Miss Universe 2023 preliminary competition standouts


The 72nd Miss Universe preliminary competition took place last night at the Gimnasio Nacional José Adolfo Pineda in San Salvador, El Salvador.

More than 80 contestants from around the world dazzled in their Clarisse Designs opening dresses, swimsuits by Rubin Singer, footwear by Jojo Bragais, and their choice of evening gowns.

Hosted by reigning Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel and former Miss Universe El Salvador Vanessa Velásquez, last night's spectacular show is considered the most inclusive in the 72-year history of Miss Universe.

There were two mothers (Colombia and Guatemala), two transgender women (Netherlands and Portugal), and one plus-sized (Nepal).

Also, two contestants (Bahrain and Pakistan) walked on stage during the swimsuit competition wearing a burkini, a swimsuit marketed toward Muslim women.

The preliminary competition will help the distinguished selection committee decide who will make it to the Miss Universe 2023 Top 20 in the upcoming final this Saturday, November 18.

Here are the Top 30 standouts from the crucial event:

(in alphabetical order)

Albania - Endi Demneri

Australia - Moraya Wilson

Bolivia - Estefany Rivero

Cameroon - Issie Princesse

Colombia - Camila Avella

Costa Rica - Lisbeth Valverde

Curacao - Kim Rossen

Denmark - Nikoline Uhrenholt Hansen

Ecuador - Delary Stoffers

Egypt - Mohra Tantawy

El Salvador - Isabella García-Manzo

Great Britain - Jessica Page

India - Shweta Sharda

Italy - Carmen Panepinto

Laos - Phaimany Lathsabanthao

Mexico - Melissa Flores

Namibia - Jameela Uiras

Nicaragua - Sheynis Palacios

Pakistan - Erica Robin

Paraguay - Elicena Andrada

Philippines - Michelle Dee

Portugal - Marina Machete

Puerto Rico - Karla Guilfú Acevedo

Russia - Margarita Golubeva

South Africa - Bryoni Govender

Spain - Athenea Pérez

Thailand - Anntonia Porsild

Trinidad and Tobago - Faith Gillezeau

USA - Noelia Voigt

Venezuela - Diana Silva

Photos: Miss Universe Organization

RELATED POSTS:


Popular posts from this blog

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

Amazonas' Ileana Marquez Pedroza — first mother to compete in Miss Venezuela

Image
The Miss Venezuela 2023 competition is currently taking place in Caracas where 25 of Venezuela's most beautiful women are vying for the coveted title. One of the most talked about contestants is Ileana Marquez Pedroza, the representative of the state of Amazonas. The 27-year-old model and TV host is the first ever mother to compete in the national pageant's 70-year history. If she wins the competition, she will not only be the first mother to hold the title but also the first one to represent Venezuela at Miss Universe. The Miss Venezuela organization followed Miss Universe's new rules of accepting contestants who are mothers as well as married and divorced women to be more inclusive. "Being a mother in my youth changed me as a person by having to face a society in which I did not fit into its standards, however in a positive way I matured, studied, worked, and moved forward," Ileana said in her bio for Miss Venezuela. "Today I feel proud to be the mother of
Read more

Miss America 2024: Meet the contestants

Image
Miss America 2024 will be the 96th edition of the Miss America pageant — the nation's leading provider of scholarships for young women. While the official date and venue of the national final have not yet been announced, all 51 state representatives have already been crowned. Apart from raising the age limits to between 18 and 28, the 2024 competition under the new CEO Robin Ross-Fleming will also see other changes. For the first time since scrapping the swimsuit competition in 2018, there will be a segment that focuses on health and fitness. The CEO clarified, the contestants will not be judged based on their physical appearance. "There is NO SCORE given on appearance, the health & fitness segment is to bring awareness to women's health issues and give a platform to women to inspire and inform all women on best health practices." Those without a performing arts background will have the option of presenting a speech as their talent. Who will succeed Miss America 2
Read more

Miss Earth 2023 competition kicks off, contestants officially sashed

Image
The contestants vying for Miss Earth 2023 officially received their green sashes on Friday, December 1 with the presence of Miss Earth executive Peachy Veneracion and Miss Earth Vietnam's national director Truong Ngoc Anh. Around 80 eco beauties from the world have already arrived in the host country. Their sashing ceremony took place at Wink Hotels, their official residence hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Aside from meeting their fellow contestants in person and receiving their iconic sashes, their first week of activities also consists of social media interviews, fittings, rehearsals for the HCMC Tourism Week opening, and preliminary for the talent competition. Miss Earth organizers have released an updated schedule of events with several changes including the final venue from Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) to Van Phuc City. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Earth (@missearth) The first major event will happen this Sunday,
Read more

Mister Global 2023 is Jason Dylan Bretfelean from India

Image
Jason Dylan Bretfelean was proclaimed Mister Global 2023 during the 9th Mister Global edition held on Sunday, November 26 in Mahasarakham, Thailand. The 19-year-old business administration student, athlete, and model bested over 30 other competitors to win the international title. He became the first-ever Mister Global winner from India. Hong Kong's Oliver Cheung was named first runner-up while the contestants from Chile, Álvaro Flores Carvajal, Taiwan, Kevin Davalos Tai, and Vietnam, Le Huu Dat were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. The Top 10 were Ruddy Alexander Taveras of the Dominican Republic, Bruno Barbieri of Ecuador, Jeung Yoon Lim of Korea, José Carlos Novelo of Mexico, and Jonathan Albert Lambert of South Africa. Rounding out the Top 15 were Myanmar, Ye Thway Thiha, Nigeria, Shuaib Oluwaseyifunmi Araga, Panama, Raúl Pinto, Philippines, John Ernest Tanting, and Switzerland, Marcel Ignacio Riera. The new Mister Global succeeds last year's winner 
Read more

