71st Miss Universe: Meet the contestants from Africa and Asia Pacific

Twenty-eight contestants from the regions of Africa and the Asia Pacific are currently vying for the 71st Miss Universe title in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Bhutan joined for the first time while Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Seychelles made a comeback. It is Seychelle's first participation since 1995.

The Philippines still leading Africa and the Asia Pacific with four wins. India and South Africa (leading in Africa) followed with three wins each, and Australia, Japan, and Thailand with two wins each. Angola, Botswana, Israel, Lebanon, Namibia, and New Zealand have each won one time.

Will Africa and the Asia Pacific manage to win another crown? Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu of India achieved the Asia Pacific region's last victory while Africa's last was in 2019 with Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa.

Meet the contestants:


ANGOLA - Swelia Da Silva António

AUSTRALIA - Monique Riley

BAHRAIN - Evlin Khalifa

BHUTAN - Tashi Choden

CAMBODIA - Manita Hang

CAMEROON - Mouketey Lynette Monalisa Jelly

CHINA - Sichen Jiang

EQUATORIAL GUINEA - Alba Isabel Obama Moliko

GHANA - Engracia Mofuman

INDIA - Divita Rai

INDONESIA - Laksmi De Neefe Suardana

JAPAN - Marybelen Sakamoto

KOREA - Hanna Kim

KYRGYZSTAN - Altynai Botoyarova

LAOS - Payengxa Lor

LEBANON - Yasmina Zaytoun

MALAYSIA - Cheam Wei Yeng

MAURITIUS - Alexandrine Belle-Étoile

MYANMAR - Zar Li Moe

NAMIBIA - Cassia Sharpley

NEPAL - Sophiya Bhujel

NIGERIA - Hannah Iribhogbe

PHILIPPINES - Celeste Cortesi

SEYCHELLES - Gabriella Gonthier

SINGAPORE - Carissa Yap

SOUTH AFRICA - Ndavi Nokeri

THAILAND - Anna Sueangam-iam

VIETNAM - Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Châu

The 71st Miss Universe pageant will air live from the New Orleans Morial Convention Center on January 14. India's Harnaaz Sandhu will crown her successor at the end of the event.


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