PAGEANT Circle

Stephany Andujar was crowned Miss Universe US Virgin Islands 2024 last Sunday, August 18 at the Antilles Mark C. Marin Center in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. The 28-year-old esthetician from St. Thomas will represent the United States Virgin Islands at the 73rd Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2024) in Mexico this November. "This is such an emotional, challenging, and humbling experience to be allowed to represent the United States Virgin Islands on an international scale," she wrote online. "Being that this was my first pageant ever, I am so in shock, but I would have never accomplished this alone, my team, my coaches, my family, my friends are the reason this moment came to pass," she added. The United States Virgin Islands last joined the Miss Universe pageant in 2019 with Andrea Piecuch. Since its debut in 1961, the Caribbean islands' highest placement at Miss Universe was achieved in 1971 when Cherrie Raphaelia Creque made the Top 12. Meet the new Miss Univers...

Miss San Pedro Sula, Stephanie Cam, was crowned Miss Universe Honduras 2024 on Thursday, August 22 at the Centro de Convenciones Copantl. The 31-year-old beauty of Honduran descent from Queens, New York, bested 17 other finalists to win the national title. She made history as the first-ever mother and the oldest woman to become Miss Universe Honduras. Miss Olancho, Daris Isaguirre and Miss Tegucigalpa, Krista Sansur were the first and second runners-up, respectively. The representatives of Colon, Lisbeth Ortiz, and Copan, Jennifer Fabiola Rivera rounded out the Top 5 finalists. The new Miss Universe Honduras succeeds last year's winner Zuheilyn Clemente and will now prepare to represent her country at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico. Road to the 73rd Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stephanie Cam (@stephaniecamcam) Photos: FOMO Events, Nelson Castillo

Miss Universe 2024, the much-awaited 73rd Miss Universe pageant will be held on November 16 at the Arena CDMC in Mexico City. The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) made the official announcement on Friday, August 23 on its official social media accounts. MUO posted, "History is about to be rewritten The moment we've all been waiting for is just around the corner. Are you ready to witness the most unforgettable night of a lifetime?" Officially opened in 2012 in Azcapotzalco, Mexico City, the Arena CDMX (Mexico City Arena) has a maximum capacity of 22,300 spectators. The indoor arena hosts concerts, sports, and other events. This year's pageant will be the 5th Miss Universe edition to be hosted in Mexico after 1978, 1989, 1993, and 2007. Over 100 contestants worldwide are expected to arrive in the country to compete for the crown. Miss Universe 2023 from Nicaragua, Sheynnis Palacios, will crown her successor at the culmination of the upcoming competition. View th...

Uzbekistan is set to debut at the Miss Universe pageant this year with newly crowned Miss Universe Uzbekistan 2024 Nigina Fakhriddinova. The 25-year-old beauty from Tashkent edged out three other finalists (Amaliya Shakirova, Shahrizoda Madaminova, and Darya Masalskaya) to become the first-ever Miss Universe Uzbekistan. No stranger to pageantry, Nigina is a former Miss Intercontinental and Miss International Uzbekistan. She participated in Miss Intercontinental 2019 in Egypt and Miss International 2022 in Japan. "I want to thank my family, friends, and followers for believing in me and for their support. Much love from Uzbekistan," said the new Miss Universe Uzbekistan. Nigina will now prepare to represent her country at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant to be held in Mexico this coming November. Road to the 73rd Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nigina Fakhriddinova (@niginafaxriddinova) Photos: Nigina Fakhriddinova / Inst...

After 40 years, Guadeloupe is set to return to the Miss Universe pageant with newly crowned Miss Universe Guadeloupe 2024 Coraly Desplan. The 20-year-old student from Pointe-Noire was crowned during the glittering event on Friday, August 16 at the Memorial ACTe in Pointe-à-Pitre. She bested nine other finalists to win the competition and will now prepare to represent Guadeloupe at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico this November. Noémie Milne was named first runner-up while Naïa Granger and Stessy Belair finished as the second and third runners-up, respectively. Guadeloupe, a French overseas region in the southern Caribbean Sea, was last represented at Miss Universe in 1984.  Road to the 73rd Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Guadeloupe (@missuniverseguadeloupe) Photos: Miss Universe Guadeloupe / Instagram

Lilly Sødal was crowned Miss Norway 2024 (Miss Universe Norway 2024) during the national competition held last Saturday, August 10 at Rebel in Oslo. The 21-year-old sustainability advocate from Kristiansand received her crown from her predecessor, last year's winner Julie Tollefsen. She will now prepare to represent Norway at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. No stranger to pageantry, Lilly is a former Miss Earth Norway who competed in Miss Earth 2022 in the Philippines where she made the Top 20. She also went to The Miss Globe 2023 pageant in Durrës, Albania, and placed in the Top 15. "Words can’t describe how grateful I feel right now. My big “unrealistic” dream since I was 17 became true this weekend, and I don’t know how I could ever express in words what this means to me, and how thankful I am," said the new Miss Universe Norway. "I am beyond excited to start this new chapter as Miss Universe Norway 2024, and to travel to Miss Universe in M...

