Miss Universe Philippines and Indonesia discuss cyberbullying with Paula Shugart


Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi and Miss Universe Indonesia 2022 Laksmi De Neefe Suardana sat down with Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart in another #UniverseUnited.

#UniverseUnited is a conversation series initiated by MUO to bring our global community together to talk about important issues.

The Miss Universe 2022 contenders discussed cyberbullying, its impact on the women in the pageant community, and how kindness can be spread instead of negativity.

Promoting the hashtag #kindnesscampaign, the important conversation streamed live on the Miss Universe's official YouTube channel on Wednesday, July 27.

Pageant fans from the Philippines and Indonesia are some of the world's most passionate countries when it comes to pageantry.

The toxic "rivalry" has led to the nasty bullying of their representatives across social media in recent years.

Watch Celeste and Laksmi speak out on this timely and relevant issue wrecking our community:


Photo: Miss Universe Organization

Popular posts from this blog

Kylie Chang crowned Miss California USA 2025

Image
Miss Golden State, Kylie Chang was crowned Miss California USA 2025 on Saturday, August 10 at Grand Hyatt Indian Wells. The 20-year-old UC Berkeley student and model succeeded last year's winner Samantha Ramos. She became the first-ever East Asian woman to win Miss California USA. Jenny Ting Crawford was named first runner-up while Kaylyn Slevin, Julia Price, Annie Lu, and Sophia Bruinsma were the second, third, fourth, and fifth runners-up, respectively. The new Miss California USA, a former competitive dancer, is currently pursuing a degree in business administration at the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business. "This is an absolute dream come true and I am endlessly grateful for all of my family, friends, judges, sponsors, and mentors who have believed in me and walked beside me on this journey," she shared online. "This is just the beginning, and I can't wait to see where this journey leads me next," she added. Kylie will now prepar...
Read more

Anambra's Basil Onyinyechi crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2025

Image
Miss Anambra, Basil Onyinyechi, was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2025 on Saturday, August 30 at Balmoral Convention Center in Victoria Island, Lagos. She bested 21 other contestants to win her national title and will now prepare to represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand this November. Idah Eno of Akwa Ibom clinched the crown of Miss Supranational Nigeria 2025 and will head to Poland for Miss Supranational 2025 next summer. Damilola Bolarinde of Lagos, Fortune Kurobo of Bayelsa, and Irene Ikediashi of Ogun finished as the first, second, and third runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Universe Nigeria succeeded last year's winner Chidimma Adetshina who placed first runner-up and was named Miss Universe Africa at Miss Universe 2024 last November in Mexico. Basil works with one of South Korea's leading conglomerates in the male-dominated field, overseeing operations across West Africa from Nigeria. Her advocacy for maternal healthcare is driven...
Read more

Meet the winners of Miss Nepal 2025

Image
The Miss Nepal 2025 pageant was held on Saturday, August 30 at the  Godavari Sunrise Convention Center in Lalitpur. In addition to Miss Nepal World, Miss Nepal International, and Miss Nepal Earth, the 26 contestants also competed for the new title of Miss Nepal Cosmo. Luna Luitel, 26, from Kathmandu was crowned Miss Nepal World 2025 and will go to the Miss World 2026 competition whose date and venue have yet to be announced. Heading to the Miss International 2025 beauty pageant in Tokyo, Japan this November is Miss Nepal International 2025 Urusha Bhandari, 26, from Achham. Sony Ghale, 25, from Rasuwa was proclaimed Miss Nepal Earth 2025 and will represent her country at Miss Earth 2025 in the Philippines this November. Deepshikha Nepal, 24, from Jhapa clinched the Miss Nepal Cosmo 2025 title and will participate in Miss Cosmo 2025 later this year in Vietnam. Last year's winners Ashma Kumari KC, Karuna Rawat, and Sumana KC crowned their respective successors at the end of the glitte...
Read more

Miss Norway 2025 is Leonora Lysglimt-Rødland from Oslo

Image
Leonora Lysglimt-Rødland was crowned Miss Norway 2025 (Miss Universe Norway 2025) in a national competition held on Saturday, August 30 at Gateway Studios in Fornebu. The 19-year-old beauty from Oslo will represent Norway at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand this November. She succeeds last year's winner Lilly Sødal. Julie Celin Eide was named first runner-up while Sofie Rasmussen, Abelone Smedsrud, and Chelsea Victoria Sand were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. "I am endlessly grateful for every single person who has believed in me, supported me, and lifted me higher with your love and encouragement," shared the new Miss Norway. She also wrote on social media: "I promise to give my whole heart, to perform with grace, and to shine with the strength of every woman who dares to dream. The crown is more than just a symbol—it is a responsibility. And I am ready." Leonora is a passionate advocate for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectas...
Read more

