New Zealand's franchise for Miss Universe dropped by Yugen PR


Dubai-based Yugen PR no longer holds the franchise for Miss Universe New Zealand 2024 according to an official statement released online today.

The statement said: "As a result of our team's non-compliance with a specific order from the Miss Universe Organization, we have decided to cancel the franchise held by Yugen PR for Miss Universe New Zealand for 2024."

Kiwi-Filipina actress Franki Russell was initially named as New Zealand's representative for the Miss Universe 2024 pageant, but now her national title has been taken off her official social media bio.

Because of this unexpected twist, it's still uncertain if New Zealand will be represented at the 73rd Miss Universe to be held in Mexico this November.

New Zealand was expected to return to the international pageant after 4 years. Its last participation was in 2019 with Diamond Langi.

Photo: Miss Universe New Zealand

Popular posts from this blog

Meet the winners of Miss Turkey 2025

Image
The glittering Miss Turkey 2025 national competition was held last December 19 at the Lazzoni Hotel in Istanbul. A total of 20 stunning finalists were chosen to compete for the national titles that were at stake — Miss Turkey World and Miss Turkey Supranational. Sıla Saraydemir, a 22-year-old student, was crowned Miss Turkey World 2025. She is expected to represent Turkey at the 73rd Miss World competition whose date and venue have yet to be announced. The new Miss Turkey World received her crown and sash from former titleholder, Miss Turkey World 1995 Demet Şener. Last year's winner Idil Bilgen was unable to attend the show and pass the crown to her successor because she is currently abroad for her studies. "Today I received not a crown, but a responsibility. Winning Miss Turkey is a shared story of women who believe in their dreams, aren't afraid to make their voices heard, and empower each other," Sıla shared online after the competition. "I thank everyone who...
Read more

From Graduation Gown to the Galaxy Crown: Progress With Purpose

Image
Graduating from Loughborough University with a Distinction in her MBA and receiving the Top Student Prize, Aishwarya Ashvinikumar (popularly known as Ash) is set to make her debut in the pageant industry as a finalist in the UK Galaxy Pageant 2025/26.  Building on the insights from her dissertation, which sparked her passion for advocating gender equality in the workplace, Ash is now focused on using the UK Galaxy platform to raise awareness of ongoing gender-based discrimination in professional environments. Under the guidance of Professor Ian R. Hodgkinson, Ash achieved a Distinction (84/100) for her research dissertation, in which she developed a practical framework to help organisations close gender-based gaps, empower women to overcome workplace barriers, and foster inclusive, productive cultures.  Ash feels immensely grateful and privileged to have collaborated with Professor Ian R. Hodgkinson from Loughborough University, a multidisciplinary scholar at the forefront of ...
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 World Estonia 2022 is Adriana Mass from Pärnu

Image
Miss World Estonia 2022 final gala event took place on Sunday, August 14 at the Hilton Park Hotel in Tallinn. The winner, Adriana Mass, is a 21-year-old violinist and student from Pärnu. She studied violin at the Tallinn Music School and currently pursuing social work and rehabilitation management at the University of Tartu. Also crowned in the event were Miss Intercontinental Estonia 2022 Annika Vendla, Miss Eco Estonia 2023 Carmen Marjette, Top Model of the World Estonia 2023 Eliise Randmaa, and Teen Face of Beauty Estonia 2022 Valeria Semenjuk. They will be sent to Miss Intercontinental, Miss Eco International, Top Model of the World, and Face of Beauty International competitions. The new Miss World Estonia will go to the 71st Miss World pageant, whose date and venue are yet to be announced. "I still can't believe that I won the Miss World Estonia title. It really was a magical night with Mart Sander singing his jubilee album and a former supermodel Eha Urbsalu hosting the ...
Read more

LIVE UPDATES: Miss Universe Thailand 2023 Final Competition Results

Image
The Miss Universe Thailand 2023 final competition is taking place tonight at MCC Hall, The Mall Lifestore Ngamwongwan in Nonthaburi. One of the 53 contestants vying for the coveted title will walk away with an opportunity to represent Thailand at Miss Universe 2023 this November in El Salvador. Hosted by DJ and media personality, the spectacular show is streaming live on the official Miss Universe and TPNG YouTube channels. A distinguished selection committee who will have the most difficult task of selecting the winner includes former titleholders Miss Universe Thailand 2017 Maria Poonlertlarp (Miss Universe 2017 Top 5 finalist) and  Miss Universe Thailand 2021  Anchilee Scott-Kemmis, and Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi. Who will be the next Miss Universe Thailand? View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Thailand (@missuniverse.in.th) --- FINAL RESULTS --- TOP 20 14 MUT Uttaradit - Worawalan Phutklang 23 MUT Khon Kaen -...
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

