Miss Brazil () is a Brazilian national beauty pageant, held annually since 1954. The competition has gone through several incarnations throughout its history, while its main purpose has been to select the Brazilian representative for the Miss Universe pageant. Since 2020, the pageant has been owned by Brazilian businessman Winston Ling, while Marthina Brandt has served as its national director. History Early years and golden age (1954–1972) Since 1900, competitions in the vein of Miss Brazil had existed sporadically throughout the country in a non-consecutive manner. Violeta Lima Castro, crowned Miss Brazil 1900, is sometimes considered the first Miss Brazil, although the records surrounding her being the alleged first winner are inconsistent and some records allege that a different woman was crowned as the first Miss Brazil during the time of the Empire of Brazil in 1865. Overall, evidence supports that eight women had been crowned Miss Brazil in the early years before a Miss Brazil pageant was formally created. The Miss Brazil competition was formally created in 1954, and held annually since. Its inaugural edition was held at the Palácio Quitandinha in Petrópolis, and used to select a Brazilian representative for Miss Universe 1954, Brazil's first time competing in Miss Universe. Martha Rocha ultimately won the title, and is thus considered the first formal Miss Brazil winner. Following this inaugural event, Miss Brazil was held annually in order to elect a woman to represent Brazil at Miss Universe, becoming the first time where a national beauty pageant was held regularly in Brazil. Catalina Swimwear, the founder and main sponsor of Miss Universe, became sponsors of the Miss Brazil competition and provided swimwear for the contestants. Diários Associados began promoting and broadcasting the competition in 1955, which significantly increased press coverage and recognition of the competition in Brazil, turning it into the second-most watched event on Brazilian television, behind only the matches of the Brazil national football team. Miss Brazil entered its golden age in the 1960s, with Iêda Maria Vargas winning Miss Universe 1963 and Martha Vasconcellos winning Miss Universe 1968, its only wins in the competition. Lúcia Petterle also later was crowned Miss World 1971, making Brazil one of the few countries at the time to have won both of the world's two major international beauty pageants. At the time, the first runner-up of Miss Brazil was nominated to compete at Miss World. Move to Brasília (1973–1980) In