Miss Earth 2023 schedule of events and activities

Image
Miss Earth 2023, the 23rd Miss Earth pageant, is about to kick off in Vietnam. This year's event will be the second edition held in the country. Around 90 beauties from around the planet are expected to arrive in Ho Chi Minh City this week for the competition. Here is the schedule of events released by the Miss Earth organization: November 28 - Arrival of Delegates in Ho Chi Minh City November 29 - Arrivals, Social Media Interview November 30  - Shoot at Wink Hotels December 1 - Fittings December 2 - Rehearsal for the HCMC Tourism Week Opening December 3 - "Xin Chao Miss Earth 2023 in Vietnam" Event December 4 - Opening Ceremony of the HCMC Tourism Week December 5-6  - Photoshoot December 7  - EcoTourism Advocacy Activities December 9  - University Tour December 10  - Closing Ceremony of the HCMC Tourism Week December 11  - Vietnamese Cooking Class December 12  - Talent Competition December 13-14  - Rehearsals for the Preliminary Competition December 15 - Eco Activ
Read more

Mrs. American 2023 is Hannah Neeleman of South Dakota

Image
Mrs. South Dakota American Hannah Neeleman was crowned Mrs. American 2023 in a glittering competition held on Friday, August 25 at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino in Nevada. The 33-year-old rancher and entrepreneur bested over 40 other competitors to win the national title. She succeeds last year's titleholder Krisdee Clark of South Carolina and is now expected to compete next in the Mrs. World 2023 pageant. Mandy Fave of Minnesota and Jayme Perryman of Idaho were the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Sharelle Mendenhall of Nevada, Katheryn Clatterbaugh of North Carolina, and AnnMarie Gutierrez of Texas rounded out the Top 6 finalists. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin were the rest of the Top 15 semifinalists. The new Mrs. American is a Juilliard School graduate ballerina and a former Miss New York City. She is a mother of seven and owns Ballerina Farm with her husband in the mountain valley of Kamas,
Read more

Miss Universe 2023: Here's where to watch final show telecast, livestream

Image
The Miss Universe Organization has officially released all the streaming information to watch the much-awaited final competition of the 72nd Miss Universe pageant. Tonight's show happening in El Salvador from 7 p.m. CT (local time) will be streamed on The Roku Channel and broadcast by Telemundo within the United States. For audiences from the rest of the world, you can watch the Miss Universe 2023 final on your local channels. Live streaming will also be available on the official YouTube channel of Miss Universe. Check out the list below to find out where you can watch in your country: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe (@missuniverse) Andorra - PARIS PREMIERE Angola - BANDA TV Anguilla - NBCU Anntigua and Barbuda - NBCU, RUSH Argentina - NBCU Aruba - NBCU, RUSH Bahamas - NBCU Bangladesh - YOUTUBE Barbados - NBCU, RUSH Belize - NBCU, RUSH Benin - NWTV Bermuda - NBCU, RUSH Bhutan - YOUTUBE Bolivia - RED UNO, NBCU Bonaire - NBCU, RUSH Bot
Read more

Colombia's Natalia Rodriguez crowned Miss Sea Beauty International 2023

Image
A 17-year-old student representing Colombia, Natalia Rodriguez Cabarcas bested 11 other competitors to be crowned Miss Sea Beauty International 2023. Carla Mateo of the Dominican Republic was named first runner-up. She was also awarded Miss Silhouette, Miss Internet, and Best National Costume. Aurys Mazenett of Venezuela finished as the second runner-up and bagged the Best Catwalk and Evening Gown awards. Miss Malambo, Amy Luz Barranco, won the titles of Miss Talent and Miss Photogenic. The new Miss Sea Beauty International succeeds last year's winner Nathaly Carrasquero of Margarita Island. This year's event was held from November 22 to 26 and was the second edition of the annual pageant. Next year's competition will again be hosted in Barranquilla. Photo: Peter Ponce / Miss Sea Beauty International
Read more

Miss Nicaragua 2023 is Sheynnis Palacios

Image
Sheynnis Palacios was crowned Miss Nicaragua 2023 (Miss Universe Nicaragua 2023) on Saturday, August 5 at Centro de Convenciones del Hotel Crowne Plaza in Managua. The 23-year-old communications graduate and television host representing Diriamba bested 9 other competitors to win the national title. She succeeds Norma Huembes Salazar and will now represent Nicaragua at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador. Daysi Velásquez of Santa Lucía was named first runner-up while Isabella Salgado of Chinandega, Chantal Urbina of Granada, and Waymara Antonio of Puerto Cabezas were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Aside from winning the title, the new Miss Nicaragua also bagged several awards including Miss Solenti, Miss Beauty Shipping, Miss Agua Cielo, Miss Flawless Beauty, Miss Styling Baby Liss Pro, and Mujer Abundante. No stranger to pageantry, Sheynnis previously held the titles Miss Teen Nicaragua 2016 and Miss Mundo Nicaragua 2020 (Miss World Nicaragua). Last year, she wen
Read more