Miss Universe 2014: Contestants arrive in Miami as excitement builds for 63rd pageant

Miss Universe 2013 Venezuela's Gabriela Isler Reuters

Contestants of the 63rd Miss Universe competition have started arriving in Doral, Miami where they are preparing for the pageant to get under way.

Miss Universe 2014 is scheduled to take place at the US Century Bank Arena at Florida International University on 25 January.

Contestants started arriving in the host city on 5 January and took part in registration and fitting, showing their excitement for the pageant.

Miss Universe Panama Yomatsy Hazlewood took a selfie upon her arrival while Miss Universe Bolivia Claudia Tavel posed with her luggage. Miss Universe Tanzania Nale Boniface and Miss Universe Kenya Gaylyne Ayugi posed by the ‪Miss Universe‬ sashes as they wore their ‪‎Yamamay swimwear.

A total of 88 contestants are representing their countries at the competition, which will see Miss Universe 2013, Gabriela Isler of Venezuela, crown her successor.

Grace Levy of London is representing Great Britain at the 63rd Miss Universe pageant. The 25-year-old event executive organises her own charity event every year, according to the Miss Universe Organisation.

"She [Grace] grew up in a small village on the south coast of England where she went to school and studied all the sciences," her profile on the official pageant website states.

"Grace then studied psychology at a university in Bristol and discovered her love for dancing and events after taking part in a charity flash-mob."

It adds: "She then went on to study Michael Jackson style dancing and became the event manager of her own annual charity event which she feels so passionate about."

All the contestants will compete in the preliminary and national costume competitions to win the coveted title.

The annual pageant will be broadcast live on NBC. The Today Show's anchor Natalie Morales and MSNBC's Thomas Roberts will host the three-hour event, which will simulcast in Spanish on Telemundo.

Tickets are now available for the Miss Universe 2014 pageant, preliminary competition and dress rehearsal.