Miss Grand Venezuela 2025 is Nariman Battikha of Monagas

Image
Nariman Battikha, representing Monagas, beat over 30 other contestants to win Miss Grand Venezuela 2025 on Saturday, August 30 at Wynwood Park, Valencia. The 30-year-old coach, speaker and entrepreneur will represent Venezuela at Miss Grand International 2025 in Thailand this October. She succeeds last year's titleholder Anna Blanco. No stranger to pageantry, Nary represented the state of Portuguesa at Miss Venezuela 2017 and finished in the Top 10. She was also crowned Reina Hispanoamericana 2018 in Bolivia and made the Top 10 at Miss Supranational 2018 in Poland. The new Miss Grand Venezuela was born in Maturin, Monagas to a Syrian family. She holds a bachelor's degree in business economics from the Metropolitan University in Caracas. Road to the 13th Miss Grand International: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nary Battikha (@narybattikha) Photos: Black Media Venezuela, Cafeina!
Read more

8 things to know about Miss USA 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel

Image
Miss Texas USA, R'Bonney Gabriel was proclaimed Miss USA 2022 last night at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada. Here are 8 things to know about the new Miss USA: 1. She is the 10th Miss Texas USA to win Miss USA next to Crystle Stewart (2008) and the first Filipino-American in history to win both the state and the national pageant. View this post on Instagram A post shared by R’Bonney Nola (@rbonneynola) 2. She was born to an American mother from Beaumont, Texas, and a Filipino father who left the Philippines for the US as a young student. 3. She is originally from Missouri City, Texas, and grew up in Houston with three older brothers. As the only girl of four siblings, she considers herself the baby of the family and often joked about being the favorite child. View this post on Instagram A post shared by R’Bonney Nola (@rbonneynola) 4.  At age 28, she is the oldest Miss USA winner in the pageant's 71-year history. Bu...
Read more

81-year-old model Choi Soon-hwa joins Miss Universe Korea 2024

Image
Choi Soon-hwa recently created a buzz in the pageant community when she appeared as the oldest contestant vying for Miss Universe Korea 2024. The 81-year-old senior model who walked her first runway in her 70s made history as she competes alongside more than 30 others in the upcoming national competition. If she wins this year's Miss Universe Korea, she will be the oldest Korean representative and contestant in the 73-year history of the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Korea 2024 final will be held on September 30 and the winner will head to Mexico for Miss Universe 2024 this November. Age restrictions were recently removed by the organizers to align with the new rules of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) that any woman, regardless of marital status, from age 18 can compete. Photo: Choi Soon-hwa / Instagram
Read more

Miss Earth Brazil 2025 is Laila Frizon of Rio Grande do Sul

Image
Laila Frizon, representing the state of Rio Grande do Sul, was proclaimed Miss Earth Brazil 2025 on Friday, August 29 at Centro de Eventos do Ceará in Fortaleza. The 23-year-old biomedical aesthetician from Palotina, Paraná bested over 20 other contestants to win the national beauty title. She received her crown from former Miss Universe Brazil and Miss Universe 2007 first runner-up Natália Guimarães. Adelina Castro of Ceará, Débora Meretka of Paraná, and Lorena Paiva of Praias de Trairi finished second, third, and fourth respectively. The new Miss Earth Brazil will now prepare to represent her country at the Miss Earth 2025 pageant in the Philippines this November. Brazil has previously won the Miss Earth crown twice with Priscilla Meirelles in 2004 and Larissa Ramos in 2009. Road to the 25th Miss Earth: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Brasil Terra (@missearthbrasil) Photos: Valter Rocha, Miss Earth Brazil ...
Read more

Miss Universe Botswana 2025 is Lillian Nompumelelo Andries

Image
Lillian Nompumelelo Andries was crowned Miss Universe Botswana 2025 on Saturday, August 30 at Adansonia Hotel in Francistown. The 30-year-old geologist, entrepreneur and philanthropist from Ramotswa will now prepare to represent Botswana at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand this November. Dabilo Moses and Tsutsu Wangu Modise were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Universe Botswana succeeded last year's winner Thanolo Keutlwile who competed in Miss Universe 2024 last November in Mexico. "I am your Miss Universe Botswana 2025 — an honor and privilege I will forever be grateful for," Lillian shared online. "I am ready to serve humanity through this crown and to carry the nation of Botswana on my shoulders with humility and grace," she added. She also wrote, "This is only the beginning of a great journey, and now, all flights lead to Thailand — where together, we will make history." Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View ...
Read more

Winning answers of 71st Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel

Image
Texas-born R'Bonney Gabriel, 28, was crowned the 71st Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2022) on Saturday, January 14 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Apart from her winning looks and undeniable stage presence, R'Bonney also gave impressive answers during the question-and-answer rounds. During the Top 5 Q&A, she was asked by Vyral Media PR co-founder Mara Martin: "Miss Universe recently made an inclusive change, allowing mothers and married women to compete this year. What's another change you'd like to see, and why?" She replied: "For me, I would like to see an age increase because I am 28 years old and that is the oldest age to compete, and I think it's a beautiful thing. My favorite quote is "if not now, then when" because as a woman, I believe age does not define us. It's not tomorrow, it's not yesterday, but it's now. The time is now that you can go after what you want." R'Bonney advanced to the...
Read more