PAGEANT Circle

Naa Morkor Commodore has been officially crowned Miss Universe Ghana 2021 in a special ceremony held on October 13, Wednesday at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra. The 26-year-old model and gifted dancer from Prampram in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana succeeded Chelsea Tayui and will now prepare to represent her country at the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel in December. "Yesterday marked the beginning of a new journey for another daughter of our motherland. Finally, the crown has been passed on to another young Ghanaian woman. She will be the new leader to all she serves and a role model to many young girls across the length and breadth of this nation. She will be carrying the mantle of our beloved nation," Miss Universe Ghana organizers shared on social media. The newly appointed Miss Universe Ghana is no stranger to pageantry as she placed second runner-up while competing at Miss Intercontinental 2016 and also clinched the runner-up placement during the Miss U

For the first time in history, Dubai is set to host the first-ever Miss Universe United Arab Emirates pageant, the Miss Universe Organization and Yugen Events announced on Thursday, October 7 at the Armani Ristorante in Burj Khalifa. The applications and casting for Miss Universe UAE will begin from October 7 through online registration at missuniverseuae.com. All UAE residents between the ages of 18 and 28 can register. All selected applicants will be called for a personal casting call on October 15 at Al Habtoor Palace Hotel. Only 30 applicants, announced on October 20, will advance to the live show. The historical Miss Universe UAE final event will be held on November 7 at La Perle in Al Habtoor City, Dubai Miss Universe UAE 2021 official winner will represent the UAE at the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel this December. Photo: Miss Universe UAE / Facebook

Miss New Providence, Chantel O’Brian, was crowned Miss Bahamas Universe 2021 in a national competition held last Sunday, October 3 in Nassau. The 27-year-old entrepreneur who holds a bachelor's degree in business enterprise bested three other finalists to win her national title. She succeeds Shauntae Miller and will now prepare to represent the Bahamas at the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel this December. Chantel is no stranger to pageantry as she previously held the title of Miss World Bahamas and went on to represent her country at the Miss World 2015 pageant in Sanya, China. The new Miss Universe Bahamas founded P.S. O’Brian Consulting, a company based in Nassau that offers pageant, runway, and etiquette coaching. Photo: CJermaine Photography

The Top 18 semifinalists of Miss Universe Nepal 2021 have been officially announced on Sunday, October 10. From the Top 50, only 18 beauties were selected for the close camp & grand final following their commendable scores from the average in swimsuit walk, live interview, and voting. The Top 18 semifinalists are Anuska Adhikari, Pratikshya Mahara Chhetri, Bristi Acharya, Arya Nishaant, Sadiksha Khadka, Anisha Poudel, Smarika Karki, Swikriti Khadka, Mandira Karki, Nina Kant Mandal, Bibhuti Gautam, Sagarika Malla, Sujita Basnet, Smita Neupane, Sagun Gurung, Keshu Khadka, Pritima Panthi, and Rakchya Upreti. Miss Universe Nepal 2021 final will be held this October 30. The winner will represent her country at the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel this December. Photo: Miss Universe Nepal Official

The 70th Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2021) pageant will air live on FOX and Telemundo from Eilat, Israel in December. Miss Universe Mexico 2021 Debora Hallal is a 24-year-old beauty who hails from Los Mochis. She holds a degree in business administration. Miss Universe Venezuela 2021 Luiseth Materán was a Miranda representative who placed in the Top 5 during Miss Venezuela 2020. The 24-year-old social communication graduate is a model and actress. Who is your favorite? Let us know in the comment down below. Photos: Emmanuel Laureano / Mexicana Universal, Daniel Alonso / Miss Venezuela Oficial

Caterina Di Fuccia was crowned Miss Universe Italy 2021 during a national competition held in Rome last Sunday, September 26. The 24-year-old teacher and runway coach from Marcianise is no stranger to pageantry as she was Top 16 at Miss Mondo Italia 2016 and Top 10 at Miss Italia 2019. Caterina succeeds Viviana Vizzini and will now prepare to represent her country at the 70th Miss Universe pageant to be held in Eilat, Israel in December. Photos: Miss Universe Italy

Elísa Gróa Steinþórsdóttir was crowned Miss Universe Iceland 2021 in a glittering national competition held at the historic Gamla Bíó in Reykjavik on Wednesday, September 29. The 27-year-old dancer who hails from Gardabaer succeeds Elísabet Hulda Snorradóttir and will now prepare to represent Iceland at the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel this December. Íris Freyja Salguero  Kristinardottir, who placed second, was named Miss Supranational Iceland 2021. The 22-year-old will be sent to the Miss Supranational competition next year in Poland. Photos: Miss Universe Iceland

