"TODAY'S" NATALIE MORALES AND MSNBC'S THOMAS ROBERTS TO HOST "THE 63RD ANNUAL MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT" SUNDAY, JAN. 25 LIVE ON NBC (8-11 P.M. ET)

NEW YORK - Dec. 16, 2014 - NBC, Donald J. Trump and Paula M. Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, announced today that "TODAY's" Natalie Morales and MSNBC's Thomas Roberts will host "The 63rd Annual Miss Universe Pageant," airing Sunday, Jan. 25 (8-11 p.m. ET) on NBC.

Weeks leading up to the pageant, the Miss Universe contestants will be hosted in Doral-Miami, Fla. The pageant will air live from the FIU Arena. IMG will be the executive producers of the three-hour event, which will simulcast in Spanish on Telemundo.

Natalie Morales and Thomas Roberts will take the stage for the first time together as co-hosts of the competition. Natalie Morales is the news anchor of NBC's "TODAY" show, and co-anchor of the show's third hour. Morales previously co-hosted the "Miss Universe Pageant" in 2010 and 2011. Roberts hosts MSNBC's "Way Too Early" and is a contributor to "Morning Joe." He returns to co-host the "Miss Universe Pageant" for a second time in a row. Roberts also previously hosted the 2014 "Miss USA Pageant" this past June.

Executive producers of the three-hour event, IMG has produced some of the most memorable original entertainment on television with experience across all genres and media platforms, including reality programs, scripted entertainment, documentaries, network specials, live events and world feeds. Steve Mayer will be the Executive Producer.

"The 63rd Annual Miss Universe Pageant" will feature nearly 90 contestants from across the globe. They will be judged in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview. Gabriela Isler, Miss Universe 2013 will crown her successor at the conclusion of the three-hour telecast. The "Miss Universe Pageant" is distributed to approximately 190 countries and territories.

About the Hosts

Natalie Morales

Natalie Morales is the news anchor of NBC News' "TODAY" and the co-host of the third hour, a position she has held since March 2006. Prior to her role as news anchor, Morales served as "TODAY" national correspondent from February 2006 to June 2011. Morales has also reported for all NBC News platforms including "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams," "Dateline NBC" and MSNBC. While working for NBC News, Morales has reported on and contributed to several major breaking news stories. As a part of "TODAY's" Shine a Light Campaign in 2014, Morales ran in and raised over $70,000 for victims of the Boston Marathon. Morales was a member of the "Rock Center with Brian Williams" team who won a Robert F. Kennedy Award for their lobster divers story in June of 2013. Twice Morales flew to London for major coverage of the Royal Family, both in 2013 and 2011, where she reported on the birth of Prince George and the Royal Wedding, respectively. In October 2010, Morales live-translated and reported on the Chilean miner rescue - coverage that was seen worldwide and recognized with a 2010 National Headliner Award. Her other notable reports include the 2009 presidential inauguration; the Southern California wildfires; the Minneapolis bridge collapse; Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy; the 2004 Tsunami; the death of Pope John Paul II and the election of Pope Francis. In 2010, 2011, and 2012 she was awarded a Daytime Emmy award as part of "TODAY's" recognition as the best morning news program. Morales was also honored with the 2013 Gracie Award for Outstanding Series for her Dateline series, "My Kid Would Never." Morales was an integral part of the network's coverage of the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics in Torino and Vancouver and the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Summer Games in Athens, Beijing, and London. In August 2008, Morales had the exclusive, news-making interview with the infamous Clark Rockefeller interviewing him from Suffolk County Jail in Boston. Morales has also landed exclusive celebrity interviews with Angelina Jolie, when she revealed she was having twins, and Kelly Preston, in her first television interview after the birth of her and John Travolta's son, Benjamin. Additionally, Hispanic Magazine named her one of the Top Hispanics to Watch in 2005 and one of the Top Trendsetters of 2003. Morales, who speaks Spanish and Portuguese, was born in Taiwan and spent much of the first 18 years of her life living overseas in Panama, Brazil and Spain as an Air Force brat. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey, with dual majors in journalism and Latin American studies. Morales was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated Summa Cum Laude. She currently resides in New Jersey with her husband and two sons.