After a 2-year hiatus, Kenya is set to return to the Miss Universe stage with Irene Ng'endo Mukii who was crowned Miss Universe Kenya 2024 on Friday, August 16 at the Argyle Grand Hotel in Nairobi. The 26-year-old software engineer beat 15 other finalists to win the national title. She will represent Kenya at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. Mercy Jerotich and Stacy Sang were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. Reigning Miss Universe from Nicaragua, Sheynnis Palacios, was a special guest at the glittering event. The new Miss Universe Kenya is also a philanthropist and fitness enthusiast. She founded The Mansion Dance Studio, which offers ballet and general dance classes to kids and young adults. No stranger to pageantry, Irene is a former Miss Grand Kenya. She competed in Miss Grand International 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand where she placed in the Top 20. Kenya has yet to win the Miss Universe crown since its debut at the pageant in 1987. The c...

Miss Árbær, Sóldís Vala Ívarsdóttir, was crowned Ungfrú Ísland 2024 (Miss Iceland/Miss Universe Iceland 2024) on Wednesday, August 14 at Gamla Bíó in Reykjavik. The 18-year-old beauty will now prepare to represent Iceland at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico this November. She succeeds last year's winner Lilja Pétursdóttir. Emilía Þóra Ólafsdóttir of Grindavik was named Miss Supranational Iceland 2024 and will head to Miss Supranational 2025 in Poland next summer. Valeríja Rjabchuk of Reykjavik, Erika Líf Káradóttir of Kópavogur, and Harpa Rós Jónsdóttir of Þingvellir rounded out the Top 5 finalists. The new Miss Universe Iceland has already completed her second year of high school and aims to study to become a pilot after graduation. Sóldís has diverse interests, but her main interests are exercise and health-related issues. She practiced gymnastics for ten years, from age two, and then moved to football. She also has a keen interest in fashion and makeup, which has deve...

After 25 years, Suriname is set to return to the Miss Universe stage with the newly announced Miss Universe Suriname 2024 Pooja Chotkan. Pooja is a 22-year-old geosciences major at the University of Suriname. She is the winner of last year's Miss Tropical Beauties Suriname. Suriname, a small country on the northeastern coast of South America, last joined Miss Universe in 1999 with Serafija Niekoop. The new Miss Universe Suriname from Paramaribo enjoys nature, hiking, outdoor life, and traveling. She advocates for educating and raising awareness, particularly among Gen Z, about the significance of utilizing our natural resources while ensuring the preservation of our ecosystem for future generations. Pooja will represent Suriname at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. Road to the 73rd Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by @poojachotkan Photos: Remy Amatjasir / Miss Universe Suriname

Shyanne McIntosh was crowned Miss Universe Gibraltar 2024 in a glittering competition held on Saturday, August 10 at the Alameda Open Air Theatre. The 25-year-old beauty edged out eight other competitors to win the title and will now prepare to represent Gibraltar at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico this November. Grace Davis and Akisha Ferrell were the first and second runners-up, respectively. The remaining contestants were Indiya Hewkin, Janelle Duo, Courtney Edwards, Natasha Alexander, Mathilda Charvetto, and Kylie Usquieri. Gibraltar last participated in the Miss Universe pageant in 1990, making this year's event a historic moment for the British Overseas Territory. "I chose to participate in Miss Universe Gibraltar 2024 because it is a prestigious organization known for its inclusivity and diversity," said the new Miss Universe Gibraltar. "I believe it gives you the opportunity to advocate for social causes, promote self-confidence, and gain personal development te...

Anouk Eman bested five other competitors to win Miss Universe Aruba 2024 on Saturday, August 10 at the Aruba Marriott Grand Ballroom. The 32-year-old fashion model and scoliosis awareness advocate will represent Aruba at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico this November. She succeeds last year's winner Karol Croes. Giulia Brezovar was named first runner-up. The other contestants were Naomi Croes, Irviljen Hato, Marie Sonise Elliassaint, and Sasha Williams. The new Miss Universe Aruba holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's in early intervention in autism. She was diagnosed with scoliosis as a teenager which led to her being an advocate for the condition in which a person's spine has an irregular curve. As a titleholder, Anouk wants to continue her passion for helping children with special needs and implement a national system of early intervention in autism. Road to the 73rd Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anouk Em...

Mia le Roux was crowned Miss South Africa 2024 during the pageant's national final on Saturday, August 10 at the Sub Bet Arena, Time Square in Pretoria. The 28-year-old marketing manager, model, and part-time student received her crown from her predecessor, last year's winner Natasha Joubert. Nompumelelo Maduna and Onalenna Constantin were the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Layla Zoubair and Ontshiametse Tlhopane rounded out the Top 5 finalists. Taahira Katz and Kirsten Khan made the Top 7 while the rest of the Top 10 were Kebalepile Ramafoko, Lebohang Khoza, and Palesa Lombard. Hosted by South African TV and radio personality and actress Bonang Matheba, this year's event marked the 66th edition of the annual Miss South Africa pageant. Former winners Jo-Ann Strauss (Miss South Africa 2000) and Rolene Strauss (Miss World 2014) were part of the esteemed panel of judges. The new Miss South Africa is expected to represent the "Rainbow Nation" at the ...