Loíza representative, Michelle Colón, was crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2021 in a glittering competition held on Thursday, September 30 in San Juan. The 21-year-old model and pre-medicine student who created the CARE Empowerment Program succeeds Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2020 and Miss Universe Top 10 finalist, Estefanía Soto. San Lorenzo’s Jaylene Marie Álvarez and Dorado’s Oxana Isabel Rivera were respectively named the first and second runners-up while Toa Baja’s Heilymar Rosario, Trujillo Alto’s Sthephanie Marie Miranda, and Villalba’s Gabriela Guzmán completed the Top 6. Michelle will now prepare to represent Puerto Rico at the 70th Miss Universe pageant to be held in Eilat, Israel this December. Photos: Miss Universe Puerto Rico

Chandigarh's Harnaaz Sandhu was crowned Miss Diva Universe 2021 in a glittering event held at Famous Studio in Mumbai on Thursday, September 30. The 21-year-old beauty succeeds last year's winner and Miss Universe 2020 third runner-up, Adline Castelino. Pune’s Ritika Khatnani clinched the Miss Diva Supranational 2021 title and Jaipur’s Sonal Kukreja was named Miss Diva first runner-up. Harnaaz will represent India at the 70th Miss Universe competition to be held in Eilat, Israel this December while Ritika will be sent to the next Miss Supranational pageant. Catch the grand finale episode of LIVA Miss Diva 2021 Co-powered by MX TakaTak & Kailon on Saturday, October 16 at 7 p.m. (India time) on MTV. Photos: Rohan Tulpule / Miss Diva

Beatrice Luigi Gomez, representing Cebu City, bested 27 other beauties to be crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2021 in a national competition held on Thursday, September 30 at the Henann Resort Convention Center at Alona Beach in Panglao, Bohol. The 26-year-old model and athlete succeeds last year's winner, Rabiya Mateo. She will now prepare to represent the Philippines at the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel this December. Katrina Dimaranan of Taguig City was named Miss Universe Philippines - Tourism and Victoria Velasquez Vincent clinched the Miss Universe Philippines - Charity title. Pangasinan's Maureen Christa Wroblewitz and Cebu Province's Steffi Rose Aberasturi were the first and second runners-up, respectively. Photo: Miss Universe Philippines

Miss Armenia 2021 national competition was held last Tuesday, September 21 in Yerevan where the Armenian representatives for this year's Miss Universe and Miss World pageants have been crowned. A 24-year-old lawyer from Yerevan, Nane Avetisyan, was named Miss Universe Armenia 2021. She will be sent to the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel this December. Mirna Bzdigian won the title of Miss World Armenia 2021. The 19-year-old student and professional swimmer will represent her country at the 70th Miss World pageant to be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico also in December. Photos: Miss Armenia

Juri Watanabe was crowned Miss Universe Japan 2021 in a national competition held in Tokyo last Wednesday, September 22. The 25-year-old beauty bested over 30 other contestants to win her title and succeed Aisha Harumi Tochigi. She will represent Japan at the 70th Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2021) pageant in Eilat, Israel this December. Juri holds a bachelor’s degree in development economics and international development from the University of California. She is no stranger to pageantry as she won Miss Asia USA 2016 and a Top 10 finalist during Miss World Japan 2019. Photo: Miss Universe Japan

Xaria Penn was named Miss Universe British Virgin Islands 2021 in a national competition held on Saturday, September 25. The 18-year-old and six-feet tall beauty from Tortola succeeds Bria Smith and will represent the British overseas territory at the Miss Universe 2021 pageant to be held in Eilat, Israel this December. Lia Claxton and Kasaddi Chalwell completed the Top 3 finalists. Photos: Miss Universe British Virgin Islands

Susy Sacoto, the representative of Portoviejo (Manabí), was crowned Miss Ecuador Universo 2021 in a national competition held on Saturday, September 11 in Quevedo, Los Ríos. The 24-year-old lawyer and medicine student succeeds last year's winner, Leyla Espinoza. She will represent Ecuador at the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel this December. Valeria Gutiérrez, the representative of the Ecuadorian community in the United States, was the first runner-up and received the title of Miss Ecuador International 2021. She will go to the Miss International pageant in Japan. Runners-up Karla Romero, Génesis Guerrero, Valeri Carabalí will be sent to Miss Charm, Reina Hispanoamerican and Miss Supranational competitions, respectively. Sofia Jiménez Thompson and Melane Rubio completed the Top 7 finalists. Photos: Miss Ecuador

