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

Señorita Colombia 2021 is Valentina Espinosa of Bolívar

Image
Valentina Espinosa, the representative of the Bolívar department, was chosen as the new Señorita Colombia 2021 (Miss Colombia 2021) in a ceremony full of color, music, and a lot of Colombian talent on Sunday, November 14 at the Auditorio Getsemaní del Centro de Convenciones Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala in Cartagena. The 23-year-old social communication and journalism professional triumphed over 24 other beauties to win her national title. She succeeds María Fernanda Aristizábal Urrea and is expected to represent her country at the next Miss Supranational edition in Poland. Natalia López Cardona of Quindío placed second and was named Virreina Nacional while Karen Julieth Ortiz Díaz finished as the first princess. Chocó’s María Lucía Cuesta Arias and Sucre’s Yamile Dajud Zuluaga were the second and third princesses, respectively. The new Señorita Colombia describes herself as "a brave, fighter, persevering, kind and happy and fair woman who seeks equality and equity. Someone who always ...
Read more

Miss Universe Nepal 2025 is Sanya Adhikari

Image
Sanya Adhikari was crowned Miss Universe Nepal 2025 on Wednesday, September 24 at the Royal Tulip in Kathmandu. The 23-year-old beauty edged out 13 other contestants to win the national competition. She also bagged the Miss Smart award. Aarohi Basnet was named first runner-up while Sonalisa Dhungana, Alina Yary, and Jyoti Thapa were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Universe Nepal is a graduate of Assumption University in Bangkok and currently working as a contractor for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Sanya succeeded last year's winner Sampada Ghimire and will now prepare to represent her country at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand this November. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Nepal Global Glamour Venture (@missuniversenepalglobalglamour) Photos: Miss Universe Nepal Global Glamour Venture / Insta...
Read more

California's Athenna Crosby crowned Miss World America 2024

Image
Athenna Crosby of California bested over 40 other contestants to win the Miss World America 2024 pageant on Sunday, November 17 in Seattle, Washington. The 26-year-old American-Venezuelan model and actress succeeds last year's winner Victoria DiSorbo and will now prepare to represent the United States of America at the 72nd Miss World. Kimberly Nwankolo of Oregon was named first runner-up while Anne Li of the District of Columbia, Aishwarya Kumar of Central Washington, and Heather Alexia Santos of Washington were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. The new Miss World America is a devoted advocate for people with disabilities. Aside from modeling and acting, she is also a journalist, singer, and a TV presenter. No stranger to pageantry, Athenna is a former Miss California Teen USA who went on to compete at Miss Teen USA 2016 and made the Top 15. She also joined last year's Miss World America while representing Utah and placed first runner-up. The Miss World ...
Read more

Miss USA 2024: Meet the contestants

Image
The 51 state winners competing for Miss USA 2024 have already been crowned in their respective state competitions. This year's pageant is considered the most diverse in the 73-year history of Miss USA since the Miss Universe Organization changed rules allowing all women from age 18 to compete. There's a contestant over 40 years old, married women, mothers, and a transgender woman, all vying for the highly coveted national beauty title. Hawaii's Savannah Gankiewicz , who became Miss USA 2023 following Noelia Voigt's resignation, will crown her successor on Sunday, August 4 in Los Angeles, California. Miss USA 2024 is set to return to LA after nearly two decades. The final show is set to take place at the Peacock Theater and will air LIVE on The CW Network. Formerly Nokia Theatre and Microsoft Theater, the theater auditorium seats 7,100 and holds one of the largest indoor stages in the United States of America. Who will be crowned the 73rd Miss USA? Meet the 51 contestant...
Read more

Miss World Italy 2026 is Mia Zottoli Montanaro from Puglia

Image
Mia Zottoli Montanaro was proclaimed the winner of Miss Mondo Italia 2026 (Miss World Italy) last Sunday, June 14 at the Ecoresort Le Sirenè in Gallipoli. The 21-year-old model and former volleyball player of Argentine descent from Taranto, Puglia was crowned by her predecessor Sofia Viola. Basma Zaid of Basilicata and Azzura Sandrini of Lombardia were announced the first and second runners-up, respectively. Caterina Noghera of Veneto, Lara Boemio of Toscana, and Ginevra Pagano of Campania rounded out the Top 6 finalists. The new Miss World Italy is expected to represent her country at the 75th Miss World (Miss World 2028) competition. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Mondo Italia (@missmondoitalia) Photos: Miss Mondo Italia / Instagram
Read more

