FAVORITES: 71st Miss Universe preliminary swimsuit competition

Eighty-four contestants confidently walked the stage wearing their Jacqueline Aguilera swimsuits, personalized capes, and Jojo Bragais shoes during the 71st Miss Universe preliminary competition on Wednesday, January 11 in New Orleans.

Based on their preliminary swimsuit presentations, meet our favorites:


TOP 5

(in alphabetical order)

Aruba - Kiara Arends

Dominican Republic - Andreína Martínez

Puerto Rico - Ashley Cariño

USA - R'Bonney Gabriel

Venezuela - Amanda Dudamel

Top 10 - Australia, Mexico, Philippines, Portugal, Vietnam

Photos: Benjamin Askinas / Miss Universe Organization

RELATED POSTS:


Popular posts from this blog

Vanessa Pulgarin of Colombia crowned MGI All Stars 2026

Image
Vanessa Pulgarin from Colombia was proclaimed the winner MGI All Stars 2026 on Saturday, May 30 at MGI Hall in Bangkok, Thailand. The 34-year-old model bested over 50 other contestants to win the first edition of the pageant. She is expected to return for the second edition to defend her title. Faith Maria Porter of Ghana and Nguyen Huong Giang of Vietnam were respectively named the first and second runners-up while Mariana Bečková of the Czech Republic and Gazini Ganados of the Philippines completed the Top 5. Beauties from Colombia, Priscilla Londoño; Dominican Republic, Yamilex Hernández; Peru, Suheyn Cipriani; Thailand, Tharina Botes; and Venezuela, Gabriela de la Cruz made the Top 10. The rest of the Top 18 were from China, Zewen Qin; Dominican Republic, Nicole Puello; Ecuador, Samantha Quenedit; Mongolia, Azzaya Tsogt-Ochir; Mexico, Francia Cortés; Myanmar, Thet San Andersen; Philippines, Fuschia Anne Ravena; and Venezuela. Isabella Santiago. A distinguished panel o...
Read more

The Miss Philippines 2026 titleholders officially crowned

Image
The coronation ball for The Miss Philippines 2026 took place on Sunday, May 10, at the Grand Ballroom in City of Dreams Manila. Hosted by former titleholder and Miss Supranational runner-up Pauline Amelinckx, the glittering event was graced by reigning international queens Miss Cosmo 2025 Yolina Lindquist and Miss Charm 2025 Anna Blanco. Following their participation in the recently concluded Miss Universe Philippines 2026 competition, eight new queens have been crowned to represent the Philippines in various international pageants overseas. Meet the new queens: Miss Supranational Philippines 2027 - Allyson Hetland for Miss Supranational 2027 Miss Cosmo Philippines 2026 - Bella Ysmael for Miss Cosmo 2026 Miss Charm Philippines 2026 - Apriel Smith for Miss Charm 2026 Miss Eco International Philippines 2027 - Jenrose Javier for Miss Eco International 2027 Miss Eco Teen Philippines 2026 - Trexy Paris Roxas for Miss Eco Teen International 2026 Miss Tourism World Philippines 2026 - Ma...
Read more

Miss Universe Croatia 2026 is Antea Mršić from Zagreb

Image
Antea Mršić edged out 14 other contestants to win Miss Universe Croatia 2026 on Monday, May 25 at Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb. The 24-year-old sports management graduate from Zagreb will now prepare to represent Croatia at the Miss Universe 2026 pageant in Puerto Rico this November. Monika Vojvodić was named first runner-up while Laura Vujica, Magdalena Fofić and Beata Šimat were the second, third and fourth runners-up, respectively. "I am endlessly grateful for every single person who believed in me," the new Miss Universe Croatia shared online. "I am excited to have the opportunity to represent Croatia on the world stage," she added. This year's pageant marked the 30th anniversary edition of the national competition. Last year's winner Laura Gnjatović crowned her successor at the end of the event. She made the Top 30 at Miss Universe 2025 last November in Thailand. Road to the 75th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared ...
Read more