Miss Coquimbo, Antonia Figueroa, was crowned Miss Universo Chile 2021 (Miss Universe Chile) in a national competition held in San Fernando on Saturday, September 11. The 26-year-old "MasterChef" finalist and professional model is a civil environment engineer, taekwondo champion, and former professional violinist of the municipal theater in her region. She is also the president of an NGO called “Voluntarios por la Infancia” (Volunteers for Children) that helps children and adolescents at SENAME. She fluently speaks English, German and Portuguese. Miss Los Ángeles, Daniela Riquelme, and Miss San Fernando, Maria José Norambuena, were named Miss World Peace Chile and Miss Tourism Global Chile 2021, respectively. Miss Iquique, Daniella Morgado, Miss Valparaiso, Bárbara Pacheco, Miss La Serena, Amanda Fidalgo, Miss Temuco, Angela Aguila, and Miss La Reina, Amanda Fidalgo completed the Top 7 finalists. The new Miss Universe Chile bested 14 other finalists to win her beauty title. Sh

Nadia Ferreira was officially announced by the Promociones Gloria organization as Miss Universo Paraguay 2021 last August 31. The 22-year-old stunning model and student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business engineering from Villarica succeeds last year's titleholder, Vanessa Castro. "This is a dream come true. I will officially be Paraguay to the eyes of the universe. I can’t help but feel so much happiness and joy for this great honor and for the support, I’m already receiving from a whole country, my country," she shared on social medial. The new Miss Universe Paraguay will represent her country at the 70th Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2021) pageant to be held in Eilat, Israel this December. Photo: Promociones Gloria

Miss Turkey 2021 has crowned its official representatives for the next Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss Supranational pageants on Wednesday, September 8 in Istanbul. Dilara Korkmaz, 23, Cemrenaz Turhan, 23, and Şira Sahilli, 21, were announced as Miss Turkey World 2021, Miss Turkey Universe 2021, and Miss Turkey Supranational 2021, respectively. Su Bige Korucu was named Miss Farmasi Turkey. While master's student Dilara will go on to represent Turkey at Miss World 2021 pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico, engineering student Cemrenaz will travel to Eilat, Israel for Miss Universe 2021. Industrial engineering student Şira will go to Miss Supranational 2022 in Poland next year. Photos: Miss Turkey

Julia Sinning was crowned Miss Nederland 2021 in a glittering national competition held at Studio 21 in Hilversum on Sunday, August 29. The 24-year-old student from Amsterdam is training at a drama school (faaam Film Actors Academy) and currently part of "The Bachelor." Besides winning her national title, she also took home the Miss Congeniality award. Julia succeeds last year's winner, Denise Speelman, and will now prepare to represent the Netherlands at the 70th Miss Universe pageant to be held in Eilat, Israel later this year. Photo: Ferieke Berendsen / Miss Nederland

Carmina Elena Olimpia Coftas was crowned Miss Universe Romania 2021 in a national competition held in Bucharest on Saturday, August 28. The 20-year-old history student and model from Cluj-Napoca was born and raised in Târgu Mureș. Working as a television and radio producer since the beginning of this year, she interviewed well-known doctors to advocate the importance of healthcare through social media. Julia Tisza and Vivien Bungardean were the first and second runners-up respectively while Delia Bulgaru and Emma Trache completed the Top 5 finalists. Carmina succeeds last year's titleholder Bianca Tirsin and will represent her country Romania at the 70th Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2021) pageant in Eilat, Israel later this year. "I am very excited and deeply honored to be part of the Miss Universe Romania family and I can't wait to all of you there," she said. Photos: Miss Universe Romania

Miss Universe Malaysia Organization (MUMO) released an official statement on Tuesday, August 17 in regard to Malaysia's non-participation at the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel this December. "Unfortunately, due to the worsening COVID-19 situation, which has resulted in limited international and domestic travel, we have been unable to hold our local Miss Universe Malaysia 2021 pageant," the MUMO said. "We have therefore declined the invitation to this year's pageant and regretfully would not be able to hold a local Miss Universe Malaysia pageant this year." The national organization has yet to announce when the next Miss Universe Malaysia pageant will take place. Photo: Miss Universe Organization