Laos' Payengxa Lor returns home after historic Miss Universe placement


Miss Universe Laos 2022 Payengxa Lor returned home following her historic achievement during the recently held 71st Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

The business management student received a warm welcome from her supporters and members of the press when she arrived back in her country on January 19. Her Top 16 placement marked the first time ever Laos entered the semifinals at the Miss Universe competition.

Payengxa won the 5th edition of the Miss Universe Laos pageant at the Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel in Vientiane last October 8 and earned her the opportunity to represent her country at Miss Universe 2022.

The 21-year-old was the first Hmong to win the national title and also the first one to achieve Laos' highest placement at Miss Universe since its debut in 2017.

Surprisingly, Laos was also the only Southeast Asian country to place in the Top 16 while heavy favorites from the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam missed out on the semifinal cut.

Photos: Miss Universe Laos, Payengxa Lor / Instagram

RELATED POSTS:




Popular posts from this blog

Miss Universe Finland 2025 is Sarah Anjelica Dzafce

Image
Sarah Anjelica Dzafce bested nine other contestants to win Miss Suomi 2025 (Miss Universe Finland 2025) on Saturday, September 6 at Hybridiarena Hype in Espoo. The 22-yer-old fashion model and former competitive gymnast from Kuopio will represent Finland at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand this November. Tara Lehtonen and Julianna Kauhaniemi were announced as the first and second runners-up, respectively. Janette Keski-Jyrä was awarded as the crowd favorite. The new Miss Suomi was crowned by her predecessor Matilda Wirtavuori who made the Top 30 and clinched the Miss Universe Europe & Middle East title at Miss Universe 2024 last November in Mexico. "My heart is full of gratitude - to all of you who have been a part of this journey, encouraged me and believed in me. This crown is not just mine, but it belongs to all of us who dare to dream big and work for it," Sarah shared online. "I promise to give my all this year. I want to show that Miss Finland can b...
Read more

Miss Universe Japan 2025 is Kaori Hashimoto from Tochigi Prefecture

Image
Kaori Hashimoto was crowned Miss Universe Japan 2025 in a national competition held on Wednesday, July 16 in Shibuya. The 21-year-old business administration student from Tochigi Prefecture beat over 40 other contestants to win the national title. Saki Fujita and Reina Ishii were the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Chiemi Takayama and Naomi Monique Kamidate were the rest of the Top 5 finalists. Kaya Chakrabortty, last year's winner who made the Top 30 at Miss Universe 2024 held in Mexico, crowned her successor at the end of the event. The new Miss Universe Japan will now prepare to represent Japan 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 Japan Official (@missuniversejapan) Photos: Marai Ken / Miss Universe Japan
Read more

Miss France 2026 is Hinaupoko Devèze from Tahiti

Image
Hinaupoko Devèze from Tahiti was crowned Miss France 2026 on Saturday, December 6 at the Zénith d'Amiens in Amiens, Hauts-de-France. The 23-year-old model bested 29 other contestants to win the prestigious national pageant. She succeeds Angélique Angarni-Filopon from Martinique. Juliette Collet of Nouvelle-Calédonie was named first runner-up while Victoire Dupuis of Normandie, Naomi Torrent of Guadeloupe, and Déborah Adelin-Chabal of Roussillon placed second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Completing the Top 12 were Lou Lambert  of Languedoc (fifth runner-up), Alice De Lima Guimaraes of Auvergne (sixth runner-up), Luna Maiolino of Côte d'Azur, Aloïce Sejotte of Limousin, Ynès Lallemand of Champagne-Ardenne, Mareva Michel of Île-de-France, and Emma Boivin of Picardie. The new Miss France was born in Papeete, on the island of Tahiti to a French father and Polynesian mother. She became the sixth representative from French Polynesia to become Miss France. Before winnin...
Read more

Miss Charm 2025 is Anna Blanco from Venezuela

Image
Anna Blanco Flores from Venezuela beat over 30 other contestant to win Miss Charm 2025 on Friday, December 12 in Ho Chi Minh City. The 25-year-old singer-songwriter and model was crowned by her predecessor Rashmita Rasindran from Malaysia. She became the first Venezuelan woman to hold the international beauty title. Luisa Victoria Malz from Germany and Rinanda Maharani from Indonesia were respectively announced the first and second runners-up while Francia Cortés of Mexico and Naruemol Phimphakdee of Thailand rounded out the Top 5 finalists. The contestants from Bolivia, Estefanía Ibarra, Brazil, Maiara Porto, Colombia, María José Chacón, India, Mehakk Dhingraa, Netherlands, Jaelin Ramadhin, USA, Kaylyn Slevin and Vietnam, Quynh Mai Ngo made the Top 12. Completing the Top 20 were Australia, Nasia Delis, Cambodia, Sreyneat Det, China, Jiaqi Li, Costa Rica, Tamara Castro, Malaysia, Jessrina Kaur, Moldova, Gutiera Timotin, Philippines, Cyrille Payumo, and Puerto Rico, Nicole Hern...
Read more