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

Image
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 Ave...
Read more

Czech Republic's Isabella Rossini wins Miss Aura International 2026

Image
Isabella Rossini, 20, from Czech Republic, was crowned Miss Aura International 2026 at the conclusion of the pageant on Friday, May 22 at FashionTV Luxe Resort in Antalya, Turkey. The professional model, singer and theater actress bested over 40 other contestants to win the international title. She succeeds Krishan Pauline Alerre of the Philippines. Barbara Wolfenson of Chile was named first runner-up while Azaliya Timergalieva of Bashkortostan, Aleksandra Kochergina of Tatarstan, Melanie Portocarrero Cury of Colombia were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Completing the Top 11 finalists were the contestants from Japan, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Spain and Thailand. The rest of the Top 20 were from Brazil, Latvia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the USA. Prior to winning the title, the new Miss Aura International was proclaimed first runner-up and bagged the Miss Sympathy award at Miss České Republiky 2025. Isabella became the sec...
Read more

Miss World Thailand 2026 is Kanteera Techaphattanakul of Chiang Mai

Image
Kanteera "Namphueng" Techaphattanakul was proclaimed Miss World Thailand 2026 on Sunday, May 10 at MCC Hall of The Mall Lifestore Ngamwongwan in Bangkok. The 25-year-old medical technologist representing Chiang Mai beat 20 other contestants to win the national title. She was crowned by her predecessor Opal Suchata Chuangsri who became Thailand's first Miss World last year. Malaika Khan and Jirapat Dathumma were respectively announced the first and second runners-up while Atina Khontarosaphan Vasnaarchasakul and Pannika Boonsiritakorn rounded out the Top 5 finalists. The newly crowned Miss World Thailand will now prepare to represent her country at the Miss World 2026 competition this August in Vietnam. Road to the 73rd Miss World: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss World Thailand Official (@missworldthailand.official) Photos: Miss World Thailand / 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

Miss Universe 2023: Meet the contestants

Image
A total of 85 beauties from around the world will compete in the highly anticipated 72nd Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador this November. This year's competition will mark the debut of Pakistan and the returns of 10 countries consisting of Denmark, Egypt, Guyana, Hungary, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Mongolia, Norway, and Zimbabwe. For the first time in its history, both the Netherlands and Portugal will be represented by transgender women following Spain's Angela Ponce who participated in 2018. The current Miss Universe Colombia and Guatemala will be the first married women and mothers to compete since the Miss Universe Organization changed its rules to become more inclusive. Miss Universe 2023 final will be streamed on The Roku Channel while Telemundo will broadcast the show within the United States as well as local channels around the world. The reigning Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel of the United States of America will crown her successor at the culmination of this...
Read more

La Union's Bea Millan-Windorski is the new Miss Universe Philippines

Image
Bea Millan-Windorski of La Union was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2026 during the final of the national pageant on Saturday, May 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The 24-year-old Filipino-American beauty succeeded Maria Ahtisa Manalo from Quezon Province. She will represent the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2026 pageant, which is set to take place in Puerto Rico later this year. Nicole Borromeo of Cebu Province, Apriel Smith of Cebu City, Allyson Hetland of Pampanga, Jenrose Javier of Sultan Kudarat, Bella Ysmael of Taguig, and Marian Arellano of Tarlac made the Top 7. Completing the Top 15 were from Baguio, Roxie Baeyens, Camiguin, Erica Cadayday, Iloilo City, Zestah Espinosa, Negros Occidental, Alex Colmenares, Manila, Justine Felizarta, Muntinlupa, Adela-Mae Marshall, Quezon Province, Ella Evangelista, and Tacloban, Jacqueline Gulrajani. The new Miss Universe Philippines is an alumna of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is no stranger to pageantry, having ...
Read more

Miss Venezuela 2022: Meet the 24 official contestants

Image
The highly anticipated official presentation of the 24 contestants vying for Miss Venezuela 2022 took place on Saturday, November 10 in Caracas. Hosted by "Súper Sábado Sensacional" presenter Henrys Silva, the special show aired on Venevisión with simultaneous live streaming on missvenezuela.tv . The reigning queens, Miss Venezuela 2021 Amanda Dudamel, Miss Venezuela World 2021 Ariagny Daboin, and Miss International Venezuela 2020 Isbel Parra were also present for the sashing ceremony. Miss Venezuela 2022 final night will be held on Thursday, November 16 at Poliedro de Caracas. As usual, the winners are expected to compete in Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International 2023 pageants. Here are the 24 finalists representing the regions and states of Venezuela: Miss Amazonas - Katheryne Bello Miss Anzoátegui - Mariángel Tovar Miss Apure - Luisana Siso Miss Aragua - Jessica Alaimo Miss Barinas - Jenyfeer Baudin Miss Bolívar - Ana Elena Erazo Miss Carabobo - Lorena ...
Read more