.

text: In 1975, to meet the burgeoning demand for Bass Pro Shops exclusive products, American Rod and Gun was established. Acting as a separate wholesaling entity ARG serves more than 7,000 independently owned retail stores worldwide. In 1977, Bass Pro Shops introduced the first fish-ready complete boat motor and trailer package with the Bass Tracker. In 1984, construction began on the Outdoor World Catalog Showroom in Springfield, Missouri. Big Cedar Lodge opened in 1988 on Table Rock Lake.

text: In 1995, Bass Pro Shops Sportsman's Warehouse opened in Atlanta, Georgia, its first store outside the state of Missouri. In November 2001, taking advantage of Outdoor World's popularity as a tourist destination, the Wonders of Wildlife museum was opened next door to the store in Springfield.[2][3] The Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium closed for renovation in 2007. As of October 2016 it is still closed with an expected reopening by the end of the year. Bass Pro Shops has announced that the grand reopening of the Wonders of Wildlife museum will take place on September 21, 2017.[4]

text: In 2015, Bass Pro Shops opened a store inside the Memphis Pyramid, a former sports arena and concert venue in Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to the retail store itself, the building houses two restaurants, a bowling alley, a 100-room hotel, an observation deck, and the tallest free-standing elevator in America. At 535,000 sq ft, The Pyramid is Bass Pro's largest store.

text: In October 2016, Bass Pro Shops announced that they had reached a deal to acquire competitor Cabela's for $5.5 billion. The deal is being financed via preferred equity financing from Goldman Sachs and Pamplona. Goldman Sachs will contribute $1.8 billion towards financing and Pamplona will contribute the remainder for a total commitment of $2.4 billion.[13] The new entity is expected to be formed and in operation in Q1 or Q2 of 2017.[5] The new entity will keep Cabela’s base in Sidney and Lincoln, Nebraska. Morris will continue as CEO of the new entity. He will also be the majority shareholder of the new privately held entity. Tommy Milner stressed that the company had reviewed a range of options that would maximize value, with the board choosing to go the route of Bass Pro Shops.

text: House brands[edit]

text: Bass Pro Shops carries a number of house brands. Among these are:

text:
Archenemy
Ascend
API
Bass Pro Shops
Bio-everything
Black Out
Bob Timberlake
Dark Star
Johnny Morris Reels
Natural Reflections
Offshore Angler
Occulus
ProQualifier
RangeMaxx
Red Head
Uncle Buck's
White River Fly Shop
Worldwide Sportsman
XPSpistols
XTS

text: Tracker Marine Group[edit]

text: For the article on the company, see Tracker Marine Group.

text: In 1978, Bass Pro Shops introduced the Bass Tracker boat, produced by the Tracker Marine Group. Its brands include Tracker Boats, Nitro, Sun Tracker, Tahoe, Fisher, ProCraft, Kenner, Mako Myacht and SeaCraft. These boats are sold in showrooms attached to every Bass Pro Shops store, in stand alone Tracker dealerships, and to independent marine dealers throughout the United States. All Tracker Marine Group boats are manufactured in multiple plants in southern Missouri. Over 400,000 people have purchased Tracker boats since 1978.[2]

text: Retail stores[edit]

text: Bass Pro Shops has 94 existing stores in the United States and Canada. The store sizes range from 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2) up to 535,000 square feet (49,700 m2). The largest flagship stores are known as Outdoor World stores. The decor of the stores includes taxidermy mounts native to the local area. All stores have an indoor water feature that showcases fish species that are indigenous to the area. The fish in their tanks are game fish of great size. In some of these aquariums, professional anglers and store pro-staff hold demonstrations showing the use of an artificial bait. They catch the fish in these tanks to show how well the bait works. Bass Pro Shops is also known for its Outdoor Skills Workshops, teaching skills as varied as fly fishing, Dutch oven cooking, archery hunting with an archery range in the store, and GPS navigation. They hold many skills workshops with the top names in the outdoor world.[2]

text: The Rancho Cucamonga, California Outdoor World store is used for the exterior shots of the fictional "Outdoor Man" store in the ABC sitcom Last Man Standing, starring Tim Allen, that premiered in 2011. Camera crews have also visited the store several times to film interior shots.[6]

text: Islamorada Fish Company Restaurant[edit]

text: Many locations include an Islamorada Fish Company, a chain of restaurants owned by Bass Pro Shops.

text: Uncle Buck's Fishbowl and Grill[edit]

text: The new San Jose, CA, Bridgeport, CT, Tsawwassen, BC, Altoona, IA, East Peoria, IL, Harlingen, TX, Round Rock, TX, Bristol, TN, Memphis, TN, and Tacoma, WA Outdoor World locations feature a first for Bass Pro Shops: a 12-lane bowling alley. The project is in cooperation with Brunswick Bowling & Billiards. In addition to bowling, the facility offers a full-service restaurant and bar as well as world-class billiards in the Black Widow billiard room.  The 15,000 sq ft (1,400 m2) underwater themed facility is connected to the Bass Pro Shops, but features a separate entrance to accommodate late night diners and bowlers.

