FAVORITES: 71st Miss Universe Top 16 pre-arrival favorites

Two weeks to go until the highly anticipated final competition of the 71st Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Over 80 women from around the world will compete for the coveted title on January 14 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center where India's Harnaaz Sandhu will crown her successor.

Several contestants have already arrived in the US for their final preparations and to celebrate the new year before heading to the host city.

Fan voting is still open. Don't miss voting for your favorites into the semifinals through the Miss Universe official website and app. First vote free!

Prior to the much-awaited arrival of contestants, meet our Top 16 favorites:


TOP 16

(in alphabetical order)

Chile - Sofia Depassier

Colombia - María Fernanda Aristizábal

France - Floriane Bascou

India - Divita Rai

Italy - Virginia Stablum

Jamaica - Toshami Calvin

Korea - Hanna Kim

Peru - Alessia Rovegno

Philippines - Celeste Cortesi

Puerto Rico - Ashley Cariño

South Africa - Ndavi Nokeri

Thailand - Anna Sueangam-iam

Ukraine - Viktoria Apanasenko

USA - R'Bonney Gabriel

Venezuela - Amanda Dudamel

Vietnam - Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Châu

Special mentions:

Aruba, Curacao, Finland, Great Britain, Honduras, Iceland, Panama, Portugal, Trinidad & Tobago

Photos: Miss Universe

RELATED POSTS:


Popular posts from this blog

North Carolina's Morgan Romano officially crowned new Miss USA

Image
Morgan Romano was officially crowned by reigning Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel as the new Miss USA 2022 on Friday, January 27 in Auburn, Alabama. The 24-year-old chemical engineer from Concord represented North Carolina at the 71st Miss USA competition last October and placed first runner-up. She was designated to take over the national title after R'Bonney won Miss Universe 2022 last January 14 in New Orleans, Louisiana. "Heart full of gratitude. I’m all yours, USA," Morgan posted on social media following her coronation ceremony held at Woltosz Theatre, Gogue Performing Arts Center. The special event coincided with Miss Alabama Teen USA and Miss Alabama USA 2023 preliminary competitions organized by  RPM Productions . North Carolina now holds a record of four Miss USA titleholders. Previous winners were Chelsea Cooley (2005), Kristen Dalton (2009), and the late Cheslie Kryst (2019). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Morgan Romano (@mo
Read more

R'Bonney Gabriel to crown new Miss USA in Alabama

Image
Miss Universe 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel has arrived in Auburn, Alabama to crown North Carolina's Morgan Romano, her successor as Miss USA tonight. The official coronation ceremony will take place during the preliminary competition of Miss Alabama Teen USA and Miss Alabama USA 2023 at Auburn University. Since R'Bonney won the Miss Universe title in New Orleans last January 14, her first runner-up at Miss USA has been appointed to take over in fulfilling her national obligations. Don't miss watching tonight's event live streaming on pageantslive.com from 8:30 p.m. EST / 7:30 p.m. CST. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ANNALEE STORY (@missalteenusa) Photos: Miss Alabama USA , Miss Alabama Teen USA / Instagram RELATED POSTS: The 71st Miss Universe is Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel Miss USA 2022 is R’Bonney Gabriel of Texas 8 things to know about Miss USA 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel LIVE UPDATES: 71st Miss Universe Final Competition Results
Read more

Philippines' Maria Luisa Varela wins Miss Planet International 2023

Image
Miss Planet Philippines Maria Luisa Varela was crowned Miss Planet International 2023 on Sunday, January 29 at Koh Pich Theater in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The 26-year-old entrepreneur who also bagged the Social Media award became the first Filipina representative to win the international pageant. She succeeded the first winner from 2019, Monique Best of South Africa. Jemima Ruth Mandemwa of Zimbabwe and Ono Aya of Japan were named the first and second runners-up respectively. Rounding out the Top 7 were Tiffany Ha of Vietnam, Katarina Juselius of Finland, Alina Safronova of Latvia, and Srey Leak Pok of Cambodia. Miss Planet International was founded in Cambodia and according to its official website, the pageant's advocacy focuses on environmental protection, multiculturalism, poverty, ethical economic progress, clean renewable energy, world peace, and education. This year's edition was supposed to be held last November in Uganda but due to some controversial incidents with the ho
Read more

Miss Alabama USA 2023 is Sophie Burzynski

Image
Miss Auburn-Opelika Sophie Burzynski was crowned Miss Alabama USA 2023 in a state pageant held on Saturday, January 28 at Gogue Performing Arts Center in Auburn. The 21-year-old wedding videographer and a senior student at Auburn University bested over 30 other competitors to win the state title. Last year's winner, Katelyn Vinson, passed the crown to her successor who will now prepare to represent the state of Alabama at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada possibly this fall. The runners-up were Miss Greystone Noelia Voigt, Miss Southern Plains Diane Westhoven, Miss Rover Region Margaret Anne McNeill, and Miss Huntsville Randee Hinson-McCrary. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, the new Miss Alabama USA aspires to become a dentist and is currently a double major in nutritional science and business management.  Sophie has been eyeing to fulfill her pageant dream for six years and winning last night's competition was part of it. She wants to become an agent for transformative impact
Read more