Thomas Roberts

Thomas Roberts is an award-winning journalist who anchors "Way Too Early "on weekdays at 5:30 a.m. Roberts also serves as a fill-in host and contributor on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" and NBC's "TODAY." Roberts was made an official member of MSNBC's dayside team in December 2010, after having served as a freelance anchor for several months. Prior to his addition to MSNBC's team, Roberts served as a correspondent for CBS News. He also contributed to several entertainment shows, including "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider." Prior to that, Roberts was a news anchor for "CNN Headline News." Roberts is an award-winning journalist, having received a 2002 Emmy nomination and a Virginia Associated Press award for his work on the documentary, "Parvo Puppies." He also received an Edward R. Murrow Award in 2001 for a documentary that he produced titled "When Parents Don't Pay." Roberts has also been honored for his work as an advocate in the LGBT community, and is the recipient of the prestigious Visibility Award from the Human Rights Campaign in October 2011. He was also honored by the Stonewall Community Foundation, Marriage Equality USA and the National Crime Victim Bar Assn. In the fall of 2012, Roberts married his longtime partner, Patrick Abner, in New York City. The service was officiated by Gavin Newsom, the Lieutenant Governor of California. Roberts is a graduate of McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College). He resides in New York City with his husband and their two dogs.

ABOUT NBC ENTERTAINMENT

NBC Entertainment develops and schedules programming for the network's primetime, late-night, and daytime schedules. NBC's quality programs and balanced lineup have earned the network critical acclaim, numerous awards and ratings success. The network finished the 2013-14 season as No. 1 in the 18-49 demo for the first time in 10 years. NBC has earned more Emmy Awards than any network in television history. NBC's roster of popular scripted comedies includes the critically acclaimed "Parks and Recreation" and "About a Boy," as well as new comedies "A to Z," "Bad Judge" and "Marry Me." NBC's drama slate is highlighted by "The Blacklist," veteran series "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," fan favorites "Parenthood," "Grimm," "Chicago Fire" and "Chicago P.D.," as well as its new fall series "Constantine," "The Mysteries of Laura" and "State of Affairs." Unscripted series for NBC include the Emmy Award-winning musical competition hit "The Voice" as well as "The Biggest Loser," "Hollywood Game Night" and the perennial #1 most-watched summer series, "America's Got Talent." In late night, NBC regularly delivers #1 broadcast results with "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," "Late Night with Seth Meyers," "Last Call with Carson Daly" and "Saturday Night Live." NBC Daytime's "Days of our Lives" consistently ranks among daytime's top programs in the valuable women 18-34 category. The five-time, Emmy Award-winning NBC.com streams full episodes and provides original content for NBC entertainment shows online and through apps for mobile and tablet devices. NBC recently launched NBC Kids, a new Saturday morning programming block designed specifically to address the developmental needs of preschool-aged children. Programmed by the kids' experts at Sprout, the nation's first 24-hour preschool television channel, this new three-hour block will feature educational series that promote active, healthy lifestyles for younger children.

ABOUT MISS UNIVERSE

The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) is a Donald J. Trump and NBCUniversal joint venture which uses its global grassroots reach to empower women to be self-confident and strive to be their personal best. MUO believes that every woman should be "Confidently Beautiful." The MISS UNIVERSE(R), MISS USA(R), and MISS TEEN USA(R) beauty pageants provide an international platform through dedicated partnerships with charities, sponsors, and brands around the world. During their reign, our winners are given the tools to personally and professionally enrich others by providing humanitarian efforts to affect positive change, all while developing their personal career goals. For more information, and to learn more about Miss Universe's official cause to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS education and prevention around the world, please visit: www.missuniverse.com.

ABOUT IMG

IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion and media operating in more than 25 countries around the world. IMG's businesses include Events & Media, College, Golf, Tennis, Performance and IMG Academy, Fashion, Models, Clients, Consulting, Licensing, Joint Ventures, and creative management agency Art + Commerce. In 2014, IMG was acquired by WME, the world's leading entertainment and media agency. Together, the companies offer an unparalleled client roster; strategic partnerships with sponsors and brands; and marquee assets across sports, entertainment, events, music and fashion.

For more information, visit: http://www.nbc.com/miss-universe

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