promotion throughout Brazil. This agreement led to a reemergence of popularity amongst the Brazilian public, with Miss Universe 2003 becoming the most-watched event of the night in Brazil according to the Brazilian Institute of Public Opinion and Statistics (IBOPE). Band (2012–2019) In 2012, the Brazilian franchise for Miss Universe was awarded entirely to Band, ending their partnership with Gaeta and removing Gaeta from the Brazilian franchise entirely. From 2012 until 2015, the Brazilian media conglomerate Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação was responsible for directing the national pageant and selecting candidates from the 27 state pageants. Polishop partnership (2015–2019) In 2015, amidst severe financial hardship, Band entered into an agreement with Brazilian retailer , under the leadership of Polishop owner . With this agreement, Band was only responsible for the annual broadcast of the competition, with Polishop responsible for all other management and organization. During this time, the competition was renamed to Miss Brasil Be Emotion. Miss Universe Brazil (2020–present) In July 2019, the partnership between Band and Polishop came to an end due to a decrease in interest from the Brazilian public, and the Brazilian press alleged that Brazil would not have a representative at Miss Universe 2020. In October 2019, Natália Guimarães confirmed that she had news regarding the future of Miss Brazil, and that fans should expect a "new era" for the competition. Band later confirmed that they were not abandoning the Miss Brazil brand, but would be dependent on new sponsorship. In March 2020, it was confirmed that Band's license with the Miss Universe Organization was not renewed. In July 2020, it was announced that Brazilian businessman Winston Ling had purchased the Brazilian franchise for Miss Universe, and that the competition would be rebranded as U Miss Brazil (later changed to Miss Universe Brazil the following year). In November 2020, Marthina Brandt, a former Miss Brazil winner, was hired as the national director of the newly created competition. The organization appointed a representative to be its inaugural titleholder in 2020, and held its first national pageant in 2021. Contestants Each year, contestants are chosen through a series of state pageants held throughout Brazil (the 26 states and the Federal District) in the second half of the year before and the first half of the year before the national competition. Over time, the states represented at Miss Brazil have varied slightly. The following 27 state pageants (the Federal District,