Miss Universe Argentina 2025 is Aldana Masset of Entre Rios

Image
Aldana Masset was crowned Miss Universe Argentina 2025 on Sunday, May 25 at Mansión Tango in Buenos Aires. The 25-year-old singer and image consultant from the province of Entre Rios beat 27 other contestants to win the national title. Julieta Ricardez of La Pampa was named first runner-up while Judit Grnja of Chaco, Ayelen Torres of La Rioja, Carolina Danieri of Comunidad Extranjera, and Xiomara Menna of Misiones were the second, third, fourth and fifth runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Universe Argentina will now prepare to represent her country at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand this November. Aldana succeeds last year's winner Magalí Benejam Corthey who made the Top 12 at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cromo Genesis (@cromogenesis) Photos: Cromo Genesis / Instagram
Read more

Finland to host the inaugural Miss Face International pageant

Image
Finland, the happiest country in the world, is getting in on the international pageant scene and will host a global beauty contest for the first time ever. The "land of a thousand lakes" is set to stage the inaugural Miss Face International pageant in the summer of 2026. According to the organizer, Miss Face International will not only highlight the cultures of various countries but will also act as a networking platform for women worldwide. The pageant's slogan is "Connecting Beauty" and it aims to help women progress in their careers, develop their personal brand, and boost self-awareness on a global level. Organized by the Finnish modeling agency Studio Face, the event will take place in multiple locations throughout Finland, allowing contestants to immerse themselves in Finnish culture while also sharing their own. There is no upper age limit or height and size requirements. Women aged 18 and above, whether married or mothers, from every corner of the world ...
Read more

Miss Universe Venezuela 2025 is Clara Vegas of Miranda

Image
Clara Vegas triumphed over 21 other contestants to win the title of Miss Universe Venezuela 2025 on Thursday, December 4 in Caracas. The 23-year-old model and actress from Miranda will represent Venezuela at the Miss Universe 2026 pageant to be held in Puerto Rico. Maria Evangelista Alayon of Amazonas was named first runner-up while Milena Paola Soto of Mérida, Gabriela de la Cruz of Yaracuy, and Gabriela Villegas of Monagas were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Completing the Top 12 were the representatives of  Barinas, Anabelly Ojeda, Bolívar, Yosdanny Navarro, Delta Amacuro, Kelly Maita, Dependencias Federales, Valentina Martínez, Portuguesa, Génesis Mendoza, Sucre, Rosangel Mundaraín, and Táchira, Valeria del Amor. The new Miss Universe Venezuela was crowned by her predecessor Stephany Abasali who placed second runner-up at Miss Universe 2025 last month in Thailand. Clara is the daughter of former Miss Venezuela Andreína Goetz who made the Top 10 at...
Read more

Transgender woman Nguyen Huong Giang to represent Vietnam at Miss Universe 2025

Image
Former Miss International Queen winner Nguyen Huong Giang has been officially announced on Wednesday, September 25 as Miss Universe Vietnam 2025. The 33-year-old model, singer and actress from Hanoi made history as the first ever transgender woman to represent Vietnam at Miss Universe. Huong Giang rose to prominence when she joined the fourth season of Vietnam Idol. She also competed and won The Amazing Race Vietnam 2014 with her ex-boyfriend Criss Lai. One of her proudest achievements in pageantry was winning Miss International Queen 2018, a prestigious beauty pageant for trans women in Pattaya, Thailand. The new Miss Universe Vietnam will head to Bangkok, Thailand to compete in Miss Universe 2025 this November. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by 𝐍𝐆𝐔𝐘𝐄̂̃𝐍 𝐇𝐔̛𝐎̛𝐍𝐆 𝐆𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐆 (@huoggiangggg) Photos: Nguyen Huong Giang / Instagram
Read more

Miss Universe Mexico 2025 is Fatima Bosch of Tabasco

Image
Fatima Bosch was crowned Miss Universe Mexico 2025 on Saturday, September 13 at Sala Placido Domingo (Conjunto Santander de Artes Escénicas) in Zapopan, Jalisco. The 24-year-old designer from Teapa, Tabasco triumphed over 30 other contestants to win the coveted national title. She will represent Mexico at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand this November. Fernanda Vázquez of Nuevo León was named first runner-up while Yoana Gutiérrez of Jalisco, Ana Ramírez of Nayarit, and Alejandra Díaz de León of San Luis Potosí were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark graced the event as special guest while former Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera from Puerto Rico was part of the panel of judges. The new Miss Universe Mexico succeeded last year's winner María Fernanda Beltrán who placed second runner-up at Miss Universe 2024 last November in Mexico City. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram ...
Read more

Miss Universe Portugal 2025 is Camila Vitorino

Image
Former Miss Queen of Portugal Camila Vitorino was crowned Miss Universe Portugal 2025 last Saturday, June 14 in the beautiful and historic city of Elvas. The 26-year-old from São Sebastião, Setúbal made history as the first married woman and mother to become Miss Universe Portugal. Laura Malaquias, Diliana Fernandes, and Ivone Carneiro were announced as the first, second, and third runners-up, respectively. Last year's winner Andreia Correia passed on her crown to her successor at the end of the event. "It is with great honor that I carry this sash on my chest representing all women, all mothers and the Portuguese people. I promise you that I will give my best on behalf of all of Portugal," shared the new Miss Universe Portugal. Camila is no stranger to beauty pageants, having won Miss Queen of Portugal 2019. She was supposed to participate in Miss Earth 2020 but ended up not competing due to professional reasons. She will now prepare to represent Portugal at Miss Univers...
Read more