Miss Universe Iceland 2025 is Helena Hafþórsdóttir O'Connor

Image
Helena Hafþórsdóttir O'Connor was crowned Ungfrú Ísland 2025 (Miss Universe Iceland) on Thursday, April 3 at Gamla Bíó in Reykjavik. The 20-year-old beauty from Viðey bested 19 other contestants to win the national title. Guðrún Eva Hauksdóttir, Kamilla Guðrún Lowen, Kristín Anna Jónasdóttir, and Dimmey Rós were the first, second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. "I’m beyond honored and grateful to be crowned Miss Universe Iceland, Ungfrú Ísland," Helena shared online. "This journey has been filled with challenges, growth, and unforgettable moments—and I want to say from the bottom of my heart: thank you," she added. No stranger to pageantry, the new Miss Universe Iceland was named last year's Miss Supranational Iceland. She went to Poland for Miss Supranational 2024 and made the Top 25. Helena succeeds last year's winner Sóldís Vala Ívarsdóttir and will now prepare to represent Iceland at Miss Universe 2025 to be held in Thailand this Novemb...
Read more

Miss Earth USA 2026 is Gia Soleil Espinoza from Texas

Image
Gia Soleil Espinoza of Texas was crowned Miss Earth USA 2026 in a national competition held on Saturday, January 3 at Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida. The 20-year-old criminal justice major and third-generation business owner from El Paso succeeds last year's winner Haley Poe. She will represent the USA at Miss Earth 2026 later this year. April Rodriguez of Lone Star State was named Miss Earth USA Air, while Angel Marie Strong of West Coast, Alanna Lynch of West Virginia, and Autumn Fisher of Kentucky were announced Miss Earth USA Water, Fire, and Eco, respectively. For the teen division, talented young model Mia Navarro, also from El Paso, clinched the title of Teen Miss Earth USA 2026. She was crowned by her predecessor Jordyn Campion. The new Miss Earth USA is also passionate advocate for animals. She co-founded Cars & Canines, a community-focused initiative that promotes adoption, sustainability, and meaningful connections. Having recently been accepted into the El Paso Po...
Read more

Miss Cosmo 2025 is Yolina Lindquist from the USA

Image
Miss Cosmo USA Yolina Lindquist beat 70 other contestants to win the Miss Cosmo 2025 pageant on Saturday, December 20 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The 22-year-old from Illinois was crowned by her predecessor Ketut Permata Juliastrid from Indonesia. She became the first ever American woman to hold the international beauty title. Chelsea Fernandez of the Philippines finished as runner-up while Gabriela Borges of Brazil, Myint Myat Moe of Myanmar, and Italy Mora of Panama were the rest of the Top 5 finalists. Completing the Top 10 were the contestants from Colombia, Dayana Cárdenas, Cuba, Amys Nápoles Ochoa, Thailand, Chotnapa Kaewjarun, Vietnam, Hoang Phuong Linh Nguyen, and Zimbabwe, Lisa Sibanda. Beauties from Cambodia, Sreypii Phorn, Dominican Republic, Delisa Francisco, Ecuador, Alexandra Mina, Germany, Chloé Ëlyse, Greece, Ioanna Sarantopoulou, India, Vipra Mehta, Indonesia, Salma Ranggita, Laos, Christina Lasasimma, Mexico, Angela Yuriar, New Zealand, Katharina Weischede, and ...
Read more

Miss Earth 2022 is Mina Sue Choi, first winner from Korea

Image
Mina Sue Choi of Korea bested over 80 other competitors to win Miss Earth 2022 in a glittering competition held on Tuesday, November 29 at Cove Manila, Okada Manila in the Philippines. The 24-year-old communication student succeeded Destiny Wagner of Belize and became her country's first-ever Miss Earth winner. She also bagged three gold medals for the swimsuit, beach wear, and long gown competition, and one bronze for resort wear. Australia's Sheridan Mortlock, Palestine's Nadeen Ayoub, and Colombia's Andrea Aguilera finished in the Top 4 and were awarded the elemental titles Miss Earth - Air, Water, and Fire, respectively. The Top 8 were Daphné Nivelles of Belgium, Merel Hendriksen of the Netherlands, Paulina Avilés of Puerto Rico, and Sakhile Dube of Zimbabwe while Jéssica Pedroso of Brazil, Sheyla Ravelo of Cuba, Esther Ajayi of Nigeria and Maria Rosado of Portugal were the rest of the Top 12. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Ear...
Read more