The delegates and winners give meaning and relevance to this beauty competition by promoting worthwhile environmental causes and getting actively involved in caring for and the preservation of Mother Earth. In addition to its environmental objectives, the winner of Miss Earth is involved with international environmental projects. During pageant month (2005), Carousel brings the Miss Earth delegates to selected tourism destinations, like Fort Ilocandia, Intramuros, Bohol, and Boracay in the Philippines to showcase and promote the same to the pageant's international viewers. The delegates also take part in treeplanting ceremonies, environmental and cultural immersion programs, sponsor visits and tours, and even a Survivor-like competition.

The court of runner ups are bestowed titles named after the other natural elements: Miss Earth-Fire (equivalent to third runner-up), Miss Earth-Water (second runner-up), and Miss Earth-Air (first runner-up).

In the last 5 years, the pageant was held in October or November, in Manila, Philippines and televised nationwide via ABS CBN with international telecasts on Star TV and The Filipino Channel.

Miss Earth gained worldwide press in 2003 after Vida Samadzai, an Afghan woman now residing in the United States, competed in a red bikini. Samadzai was the first Afghan woman to compete in an international beauty pageant in almost three decades, but the fact that she wore a bikini caused an uproar in her Islamic native country.

The 2005 pageant was held on October 23, drawing the participation of 80 countries from all over the world. The 2005 pageant marked the end of the Philippines' hosting of the pageant. They have hosted the pageant for five years since its inception in 2001.

Miss Earth 2006 will be held at Santiago, Chile on November 15. Macau or Chile (again) will host the 2007 edition, with the 2008 edition possibly taking place in Singapore.