71st Miss World pageant will be held in May 2023

Image
According to Miss World's latest social media post, the highly anticipated 71st Miss World (Miss World 2023) pageant will be held in May 2023. The Miss World Organization has yet to make an official announcement on the final date and host country of the upcoming edition. So far, around 80 countries and territories have been confirmed to participate. Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Russia, Thailand, and Zambia are among those expected to return. Reigning Miss World Karolina Bielawska from Poland, who won in Puerto Rico last year, will crown her successor from over 100 expected contestants from around the world. Karolina's remarkable achievements broke records, having visited more countries, raised more funds, and supported more humanitarian projects than any previous winners. The next Miss World will definitely have big shoes to fill. Stay tuned for further updates on the 71st Miss
Read more

Miss North Carolina USA 2022 is Morgan Romano

Image
Concord resident, Morgan Romano, has been crowned Miss North Carolina USA 2022 in a state competition held at High Point Theater on Saturday, January 29. The 23-year-old beauty holds a degree in chemical engineering and currently working as an application engineer at R.E. Mason in Charlotte. According to her bio, she has a passion for STEM education for children and spends her free time volunteering with Project Scientist, an after-school program that provides a high-quality STEM curriculum to young girls. During her year, Morgan plans on expanding her initiative “Outside the Box”, which provides science kits to classrooms, children’s hospitals, libraries, and to students in need. It also focuses on spreading the message that it is okay to fully embrace who you are, no matter what that may be and she hopes to set that example by wearing the Miss North Carolina USA crown and being a woman in STEM. The new Miss North Carolina USA succeeded last year's winner Madison Bryant and will n
Read more

SPOTLIGHT: Meet Hanna Kim, Miss Universe Korea 2022

Image
Korea will be represented at the 71st Miss Universe pageant by Hanna Kim. The 27-year-old model currently based in New York City was appointed as Miss Universe Korea 2022 last April. She was the first runner-up during last year's national competition. Apart from modeling, Hanna is a linguist and interpreter, who specialized in clinical trials. She is also a skilled classical ballet dancer. "Words cannot describe how honored I am to be representing Korea at the 71st edition of Miss Universe," she shared on social media. "As Miss Universe is the representation of empowerment and confidence, I wish I will also become a member of this community that empowers the women around the globe," she added. The 71st Miss Universe pageant is expected to be held in the first quarter of 2023. Photos: Save Hannah Studio , Hanna Kim / Instagram
Read more

Miss Massachusetts USA 2023 is Annika Sharma

Image
Miss Commonwealth, Annika Sharma, was crowned Miss Massachusetts USA 2023 on Sunday, January 29 at Boston Marriott Burlington. The 22-year-old Indian-American beauty from New Jersey is a student at Boston College and a former Miss Massachusetts Teen USA winner. She will now represent Massachusetts at Miss USA 2023 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada later this year. Rounding out the Top 5 finalists were Miss Boston, Tatyana Brown; Miss Roslindale, Britt High; Miss Medford, Laura Dos Santos; and Miss Attleboro Falls, Melissa Sapini. They were announced as the first, second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Miss Massachusetts Teen USA 2023 Yanelyn Quintana, 16, from Haverhill, was also crowned at the same venue. She will now go on to represent her state at the Miss Teen USA 2023 pageant. The runners-up for the teenage division were Miss Oxford, Brooke Goodrich, Miss Kingston, Mia Mitchell, Miss Back Bay, Isabelle Richards, and Miss Leominster, Margaret Leighton. Last ye
Read more

Catriona Gray emotional during Cheslie Kryst tribute at 71st Miss Universe

Image
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray was seen bursting into tears during an emotional tribute dedicated to former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst at the 71st Miss Universe pageant on January 14 in New Orleans. Catriona shared an apartment with Cheslie in New York City during their reigns. Cheslie tragically took her own life in January 2020 by jumping to her death from the Manhattan apartment building where she lived. During the tribute, a video montage was played showing a vibrant and happy Cheslie, while she was silently dealing with high-functioning depression. April Simpkins, Cheslie's mother, went onstage to give a moving message: "Cheslie loved this Miss Universe community. She often spoke about the support she received from all of you and the Miss Universe Organization, and for that, I'm forever grateful." She continued her speech by talking about Cheslie's silent battles: "The Cheslie you saw didn’t always match the way she felt inside. Just because someone tells
Read more

Miss Earth Puerto Rico 2023 is Victoria Arocho of Caguas

Image
Miss Earth Caguas Victoria Arocho was crowned Miss Earth Puerto Rico 2023 on Sunday, January 29 at the Centro de Bellas Artes de Caguas. The 20-year-old model representing Caguas bested 21 other competitors to win the national title. She succeeds Paulina Avilés — Miss Earth Puerto Rico 2022 and Miss Earth 2022 Top 8 finalist. Rounding out the Top 4 were Miss Earth Rincón Nashaly Muñiz, Miss Earth Fajardo Ashley Melendez, and Miss Earth Cayey Jaimar Cruz. They were named Miss Earth Air, Water, and Fire, respectively. Miss Earth Camuy Lizmarie Rodríguez and Miss Earth Guaynabo Monika Zayas completed the Top 6 finalists. The representatives of Bayamón, María Amador; Isabela, Andrea Arteaga; Loíza, Alondra Martínez; Manatí, Monique Alarcón; Ponce, Cynthia Goenaga; and Villalba, Jovanska Santiago were the rest of the Top 12 semifinalists. Puerto Rico has won the Miss Earth pageant once with Nellys Pimentel in 2019. The new Miss Earth Puerto Rico will now prepare to represent Puerto Rico at
Read more