text: NRA National Sporting Arms Museum[edit]

text: After nearly a decade of work by the NRA and Bass Pro Shops, the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum opened in the flagship store in Springfield, Missouri on August 2, 2013. It showcases almost 1,000 sporting artifacts from the 1600s to today, including some historically significant firearms from the NRA Museum Collection. The museum will host firearms and artwork from the Remington Arms Company factory collection, a multimillion-dollar collection of U.S. military sidearms, engraved Colt revolvers of the American frontier, the guns of Annie Oakley and firearms of U.S. Presidents like Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower.[7]

text: Affiliation with NASCAR[edit]

text: Bass Pro Shops and its owner, John Morris, have had a longtime interest in NASCAR racing. The company has sponsored such racers as Dale Earnhardt, Kerry Earnhardt, and Martin Truex Jr. Truex won the 2004 and 2005 Busch Series championships in the No. 8 Bass Pro Shops-sponsored Chevy, and drove the No. 1 Chevy for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in the Sprint Cup series from 2005 to 2009. He got his first win at Dover International Speedway and finished 11th in the Chase for the Nextel Cup in 2007. While Truex, Jr. renewed with Bass Pro Shops as his main sponsor for three years in 2007. In 2009, he announced he would be leaving Earnhardt Ganassi Racing for Michael Waltrip Racing in 2010. Jamie McMurray, former driver of the Roush Fenway Racing Crown Royal Ford Fusion and who is from Joplin, MO (approx. 60 miles away from the national headquarters in Springfield), replaced Truex, Jr. for the 2010 season.

text: McMurray won the 2010 Daytona 500 in his first race driving in the Bass Pro Shops-sponsored Chevrolet. He followed that up by winning the 2010 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis, making him the 3rd driver to win both races in the same season. He also won the 2010 Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

text: In the Xfinity Series, Bass Pro Shops was the main sponsor for the No. 3 car driven by Ty Dillon. Also in the Truck Series, Bass Pro Shops sponsors the No. 32 truck driven by Ryan Truex.[8]

text: Beginning with the 2013 season, Bass Pro Shops signed a multi-year agreement to be the primary sponsor for the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet SS driven by three-time Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart.

text: Bass Pro Shops reunited with Martin Truex Jr. in 2016 to be the primary sponsor of the No. 78 Furniture Row Sprint Cup car at the Daytona 500 and eight more races during the 2016 season. In 2017, Truex won his first Cup championship, with Bass Pro Shops as his sponsor.

text: Also in 2016, Bass Pro Shops became the primary sponsor of the August race at Bristol Motor Speedway, one of the most iconic events in NASCAR. The event is now known as the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race.

text: In the 2005 Disney film Herbie: Fully Loaded, Bass Pro Shops is one of two main sponsors of Ray Peyton Jr. (the other being Tracker Boats which Bass Pro Shops owns) Herbie also later receives a Bass Pro Shops sticker on his left rear fender.


document_title: Salaries of Members of the United Kingdom Parliament

question_text: who decides pay and allowances of ministers in the state

text: Current permitted salary and benefits: Commons[edit]

text: Basic salary[edit]

text: The basic annual salary of an MP in the House of Commons was increased to £74,000 as of 31 July 2015.[2] Many MPs (ministers, the Speaker, senior opposition leaders, opposition chief whip, etc.) receive a supplementary salary for their specific responsibilities. As of 1 April 2015 these additional entitlements range from £15,025 for Select Committee Chairs[3] to £74,990 for the Prime Minister.[4] On 24 May 2015 David Cameron announced that he intended to freeze ministerial pay for the next five years.[5] However, on 2 June 2015 the Daily Mail reported that ministerial pay was to increase at the same time as MP's basic pay was increased to £74,000. The Prime Minister's total salary would therefore increase from £142,500 to £149,440. The total salary for Cabinet Ministers would increase from £134,565 to £141,505. The total salary for ministers would increase from £89,740 to £96,375. And the total salary for parliamentary under secretaries would increase from £89,435 to £96,375.[6] Full details of current ministerial pay at all levels have yet to be published on either the UK Parliament website or that of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.

text: MPs also receive extensive allowances and expenses. These expenses and allowances are listed below;

text: Office expenses[edit]

text:
Office running costs
Staffing costs
Travel: staff
Centrally purchased stationery
Postage costs
Central IT costs
Communications Allowance

text: Expense outside IPSA[edit]

text: MPs are entitled to claim £9,000 a year for postage and stationery (financial year 2015-16). This amount is in addition to any stationery and postage costs which Members may have reimbursed under the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority's expenses Scheme.[7]

text: Housing, second home, and travel[edit]

text: MPs receive allowances towards having somewhere to live in London and in their constituency, and travelling between Parliament and their constituency.

