Latvia returns to Miss Universe after 16 years


Latvia is set to return to the Miss Universe stage this January in New Orleans, Louisiana after missing the pageant for a decade and a half.

The European country which is situated on the Baltic Sea between Lithuania and Estonia last joined the international pageant in 2006 after its debut in 2005 with the then 19-year-old Ieva Kokoreviča who managed to place in the Top 10.

Inga Raduga Model Management now holds the license for Miss Universe Latvia and a national final is expected to take place soon.

A total of 10 contestants have been announced as shortlisted to participate in the upcoming competition.

Meet them:

Photos: Miss Universe, Miss Universe Latvia / Instagram

Popular posts from this blog

Miss Thailand 2023 is Chonnikarn Supittayaporn of Chiang Mai

Image
Miss Chiang Mai, Chonnikarn Supittayaporn, was crowned Miss Thailand 2023 on Sunday, March 19 at the Central Chaengwattana in Nonthaburi, Bangkok. The 24-year-old model and pharmacy graduate of Chiang Mai University succeeded last year's winner Manita Farmer and will now prepare to represent Thailand at the 71st Miss World (Miss World 2023) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Sakhon Nakhon's Marisa Phonthirat was named the first runner-up while Phatthalung's Arabella Sitanan Gregory finished as the second runner-up. Kanokporn Payungwong of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and Supansa Wattananusit of Amnat Charoen were the third and fourth runners-up, respectively. A total of 47 stunning contestants from various Thai provinces were selected to take part in the 54th Miss Thailand edition. This year's competition themed "The Ultimate Precious" was organized by TPN Global in cooperation with Tero Entertainment. View this post on Instagram A post shared
Read more

Puerto Rico's Miss Universe 1970 Marisol Malaret dies aged 73

Image
Miss Universe 1970 Marisol Malaret Contreras from Puerto Rico passed away at the age of 73 on Sunday. The former beauty queen turned television personality became the first Puerto Rican and Caribbean woman to win the Miss Universe pageant on July 11, 1970, at the Miami Beach Auditorium in Miami Beach, Florida. She was only 20 years old, an executive secretary in the Puerto Rico Telephone Company, when she was crowned by her predecessor Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1969 from the Philippines. Following her historic victory, she was honored with what was considered until then one of the biggest welcomings ever at San Juan. It was reported that around 50,000 people turned out to her homecoming. Marisol appeared on the covers of countless international and Puerto Rican magazines and took part in numerous advertising campaigns. The auburn-haired, blue-green-eyed beauty was married three times. Her first marriage was to former male model Butch James, the second was to musician Corky Stroman wit
Read more

Miss New Jersey USA 2023 is Derby Chukwudi

Image
Derby Chukwudi was named Miss New Jersey USA 2023 on Sunday, March 19 at the Hilton Parsippany Hotel in Parsippany, New Jersey. The 25-year-old Hoboken resident hails from Nigeria. She is a graduate of Berea College in Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics. Christine Pierre, Rashmi Naik, Katarina Lengyel, and Vritti Patel rounded out the Top 5 finalists. Derby was crowned by her predecessor Alexandra Lakhman and she will now prepare to represent New Jersey at Miss USA 2023 national final in Reno, Nevada. This is her second attempt at the state pageant. She previously joined in 2021 but unfortunately failed to make it to the semifinals. Hosted by former Miss Earth USA and Miss New York USA Andreia Gibau, the event also culminated with another winner — Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava. The Indian-Mexican teenager succeeded Isabella Galan and she will now proceed to compete in Miss Teen USA 2023 pageant. Meet the new Miss New Jersey US
Read more

Philippines' Erik Lennart Visser wins Mr. Universe Tourism 2023

Image
Erik Lennart Visser of the Philippines won the Mr. Universe Tourism 2023 pageant on Sunday, March 19 at Bali Nusa Dua Theatre in Bali, Indonesia. The 24-year-old Filipino-Dutch model and psychology graduate of the Silliman University in Dumaguete City received the crown and sash from his predecessor Surasak "Tor" Muangkeaw of Thailand. Spain's Francisco Jose Merida Moyano and Vietnam's Huynh Vo Hoang Son were announced as first and second runners-up, respectively. No stranger to pageantry, the new Mr. Universe Tourism previously won the title Ginoong Pilipinas 2019 (Mister Philippines) and became a finalist at Century Tuna Superbods 2022. This year's competition marked the 4th edition of the international male pageant which was held following a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mr. Universe Tourism Official (@mruniversetourismofficial) Photos: @potraitoo / Mr. Universe Tourism Official
Read more

Femina Miss India 2023: Meet the 30 contestants

Image
Following several rounds of auditions across the country, the Top 30 state winners of Femina Miss India 2023 have been officially revealed. The national pageant is expected to hold its 59th edition this April at Imphal, Manipur, but the exact date of the final competition is yet to be announced. Last year's winner Sini Shetty of Karnataka, who will represent India at the 71st Miss World edition (Miss World 2023) in the UAE, will crown her successor at the end of the event. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Femina Miss India (@missindiaorg) After two years of online pageant activities due to the pandemic, this year's pageant will be held entirely in person. This is also the very first time in history for the grand coronation of Femina Miss India to be hosted in northeast India. The next Femina Miss India is expected to represent her country at the 72nd Miss World pageant. Meet the contestants: ANDHRA PRADESH - Gomathy Reddy ARUNACHAL PRADESH - T
Read more

