What was once just a local "bathing beauty" competition put on by Catalina Swimwear in Long Beach, CA has grown into an annual and international tradition with young women around the world. For 50 years, 125 different countries participate in this powerful, year-round, international organization that advances and supports opportunities for women.

The Miss Universe Organization, producers of the MISS UNIVERSE®, MISS USA® and MISS TEEN USA® competitions, is a Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal partnership. Utilizing its global grass roots infrastructure, the Miss Universe Organization is committed to increasing HIV/AIDS awareness by focusing on women's health and reproductive issues. By forging relationships with organizations committed to research and education such as: the Latino Commission on AIDS, Global Health Council and God's Love We Deliver, Miss Universe is armed to impact women today.

On May 28, NBC broadcast The 2007 Miss Universe Pageant live from The National Auditorium in Mexico City. Greg Brunton faced the challenge of lighting a set that evoked Elvis Presley’s movie, Jailhouse Rock, with a 4 story scaffolding; the delegates were all silhouetted against a bright background in different “cells.”  This was the signature look for the show in a 10,000 seat auditorium with an 80’ wide stage.  Popular teen group RBD, from Mexico, performed during the swim suit competition and large LED screens were prominently featured during that portion of the pageant. Brunton developed the images that were created by Michael Zinman.

A large compliment of over 250 moving lights was used in the show. 20 VL3500 Spots were color-corrected to front light the girls in the scaffolds as well as the various hanging scenery pieces. 8 follow spots were needed for the various angles to light the contestants during competition. There was a 40' high cyclorama that was 150' wide. The classic "Jailhouse Rock" silhouette look which opened the show used a white cyc with the girls only cross-lighted by High End Studio Colors that were mounted on booms off-stage in the wings.

Matt Firestone, who programmed the show, spent 3 days at ShowViz Lite Lab in Hollywood pre-visualizing, programming and setting up the board. Matt felt that pre-vis was time well spent as most of the effects and chases had been worked out in advance. “Setting up the show, and addressing the lights in advance, was a huge time-saver,” Brunton comments, “when Matt arrived on site, the rig was plugged in, he turned on the board and the entire rig fired up completely programmed and ready to go.”

The media server was an M-Box from PRG which displayed the graphics in coordination with the stage lighting. Dirk Op't Eynde programmed the media server. The Miss Universe Organization, producers of the MISS UNIVERSE®, MISS USA® and MISS TEEN USA® competitions, is a Donald J. Trump and NBC partnership. Phil Gurin Executive Produced, Joe Stewart designed the scenery and Alan Carter directed.