UPDATE 11.30am: Perth's Miss Australia Renae Ayris has just missed out on taking out the Miss Universe title.

Twenty-year-old Miss USA Olivia Culpo beat Miss Philippines Janine Tugonon in the world's most prestigious beauty pageant.

Ayris made it into the top five of the Miss Universe final, which was held in Las Vegas this morning (WA time).

MISS UNIVERSE GALLERY

The 21-year-old Connolly stunner was hoping to become Australia's first winner of the international leg of the competition since Jennifer Hawkins walked away with the crown in 2004.

Australia competed against Mexico, the Philippines, USA and Brazil in the final five.

The USA and Philippines were followed by Venezuela, Australia, and finally Brazil.

South African beauty Melinda Bam was touted as the one to beat, with many pinning their hopes on the blonde stunner to take out the pageant title, having led the betting stakes this week as the odds-on favourite.

But she failed to make the top five and looked disappointed on stage when her name was not called.

Culpo took the crown from Leila Lopes of Angola after strutting in a purple and blue bikini and a red velvet gown.

In the final stages of the competition, she answered a question about her regrets by saying she wished she hadn't picked on her siblings when they were younger.

Tugonon, came in second, while Miss Venezuela, Irene Sofia Esser Quintero, placed third.

Contestants from 89 countries on six continents spent the past two weeks in Sin City, where they posed in hardhats at a hotel groundbreaking, took a painting lesson, and pranked hotel guests by hiding in their rooms.

The beauty queens took the stage in tight, pleated mini-dresses with glittering sequin bodices and sky-high platform shoes, strutting to the hit Live While We're Young by English-Irish boy band One Direction.

Later in the two-hour show, they walked a stage decked with white Christmas trees and snow flurry effects, throwing off gauzy white wraps to show off tie-dye bikinis in purples, pinks and blues.

For the third elimination round, they strutted in evening gowns as band Train and Australian singer Timomatic performed.

Miss Venezuela's straight-cut, emerald-coloured gown was perhaps the most distinct; its long sleeves virtually invisible but for the navy blue, garland-like trim encircling them.

Miss USA's red velvet number was full-skirted and wintery, except for the deep, plunging neckline.

Miss Australia's gown evoked a wedding dress - pure white with sparkles at the waist and a corset-style bodice.

Culpo, from Rhode Island, was trying to end a long losing spell for the United States in the competition.

An American had not won the right to be called Miss Universe since Brook Lee won the title in 1997.

The contestants voted to give the Miss Congeniality crown to Miss Guatemala.

The pageant aired live on NBC and was streamed to more than 100 countries.

Andy Cohen of the Bravo network and Giuliana Rancic of E! News returned to host the pageant, which was back in Las Vegas after being held in Sao Paulo last year.

The panel of 10 judges included singer Cee Lo Green, Iron Chef star Masaharu Morimoto and Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants.

Asked on the red carpet whether he found playing in the World Series or judging the beauty pageant to be more difficult, Sandoval said both were hard.

Angola sported a low-cut sequined gown and said she expected this night to be the worst part of her year.

The 2011 winner offered some advice to the women vying for her crown.

"Be calm and smile," she said.

"Smiling helps a lot. Even though they are not relaxed, the judges will think that they are."

Sharply dressed women and men, including a large contingent from South America, held banners and cheered on their favourite contestants.

"I've seen them and they are absolutely gorgeous," said Donald Trump, a co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization.

"They're very nervous and they should be. It's a billion people (watching)."

Organisers had considered holding the 61st annual Miss Universe in the popular Dominican Republic tourist city of Punta Cana, but Miss Universe Organisation president Paula Shugart said that country's financial crisis proved to be too much of an obstacle.

Contestants in the pageant cannot have been married or have children. They must be younger than 27 and older than 18 by February 1 of the competition year.

The winner of the crown receives an undisclosed salary, a wardrobe fit for a queen, a limitless supply of beauty products, and a luxury apartment in New York City.

The pageant started as a local revue in Long Beach, California, organised by Catalina Swimwear.

It is not affiliated with the Miss America pageant and, unlike that contest, does not include a talent section.

Watch the telecast tonight at 10.30pm on Channel Seven.