When we heard Miss Universe 2008 would be hosted by Jerry Springer and a Spice Girl, it seemed a bit odd to say the least. So we started investigating and found that Miss Universe is actually one of the world's more staid beauty contests.

In fact, there are all kinds of strange pageants. Contestants around the globe regularly exhibit their beauty as well as display their talents in such unconventional activities as muskrat skinning and prostitute impersonation. As an added bonus, many of these contests have a swimsuit portion!

Check out the gallery below to see a few of the world's weirdest beauty contests. (And before you call us out, know that we purposely did not include any children's beauty pageants because that would've been just too easy.)



Weirdest Beauty Pageants

    Miss Outdoor Life During the talent portion of this Maryland pageant, contestants skin muskrats. What's hotter than that? On a sliding scale that ranks somewhere between cellulite and varicose veins.

    misterirrelevant.com

    International Bottom Championship First place gets $10,000, an underwear modeling contract and, curiously, an insurance policy on her winning assets. Of course, this ensures financial security if the winning backside happens to fall victim to a disfiguring bidet accident.

    Daily Telegraph

    Miss Wheelchair America Scandal hit Miss Wheelchair America in 2005 when Miss Wheelchair Wisconsin was stripped over her crown after photos of her standing were leaked to the press. We couldn't make that up.

    Sergei Supinski, AFP / Getty Images

    Miss Gothic You won't find a spray tan or an evening dress that isn't black at this gloomy beauty contest.

    Patrick Fitzgerald, kambriel.com

    Miss Hooker Miss Hooker competitors aren't actually working girls. Instead, they are sending up typical beauty contest mores by dressing slutty, displaying off-beat talents -- such as frying an egg while stripping -- and competing under names like Ms. Squirt and Ms. One Dolla No Holla.

    laweekly.com

    Miss Plastic Surgery This started after a woman was kicked out of Miss Beijing for having had plastic surgery. Now, contestants in the Chinese pageant need a note from their doctor confirming that they have had alterations. We heard last year's winner was Kenny Rogers.

    Frederic J. Brown, AFP / Getty Images

    Miss Pregnant We're guessing if any of these lovelies end up pumping out a girl the poor thing will be on the creepy child beauty pageant circuit the day she is able to stand upright.

    youtube.com

    Miss Subway Between 1941 and 1976, Miss Subway was a New York City mass transit staple, with commuters voting on a group of contenders whose posters and biographies were placed inside subway cars. It was brought back in 2004, but then discontinued after becoming infested by rats.

    Bebeto Matthews, AP

    Miss Exotic World Pageant It's pasties, thongs and "sophisticated" striptease at this annual event to crown the year's best burlesque performer. Pictured here: Big Bird's estranged sister.

    David McNew, Getty Images

    Miss Transsexual International Not only does the winner get a crown and a cash price, but she (or is it he?) walks away with confirmation that he/she could probably pull a crying game on most of the male populace.

    Pornchai Kittiwongsakul, AFP / Getty Images