text:
Cost of staying away from main home
Travel: car
Travel: rail
Travel: bike
Travel: European

text: Pension arrangements[edit]

text: MPs will normally receive a pension of either 1/40th or 1/50th of their final pensionable salary for each year of pensionable service depending on the contribution rate they will have chosen. Members who made contributions of 13.75% of their salary gain an accrual rate of 1/40th.[8] According to a 2009 report in the Daily Mail, state contributions for MPs are more than four times higher than the average paid out by companies for final-salary schemes, but they are not significantly more generous than most public-sector pensions.[9]

text: If an MP stands down during the course of a Parliament for ill health reasons, an ill health retirement grant is payable, calculated in the same way as the Resettlement Grant (as well as an immediate pension based on the service the MP would have accrued if he or she had continued to serve until age 65).[10]

text: Resettlement Grant and Winding-up Allowance[edit]

text: On leaving the House of Commons, an MP will be entitled to what is essentially severance pay.

text: Resettlement Grant

text: The Resettlement Grant is the name given to the MPs' severance pay package. It may be claimed to help former MPs with the costs of adjusting to life outside parliament. It is payable to any Member who ceases to be an MP at a General Election. The amount is based on age and length of service, and varies between 50% and 100% of the annual salary payable to a Member of Parliament at the time of the Dissolution.[11]

text: In the UK the first £30,000 of severance pay is tax free. As stated above, the amount retiring MPs, or those who lose their seats receive, depends on how old they are and how long they have served in the House. For example, an MP who stays in office for one term (say 5 years) and then leaves office will currently receive tax-free severance pay of 50% of his current salary, or £32,383 at current rates – equivalent to an annual salary increment of over £12,000 at current tax rates and pay scales.[12]

text: For the 2010–15 Parliament, only MPs defeated in their attempt to be re-elected will get one month’s salary for each year served, up to a maximum of six months or over £33,000. From the start of the 2015 Parliament, it will be replaced by a "Loss of Office Payment", at double the statutory redundancy payment. "For the 'average' MP, who leaves office with 11 years' service, this may lead to a payment of around £14,850."[13]

text: Winding-up Allowance

text: There is also up to £42,000 on offer to pay for winding up staff contracts and office rent.[14] An allowance of up to one third of the annual Office Costs Allowance was paid for the reimbursement of the cost of any work on Parliamentary business undertaken on behalf of a deceased, defeated or retiring Member after the date of cessation of Membership. On 5 July 2001 the House agreed to change the allowance to one third of the sum of the staffing provision and Incidental Expenses Allowance in force at the time of cessation of Membership.[15]

text: Summer Recess[edit]

text: Parliament takes a break of around 45 days for the summer. This is not only for holiday, but so that MPs can spend more time away from Parliament in their constituencies to do work there.

text: Current permitted salary and benefits: House of Lords[edit]

text: Members of the House of Lords can opt to receive a £300 per day attendance allowance, plus travel expenses and subsidised restaurant facilities. Peers may also choose to receive a reduced attendance allowance of £150 per day instead.[16]

text: History of changes to salary and expenses rules[edit]

text: This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2009)

text: Before the twentieth century, members of parliament were unpaid as it was assumed they would have another income.[11]

text: The first regular salary was £400 per year, introduced in 1911. Some subsequent salary levels were £1,000 in 1946, £3,250 in 1964, £11,750 in 1980, and £26,701 in 1990.[11] The increases in MPs' basic salaries since 1996 have been:[17][18]

text:
Increase date
Basic salary

Jan 1996
£34,085

Jul 1996
£43,000

Apr 1997
£43,860

Apr 1998
£45,066

Apr 1999
£47,008

Apr 2000
£48,371

Apr 2001
£49,822

Jun 2001
£51,822

Apr 2002
£55,118

Apr 2003
£56,358

Apr 2004
£57,485

Apr 2005
£59,095

Apr 2006
£59,686

Nov 2006
£60,277

Apr 2007
£61,181

Nov 2007
£61,820

Apr 2009
£64,766

Apr 2010
£65,738

Apr 2013
£66,396

Apr 2014
£67,060

May 2015
£74,000

Apr 2016
£74,962

Apr 2017
£76,011

text: In December 2013, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority recommended that pay be increased to £74,000 per annum, linked "to the pay of the people they represent". At the same time, pensions benefits would be reduced, resettlement payments scrapped and expenses tightened. In July 2015, this was implemented (backdated to 8 May 2015, the day after the general election), with annual changes now "linked to changes in average earnings in the public sector".[19]

text: Scrutiny and audit process of claims[edit]

text: In 2010, the payment of MPs' salaries and allowances, and many staff, was moved from the Fees Office, which was effectively self-policing by MPs of their expenses, to a more autonomous body, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.[20] In 2010 the IPSA was also given the responsibility of setting MPs' salary levels. It is accountable to the Speaker's Committee for the IPSA, comprising the Speaker, the Leader of the House, the Chair of the Standards and Privileges Committee and five MPs selected by the Speaker (one of whom is the Shadow Leader of the House).

text: The National Audit Office, another independent parliamentary body, has some audit authority.[citation needed]