71st Miss Universe: Major standouts from pre-pageant events and activities


The 71st Miss Universe contestants have been very busy with their pre-pageant events and activities ahead of the preliminary, national costume, and final competitions.

Brennan's, a famous New Orleans restaurant located in the heart of the French Quarter, hosted the contestants a special dinner where they enjoyed delicious and authentic Creole cuisine.

In addition to touring, filming, and rehearsing for the big show, a welcome press conference was held for the 84 contestants on Monday, January 9 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center.

Present were Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Jerry Reyes (President of the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority Board of Commissioners) Kelly Schulz (Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Relations at New Orleans & Company), Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart, and outgoing queen Harnaaz Sandhu.


The contestants were also taken to a welcome reception at Gallier Hall, a historic building on St. Charles Avenue. They all dolled up for the special event filled with live music, dance, glam, and more inspirational speeches.

JKN Global Group's Anne Jakrajutatip, the new owner of MUO also attended the party and gave a powerful message: "It's time for women to rise. It's time for women to manage the world, in fact, the universe. You must have a purpose in life, you must know why you were born, and you must use your personality to serve the purpose of your soul."

Major standouts from their pre-pageant events and activities based on their overall presence and "it factor" include the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Aruba, Philippines, USA, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Thailand, Portugal, Italy, South Africa, Jamaica, and Mexico.

Here are some photos from the welcome reception:

Photos: Benjamin Askinas / Miss Universe

RELATED POSTS:



Popular posts from this blog

Alejandra Rodríguez, 60, crowned Miss Universe Buenos Aires 2024

Image
Alejandra Rodríguez was crowned Miss Universe Buenos Aires 2024 in a competition held on Sunday, April 21 at Corregidor Hotel in La Plata. The 60-year-old lawyer and journalist bested more than 30 other contestants to win the title. She will now prepare to represent Buenos Aires at Miss Universe Argentina 2024. To recall, the Miss Universe Organization removed the age limit requirement last year so now anyone from the age of 18 can join the pageant and this applies to all its national franchises. The grand final for this year's Miss Universe Argentina will be held on May 25 and the winner will go to Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico later this year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Francy Lezcano (@miss.universo_buenos_aires) Photos: Miss Universe Buenos Aires / Instagram
Read more

Miss Hawaii USA 2024 is Breea Yamat from Oahu

Image
Breea Yamat was crowned Miss Hawaii USA 2024 during the state final competition held on Friday, April 19 at Royal Hawaii Center Theater. The 27-year-old Mexican-Filipina beauty from Oahu will now prepare to represent Hawaii at Miss USA 2024 in Hollywood, California in August. She succeeds last year's winner,  Savannah Gankiewicz , who placed first runner-up at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada last September. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Hawaii USA (@misshiusa) FINAL RESULTS Miss Hawaii USA 2024 - Breea Yamat 1st runner-up - Leimakamae Freitas 2nd runner-up - Nohea Shozen 3rd runner-up - Sienna Byrne 4th runner-up - Caia Souza TOP 10 Jocelyn Cruz Jessica Ellis-Ward Melody Higa Jade Mei Lun Flora Rodas Heading to Miss Teen USA 2024, also in California this summer, is Hokuaoka'ale Gilman who was crowned Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2024 on Thursday, April 18 at Ala Moana Hotel. Photos: Brice Kurihara, Miss Hawaii USA / Instagram
Read more

Miss Michigan USA 2024 is Alma Cooper

Image
Miss Okemos, Alma Cooper was crowned Miss Michigan USA 2024 on Sunday, April 21 at McMorran Entertainment Center in Port Huron, Michigan. The 22-year-old scholar, advocate and US Army officer will now prepare to represent Michigan at Miss USA 2024 in Hollywood, California this August. Alma holds a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from the United States Military Academy at West Point. The second lieutenant officer is also a Knight-Hennessy Scholar, currently pursuing her master's degree in data science at Stanford University in California. She succeeds last year's winner, Alexis Fagan-Williams. FINAL RESULTS Miss Michigan USA 2024 - Alma Cooper (Okemos) 1st runner-up - Emma Hahn (Farmington) 2nd runner-up - Michelle Lewandoski (Mona Lake) 3rd runner-up - Jada Dudley (Heart of Michigan) 4th runner-up - Aurora Nash (North Southfield) 5th runner-up - Bonita Loka (Macomb County) TOP 16 Alexandria Kelly (Plymouth) Morgan Williamson (Oakland County) Lexi Warchock (J-Town) Ale
Read more

Miss Connecticut USA 2024 is Shavana Clarke

Image
Miss Greater Bridgeport, Shavana Clarke was crowned Miss Connecticut USA 2024 on Sunday, April 14 at Marriott Hartford Windsor Airport in Windsor, Connecticut. The 29-year-old model and mental health advocate will now prepare to represent the state of Connecticut at Miss USA 2024 in California this August. Shavana was crowned by last year's winner and Miss USA 2023 Top 20 semifinalist Karla Aponte Roque. She was third runner-up to Karla during last year's competition. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shavana Clarke (@shavanakrln) FINAL RESULTS Miss Connecticut USA 2024 - Shavana Clarke (Greater Bridgeport) 1st runner-up - Ashley Rodon (Greenwich) 2nd runner-up - Jenna Hofmann (Fairfield) 3rd runner-up - Dana Daly (Brookfield) 4th runner-up - Christina Judd (Fairfield County) TOP 11 Amber Walker (Old Greenwich) Jillian Cisco (New Haven County) Gabriella Vigorito (Middlesex County) Katie Kennedy (Harbor Point) Kathyria Burgos (Bridgeport) Shayla H
Read more

Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2024: Meet the contestants

Image
The official contestants vying for Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2024 were finally revealed on Thursday, April 18 at the mayor's office in San Juan. This year's competition will have 28 of the island's most beautiful women selected to compete for the coveted national title. One of them will be the successor of Karla Guilfú Acevedo, reigning Miss Universe Puerto Rico and Miss Universe 2023 Top 5 finalists. "Enjoy every stage of the process because all the knowledge you acquire will be with you forever," Karla's words of support for the contestants. The preliminary competition for Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2024 will be held on June 23 while the final is on June 27 at Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré. The next queen will represent Puerto Rico at the 73rd Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2024) in Mexico this November. Meet the contestants: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Puerto Rico (@muniversepr)   Aguadilla - Claribel
Read more

Miss Universe Philippines 2024 swimsuit challenge results

Image
The Miss Universe Philippines 2024 swimsuit challenge took place on Saturday, April 20 at Aqua Boracay, a luxurious resort in Boracay Island, Aklan. Wearing their swimsuits by SV Swimwear, the 53 contestants vying for this year's title strutted the runway to impress an esteemed panel of judges. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Philippines (@themissuniverseph) Eight contestants were announced as "Aqua Boracay Angels" and they are the following: Bacoor - Victoria Velasquez Vincent Baguio City - Tara Valencia Cainta - Stacey Gabriel (also bagged the Miss WE Sportz by Aqua award) Iloilo City - Alexie Mae Brooks Northern California - Kayla Carter Quezon Province - Ahtisa Manalo Taguig - Christi Lynn McGarry Twelve more beauties were chosen to complete the 20 brand ambassadors of Arete Tagaytay and they are the following: Australia - Kymberlee Street Cabanatuan - Daniella Villar Camiguin - Rethiana Rosa Cebu - Kris Tiffany Janson L
Read more

Miss Supranational Czech Republic 2024 is Justýna Zedníková

Image
Justýna Zedníková has been officially crowned Miss Supranational Czech Republic 2024 in a special crowning ceremony held on Saturday, April 20 at Duplex in Prague. The 21-year-old fashion model will now prepare to represent the Czech Republic at Miss Supranational 2024 on July 6 in Nowy Sącz, Poland. Justýna received her official sash and crown in the presence of reigning Miss Supranational Andrea Aguilera from Ecuador. She succeeds last year's winner Marie Jedličková. Reigning Mister Supranational Iván Álvarez Guedes also attended the event for the official designation of Adam Sedro as Mister Supranational Czech Republic 2024. Adam, a 29-year-old fitness model and athlete, will also travel to Poland this summer to compete in Mister Supranational 2024. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mister Supranational (@officialmistersupranational) Photos: Miss Czech Republic, Mister Supranational / Instagram
Read more

Sakhile Dube joins Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2024

Image
Fashion model Sakhile Dube has been officially revealed as one of the contestants vying for Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2024. The 27-year-old fashionista, representing Bulawayo, is currently pursuing fashion design and styling studies at the Milan School of Fashion in Italy. No stranger to pageantry, Sakhile previously held the title of Miss Earth Zimbabwe and represented her country at Miss Earth 2022 in the Philippines. She finished in the Top 8 among 85 contestants. Last year, she was named Miss Supranational Zimbabwe and went on to participate in Miss Supranational 2023 in Poland where she not only placed in the Top 24 but also bagged the continental title of Miss Supranational Africa 2023. The Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2024 final competition will be held on May 18 in Harare. Brooke Bruk-Jackson's successor will go to Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico later this year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by sakhileziedube (@sakky_zie) Photos: Miss Universe Zimbab
Read more

Miss Mississippi USA 2024 is Kaylee Brooke McCollum

Image
Miss Monroe County, Kaylee Brooke McCollum, was crowned Miss Mississippi USA 2024 during the state competition held on Saturday, April 6 at Pearl River Resort in Choctaw. The 22-year-old registered nurse succeeds last year's winner Sydney Russell and will now prepare to represent Mississippi at Miss USA 2024 in California this August. No stranger to pageantry, Kaylee is a former Miss Mississippi Teen USA who placed third runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2019 in Reno, Nevada. "It is such a humbling experience to be chosen from the amazing group of remarkable women I spent the past several days getting to know," she wrote on social media. "It has been a dream of mine to be your Miss Mississippi USA for years. I am so honored to represent this state that I love for the second time. I hope to make every one of you proud through the next part of my journey." View this post on Instagram A post shared by 𝒢𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓃𝓌𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝒫𝓇𝑜𝒹𝓊𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 👑 (@gree
Read more

Ukraine's Angelina Usanova reveals national costume for Miss Eco International 2024

Image
Ukraine's Angelina Usanova has revealed the phoenix-inspired national costume she will wear at this year's Miss Eco International competition. "The phoenix is ​​a mythical creature that symbolizes Ukraine and Ukrainians — a country that is under fire every day, but continues to live, rebuild destroyed cities, love, create, give birth to children," the 26-year-old model shared online. Created by Lesia Patoka of Patoka Studio and her team, the costume was made entirely from recycled materials provided by No Waster Ukraine, a non-profit organization promoting ​​responsible consumption and waste management in the country. More than 1,500 plastic spoons and 500 plastic knives were used for the costume. Plastic fittings were used for the wings, headdress, and corset while the skirt was made of used curtains. The stones and rhinestones on the dress were collected from dresses, tops, and t-shirts from second-hand stores. "I really wanted to create a dress that would be c
Read more