Singer-songwriter Sigga Ózk crowned Miss Iceland 2026

Image
Sigríður Ósk Hrafnkelsdóttir, also known as Sigga Ózk, was crowned Ungfrú Ísland 2026 (Miss Iceland 2026) on Wednesday, April 22 at at Gamla Bíó in Reykjavík. The singer-songwriter from Garðabær will now prepare to represent Iceland at the Miss Universe 2026 pageant to be held in Puerto Rico this November. Aníta Mist Davíðsdóttir was named first runner-up while Elínborg Hrannarsdóttir, Nadía Líf Pálsdóttir, Soffía Ellín Stella Gísladóttir were the second, third and fourth runners-up, respectively. "Wow I'm speechless. I am so endlessly grateful for all the girls in the group, the girls on the team, the judges and everyone who cheered me on," the new Miss Iceland shared online. Sigga holds a bachelor's degree in education and speaks Swedish fluently. She participated in Iceland's national contest, Söngvakeppnin, in both 2023 and 2024, making it to the finals each time. Road to the 75th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared b...
Read more

South Carolina's Tess Ferm crowned Miss America's Teen 2026

Image
South Carolina's Tess Ferm bested 51 other contestants to win Miss America's Teen 2026 on Saturday, September 6 at the Walt Disney Theater, Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida. The 18-year-old student and food allergy advocate from Charleston succeeds Peyton Bolling of Arkansas. She became me the third winner from South Carolina after Taylor Fitch (2009) and Rachel Wyatt (2013). Sara DeVolld of Sara DeVolld was named first runner-up while Emma Fossum of Texas, Delaney Higgins of New Jersey, and Ashton Blake Hart of District of Columbia were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Reagan Khloe Moore of Georgia, Jasmine Wu of California, Fiona Treiber of Iowa, Allison Payton of Ohio, Mila Pearl of Oregon, and Lynzi Allen of Pennsylvania completed the Top 11 semifinalists. The newly crowned Miss America's Teen is a graduate of Porter-Gaud and is set to begin her freshman year at Furman University. She is dedicated to advocating food alle...
Read more

Miss Ukraine 2023 is Sofia Shamia, meet the winners

Image
The three winners of Miss Ukraine 2023 who will represent Ukraine in international pageants were officially announced on Monday, September 25 through social media. Sofia Shamia, an 18-year-old student from the Kyiv region was named Miss Ukraine 2023 (Miss World Ukraine 2023) and will compete in Miss World 2023 in India on December 16. The title of Miss International Ukraine 2023 went to Sofia Zgoba, 18, from Lviv region, and she will go to Japan for Miss International 2023 on October 26. Anastasia Feyer, 21, from Zakarpattia, was proclaimed Miss Earth Ukraine 2023 and will be sent to Vietnam for Miss Earth 2023 on December 22. This year's Miss Ukraine pageant was held entirely online due to the ongoing armed conflicts in Ukraine. The winners were selected by public votes. From left to right — Miss Earth Ukraine 2023 Anastasia Feyer, Miss Ukraine 2023 Sofia Shamia, and Miss International Ukraine 2023 Sofia Zgoba Photos: Miss Ukraine RELATED POST: Miss Ukraine 2023: Meet the contesta...
Read more

Miss Universe Peru 2026 is Luren Márquez

Image
Luren Márquez was crowned Miss Peru 2026 (Miss Universe Peru) in a special ceremony held on Wednesday, April 15 at the Teatro Municipal del Callao. The 27-year-old television presenter and model received the crown from her predecessor Karla Bacigalupo with the presence of the reigning Miss Universe Fátima Bosch from Mexico. Born in Ica, the new Miss Universe Peru is a business administration graduate from the University of Lima. She also obtained her degree in communication from the Florida Internationl University in the USA. No stranger to pageantry, Luren placed first runner-up at the Miss Peru 2024 pageant. She will now prepare to represent her country at Miss Universe 2026 to be held in Puerto Rico later this year. Road to the 75th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by CARLOS RODRIGUEZ (@carlosrodriguez.bo) Photos: 321VAESTUDIO, Carlos Rodriguez / Instagram
Read more

FAVORITES: 71st Miss Universe special awards favorites

Image
Based on the 71st Miss Universe preliminary and national costume competitions, and the official headshots posted by the Miss Universe Organization, we scored the 84 contestants to come up with our own set of winners for the special awards. Meet the winners: Best in National Costume Winner - Ukraine, Viktoria Apanasenko 2nd - Guatemala, Ivana Batchelor 3rd - USA, R'Bonney Gabriel --- Best in Evening Gown Winner - Thailand, Anna Sueangam-iam 2nd - USA, R'Bonney Gabriel 3rd - Dominican Republic, Andreína Martínez Founier --- Best in Swimsuit: Winner - Dominican Republic, Andreína Martínez Founier 2nd - USA, R'Bonney Gabriel 3rd - Puerto Rico - Ashley Cariño --- Miss Photogenic Winner - Philippines, Celeste Cortesi 2nd - Venezuela, Amanda Dudamel 3rd - Peru, Alessia Rovegno Don't miss the 71st Miss Universe final competition live from the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA this Saturday, January 14 at ...
Read more