PAGEANT Circle

Our top choice for the 69th Miss Universe Top Model is the 24-year-old model from Jamaica, Miqueal-Symone Williams. Canada's Nova Stevens and Curacao's Chantal Wiertz came in second and third places, respectively. Photo: Benjamín Askinas / Miss Universe Organization

Our top choice for the 69th Miss Universe Best in Evening Gown is Thailand's Amanda Obdam. The 27-year-old glided with class and poise in her “Fireworks Embellished Two-Piece Gown” by Valentier. Puerto Rico's Estefanía Soto Torres and Dominican Republic's Kimberly Jimenez came in second and third places, respectively. Photo: Benjamín Askinas / Miss Universe Organization

Our top choice for the 69th Miss Universe Best in Swimsuit is the statuesque beauty from Puerto Rico Estefanía Soto Torres. Thailand's Amanda Obdam and Brazil's Julia Gama came in second and third places, respectively. Photo: Benjamín Askinas / Miss Universe Organization

The 69th Miss Universe delegates paraded in their swimsuits and evening gowns during the preliminary competition held on Friday, May 14 in Hollywood, Florida. Their combined scores from the prelims and the crucial closed-door interview round will help determine who will make it to the Top 21 this Sunday. Standouts from the preliminary swimsuit and evening gown include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Venezuela, and Vietnam. The 69th Miss Universe final competition will air live from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Sunday, May 16 at 8 p.m. ET. Voting is still open at missuniverse.com/vote to help your favorite delegate make it into the Top 21. Photo: Miss Universe Organization

The national costume competition of the 69th Miss Universe pageant was held on Thursday, May 13 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Over 70 beauties from around the world dazzled the audience with their colorful costumes. Some ensembles sent powerful messages related to current social issues. Our favorite costumes include Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, and Vietnam. Here are some delegates in their costumes: JAMAICA CANADA UKRAINE BAHAMAS INDONESIA Photos: Benjamin Askinas / Miss Universe Organization

Thuzar Wint Lwin's journey to represent her country Myanmar at the 69th Miss Universe pageant in Hollywood, Florida has not been easy. Despite the odds from her departure to losing her luggage including the national costume she was supposed to wear in the competition, she arrived with a powerful message for the Junta. During the national costume competition held on Thursday, May 13, she showcased another costume that identifies the delicate weaving skills of Burmese women and their strong spirit. At the end of the runway, she raised a banner that read “Pray for Myanmar.” The 22-year-old model from Hakha has been openly using her platform to criticize her country's military coup and support the pro-democracy movement. Photo: Benjamin Askinas / Miss Universe Organization

Former Miss Universe Ximena Navarrete of Mexico has revealed her favorites for the 69th Miss Universe competition. In a post on social media, she shared her bikini photo taken by Albanian-born photographer Fadil Berisha her Top 21 favorites in the caption. The beauty queen-turned-actress and model, who was crowned Miss Universe 2010 in Las Vegas, reminded everyone to never take her list of favorites personally because it's just her opinion and that "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder." "The Miss Universe organization always looks for a complete woman in every way and although it is a beauty contest, the most beautiful is always carried in the soul and that is something that the jury is also in charge of looking for in all the candidates, if you are as observant as I am, you will notice that the beauty of the soul in some cases also penetrates the photos and videos" she added. On top of her list is her fellow Mexican Andrea Meza whom she wished well and descri