Miss Uganda 2023 is Hannah Karema Tumukunde

Image
Hannah Karema Tumukunde has been crowned Miss Uganda 2023/2024 in a glittering show held on Saturday, March 18 at UMA Multipurpose Hall in Kampala, Uganda. The 20-year-old model from Nakaseke bested 20 other competitors to win her national title. She succeeded Elizabeth Bagaya and will prepare to represent Uganda at the 71st Miss World in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a date yet to be announced. Whitney Martha Ademum and Premah Prossy Agwang were named the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Jesca Sserwadda and Jerusha Muwanguzi were the rest of the Top 5 finalists. Hosted by Mitch Egwang and Anita Fabiola, this year's final event marked the return of the Miss Uganda pageant following a three-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Uganda, an east African country, has yet to win the Miss World crown since its debut in 1967. Its highest placement was Top 5 in 2018 with Quiin Abenakyo. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒 𝐔𝐆𝐀
Read more

Femina Miss India 2023 Awards Night: Meet the sub-contest winners

Image
The start-studded Femina Miss India 2023 Awards Night was held on Wednesday, March 22 at the Time Virtual Studio in Vile Parle, Mumbai. Reigning Miss World Karolina Bielawska, who just arrived in Mumbai, attended the red carpet event wearing a beautiful traditional lehenga by Falguni Shane Peacock India. The glittering show also featured breathtaking performances and the Top 30 state winners' presentations in front of the judges consisting of former Miss India Neha Dhupia, fashion designers Sahil Kochhar and Pallavi Mohan, and director and choreographer Bosco Martis. Here are the sub-contest winners: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Femina Miss India (@missindiaorg) Times Miss Body Beautiful - Delhi, Shreya Poonja Times Miss Rampwalk - Kerala, Christeena Biju Bennett University Miss Sudoku - Union Territory, Navya Naveen Kalra Bennett University Miss IQ - Haryana, Meharmeet Kaur Niine Miss Congeniality - Telangana, Urmila Chauhan INIFD Miss Tal
Read more

70th Miss World Karolina Bielawska touches down in Mumbai, India

Image
The 70th Miss World Karolina Bielawska arrived on Wednesday morning at Mumbai International Airport in Mumbai, India for her first official visit to the country. Accompanied by Miss World Organization CEO Julia Morley, the reigning beauty queen was warmly welcomed upon her arrival by the Brand and Operations Head for Miss India Organization Natasha Grover, Miss World India 2022 Sini Shetty, and former Mr World Rohit Khandelwal. Karolina also received a traditional Indian welcome at the Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, the official hospitality partner for the Miss World delegation during their visit. The Polish beauty will kick off her 4-day trip to India attending as a special guest during the awards night of the Femina Miss India 2023 pageant. She is expected to grace the red carpet of tonight's gala in a Falguni Shane Peacock creation. "I’m so excited to be here. It was my dream to come to this colorful and passionate country rich in culture and traditions. Thank you for the lovin
Read more

Philippines' Rachell Diaz crowned Ms. Queen of the World 2023

Image
The Queen of the World Pageants took place from March 13 to 18 in New Jersey, USA with over 30 contestants from around the world competing in four different divisions — Miss Queen of the World, Ms. Queen of the World, Mrs. Queen of the World, and Elite Mrs. Queen of the World 2023. Ms. Philippines 2022 Rachel Diaz bagged the title Ms. Queen of World 2023 during the final coronation event held on Saturday, March 18 at the Hyatt Regency Morristown. The Filipina beauty was born and raised in the Philippines and is more than just a beautiful face. An outstanding member of the local community, she currently serves as a board member for the Coalition Against Rape and Abuse (C.A.R.A.) and is at the helm of the RED ALERT INITIATIVE, helping provide financial assistance, legal aid, and confidential shelters to victims and survivors of rape and abuse. Rachell has also been awarded the UNICEF Humanitarian Award, Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Humanitarian Award, Middle Township Mayor’s Hometown
Read more

Ukraine wins best national costume at 71st Miss Universe

Image
Miss Universe Ukraine Viktoria Apanasenko was announced the winner of the 71st Miss Universe national costume which was determined by public votes. The Miss Universe Organization made the official announcement of the winning costume on Wednesday, March 15 via the Miss Universe official app. Viktoria paraded her "Warrior of Light" costume during the 71st Miss Universe national costume presentation last January in New Orleans, Louisiana. It consists of an archangel sword, a monolithic jumpsuit that serves like an armor covering her body, a vyshyvanka-styled dress, a headpiece, and angel wings. The beautiful masterpiece designed by Ukrainian costume designer Lesia Patoka took several months to complete under extreme conditions due to the armed conflicts in Ukraine. According to Viktoria, it is a symbol of her nation's fight against the darkness, like an archangel Michael with a sword protecting her country. Importantly, it represents the strength, courage, and determination
Read more