Miss Earth was formally launched on April 3, 2001. It was organized by Carousel Productions, an organization based in the Philippines.

Miss Earth 2001 candidates

The coronation night of Miss Earth 2001 was held at the University of the Philippines theater in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines on October 28, 2001. It is the inaugural edition of the international beauty pageant focused on environmental issues.

A total of 42 women competed for the Miss Earth 2001 crown. These were the candidates:

1. Argentina: Daniela Stucan
2.  Australia: Christy Anderson
3.  Bolivia: Catherine Villarroel
4.  Brazil: Simone Régis
5.  Canada: Michelle Carrie Lillian Weswaldi
6.  Colombia: Natalia Botero Argote
7.  Croatia: Ivana Galesic
8.  Denmark: Catharina Svensson
9.  Dominican Republic: Catherine Núñez
10.  El Salvador: Grace Marie Zabaneh Menéndez
11.  Estonia: Evelyn Mikomägi
12.  Ethiopia: Nardos Tiluhan Wondemu
13.  Finland: Martina Aitolehti
14.  Gibraltar: Charlene Ann Figueras
15.  Guatemala: Carmina Elizabeth Paz Hernández
16.  Hungary: Krisztina Kovacs
17.  India: Shamita Singha
18.  Italy: Monica Rosetti
19.  Japan: Misuzu Hirayama
20.  Kazakhstan: Margarita Kravtsova
21.  Kenya: Aqua Bonsu
22.  Latvia: Jelena Keirane
23.  Lebanon: Adelle Raymond Boustany
24.  Malaysia: Joey Tan Eng Li
25.  Netherlands: Jamie-Lee Huisman
26.  New Zealand: Abbey Flynn
27.  Nicaragua: Karla José Leclair Monzón
28.  Panama: Aliana Khan
29.  Peru: Paola Barreda Benavides
30.  Philippines: Carlene Aguilar
31.  Puerto Rico: Amaricelys Reyes Guzmán
32.  Russia: Victoria Bonya
33.  Singapore: Calista Ng Poh Li
34.  South Africa: Inecke van der Westhuizen
35.  Spain: Noemi Caldas Ortiz
36.  Taiwan: Hsiu Chao-Yun
37.  Tanzania: Hilda Bukozo
38.  Thailand: Victoria Wachholz
39.  Turkey: Gozde Bahadir
40.  United States: Abigail Royce
41.  Venezuela: Lirigmel Ramos
42.  Zanzibar: Sheena Nanty

Miss Earth 2001 winners

At age 19, Catharina Svensson of Denmark won Miss Earth 2001. At the time, she was a third-year law student and a part-time model.

In second place was Simone Régis, then 22, of Brazil. She was crowned Miss Earth-Wind 2001.

In third place was Margarita Kravtsova, then 20, of Kazakhstan. She was crowned Miss Earth-Water 2001 and she also won the Best in Swimsuit award.

In fourth place was Daniela Stucan, then 22, of Argentina. She was crowned Miss Earth-Fire 2001 and she won an award from Creamsilk, one of the sponsors.