PAGEANT Circle

Miss Florida, Sophia Acosta, bested 16 other contestants to win the title of Miss Supranational USA 2021 in a national competition held last June 19 in Rosemont, Illinois. The runners-up were Felicity Véliz, Natalie Iman Duvalsaint, Devon Caleyy and Alexis Orozco. Sophia is expected to represent the United States at the Miss Supranational 2022 pageant to be held in Poland. "I have no words to express how blessed and honored I feel after being crowned Miss Supranational USA. It has been a long journey of hard work, dedication, and determination. I have been preparing for this moment for years," she said. At the end of the event, Miss Supranational USA 2019 Regina Gray of Milwaukee, Wisconsin graciously crowned the new winner. Photo: Miss Supranational USA

A 24-year-old beauty of Indian descent from North Carolina, Shivali Patel, was officially announced as the new Miss Supranational USA 2020 on Tuesday, June 15. The e-commerce executive and author assumed the national title after Madeleine Overby made the difficult decision to step down and relinquish her duties. Shivali is no stranger to pageantry as she has previously joined the Miss World America pageant twice and placed as runner-up. She will now prepare to compete for the coveted title of Miss Supranational 2021 this August in Nowy Sacz, Malopolska, Poland. "When I was five years old, my mum and dad thought it would be a wonderful bonding experience to compete in a pageant. Little did I know that nearly twenty years later, I would go on to owe a great deal of the woman I would become today to that same incredible world," she posted on social media. Photo: King Aaron Photography

Thailand's representatives for the Miss and Mister Supranational 2021 have been officially announced. A 26-year-old public relations and image management graduate of Bangkok University, Benjarat Akkarawanichsil Aebi, was named Miss Supranational Thailand 2021. She succeeds Anntonia Porsild, who is currently the reigning Miss Supranational. The Mister Supranational Thailand 2021 title was designated to Nipun Kaewruan. He is a 19-year-old athlete and aerospace engineering student at Kasetsart University. Benjarat and Nipun will represent "The Land of Smiles" at the Miss and Mister Supranational 2021 final this August in Nowy Sacz, Poland. Photos: Supranational Thailand / Instagram

Solange Hermoza Rivera was officially named Miss Supranational Peru 2021 last Thursday, May 27. The 26-year-old actress from La Libertad holds a bachelor's degree in business engineering. She was first runner-up during Miss Peru 2020 national competition. Also announced by Miss Peru Organization on its official social media platforms was Mister Supranational Peru 2021 Varo Vargas. Solange and Varo will represent Peru at the Miss Supranational and Mister Supranational 2021 competitions, respectively, in Poland this August. "I could not have a better partner for this great adventure that is coming to us, I am convinced that we will be a wonderful duo, ambassadors of Peru who will give soul, heart, and life in the competition," Solange shared online. Photos: Segura & Vilela / Organización Miss Perú

For the first time in history, the Miss South Africa pageant is now open for transgender women to participate. According to the Miss South Africa organization, interested applicants need to have a valid South African ID document that shows "female" as their amended sex in order to be eligible to compete. South Africa has been blazing a trail in a continent where many countries still consider homosexuality taboo. The rainbow nation was the fifth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. Out of the 54 states recognized by the United Nations or African Union or both, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association stated in 2015 that homosexuality is outlawed in 34 African countries. Spain's Angela Ponce became the first-ever transgender woman to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. Since then, several other national pageants that traditionally only accept naturally born female changed their rules. Photo: Miss South Africa / Facebook

Valentina Sánchez was crowned Miss Supranational Venezuela 2021 in a special competition aired by Globovisión on Thursday, May 27. The 25-year-old radio and TV producer, and international business specialist bested four other finalists to win the national title. Elizabeth Gasiba was named first runner-up while Verónica Dugarte finished as second runner-up. Dreissmar Soto and Nathaly Flores were the third and fourth runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Supranational Venezuela is no stranger to pageantry as she won Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2014, placed second runner-up at Miss New Jersey USA 2020, and Top 5 finalist at Miss Venezuela 2020 pageant representing Nueva Esparta. Valentina succeded Gabriela De La Cruz and will now prepare to represent her country Venezuela at the Miss Supranational 2021 pageant in Nowy Sacz, Poland this August. Photos: Guzman Alberto Salcedo Mora

Miss South Africa organizers have announced that applications are now officially open for Miss South Africa 2021 competition. For interested applicants, you may submit your entries until midnight of June 24 and here are the easy steps to follow on how to apply: 1. Complete a few questions via online entry form. 2. Submit 2 photographs in colour (1x head & shoulders & 1 x full body). 3. Post your introduction video on social media to complete your entry. Tell who you are and why you should be #MissSA2021? 4. After you posted your 45 seconds video on Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter, copy and paste your video post link in your online entry form. 5. Ensure to use #MissSA2021 in your video post and tag @official_misssa. The winners of Miss South Africa 2021 will have the opportunity to represent the rainbow nation at Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Supranational pageants. You can follow Miss South Africa on its official social media pages or visit its  official website for mo