PAGEANT Circle

Ava Vahneshan has been named the new Miss Universe Persia 2024 and will represent Persia (Iran) at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico. The 26-year-old Chinese medicine specialist and talented singer from Portugal replaced the original winner, Iranian-American nurse practitioner Fay Asghari. According to the pageant's national director Golshan Bakhtiary, Fay Asghari and the Miss Universe Persia Organization have both mutually agreed that it's in the best interest of both parties to part ways. Golshan also explained that Fay's obligations to her practice and her patients at her successful medical spa in Los Angeles prevent her from committing the necessary time to prepare for the Miss Universe competition. A decision to appoint a replacement was made so the national title went to the first runner-up of the Miss Universe Persia 2024 competition, which was held in Rome, Italy on June 17. The newly appointed Miss Universe Persia is of Persian descent and the daughter of a

The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) held a press conference on September 4 in Mexico to announce important details of the upcoming 73rd Miss Universe pageant. This year's historic edition, to be held at Arena CDMX in Mexico City on November 16, will introduce a new show format. From around 130 contestants, only 30 will be announced as semifinalists, followed by the Top 12, Top 5, and the winner. The Top 30 will include four continental queens and one fan vote winner. The contestants are expected to arrive in Mexico during the last week of October and will be staying at their luxurious official residence, the Presidente InterContinental. They also will be touring various destinations around the country as part of their hectic schedule of events and activities. A new theme song, composed by Grammy award-winning musician and film producer Emilio Estefan Gómez, will also debut in the competition. MUO shared: "This collaboration promises an unforgettable theme song that will captu

Creed was crowned Miss Universe Australia 2024 in a national competition held on Thursday, September 5 at the grand ballroom of the Crown Perth in Burswood. The 23-year-old model from Brisbane edged out 27 other competitors to win the title. She is the first national winner from Queensland since Jesinta Campbell in 2010. Laetitia Greco and Renèe Mourad were named the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Bronte Rose Dagg and Jennifer Crown were the rest of the Top 5 finalists. The Top 10 were Sarah Said-Smith, Jess Davis, Alana Deutsher-Moore, Ally Draper, and Tahlia Jones. Last year's winner and Miss Universe 2023 second runner-up Moraya Wilson from Melbourne crowned her successor at the end of the event. The new Miss Universe Australia will represent her country 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 Miss Universe Australia (@missuniverseaustralia.offici

Yanina Lucas was crowned Miss Universe Uruguay 2024 on Saturday, August 31 at Estadio Cerrado 8 De Junio in the city of  Paysandú. The 28-year-old computer science graduate from Lavalleja will represent Uruguay at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico this November. Lucía Piñeyro Lima of Río Negro and Macarena Gómez of Artigas were announced as the first and second runners-up, respectively. "A thousand thanks to all the people who have accompanied me on this beautiful path, I will give all of me to leave the flag of my country high," said the new Miss Universe Uruguay. Uruguay last joined Miss Universe in 2022 with Carla Romero. The country has yet to win the pageant since its debut in 1952. Its highest achievement was fourth runner-up in 1985 with Andrea Beatríz López Silva. Road to the 73rd Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Uruguay (@missuniverse.uruguay) Photos: Richard Sosa / Miss Universe Uruguay

Victoria Kjær Theilvig has been officially announced by the Miss Denmark Organization as Miss Universe Denmark 2024. The 20-year-old passionate dancer living in Copenhagen was part of the jury at the Miss Denmark 2024 final on Sunday at Cirkusbygningen. She will represent Denmark at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. Her successor was last year's Miss Denmark (Miss Universe Denmark 2023), Nikoline Uhrenholt Hansen, who competed in Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador. No stranger to pageantry, the new Miss Universe Denmark was second runner-up at Miss Denmark 2021. She was then appointed as Miss Grand Denmark and went to Miss Grand International 2022 in Indonesia where she made the Top 20. Hailing from Søborg, Victoria is a graduate of business and marketing and is a champion in dancing as well as a dance teacher. She is a dedicated volunteer supporting various causes and also an advocate for mental health awareness, drawing from her personal experiences to inspi

Miss Taraba, Chidimma Adetshina, was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 in a national competition held on Saturday, August 31 at Eko Hotels & Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos. The 23-year-old beauty from Gauteng, South Africa, bested 24 other contestants to win the national title. She will represent Nigeria at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico this November. Paula Ezendu of Anambra State was the first runner-up and received the Miss Supranational Nigeria 2024 title. She will head to Poland to participate in Miss Supranational 2025 next summer. The second runner-up, Peace Ayegbidun of Ondo, was named Miss Lush 2024 while the representatives of Rivers, Nyekachi Douglas, and Edo, Edeifo Aikhuele rounded out the Top 5 finalists. Last year's winner, Ugochi Mitchel Ukachukwu Ihezue, crowned her successor at the end of the event. The new Miss Universe Nigeria was born in South Africa to Nigerian parents. She previously joined Miss South Africa 2024 but had to withdraw from the competition

Raegan Rutty was crowned Miss Univere Cayman Island 2024 on Saturday, August 31 at The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa. The 22-year-old first Caymanian Olympic gymnast from East End will represent the Cayman Islands at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. Arin Broderick and Brianna Wilson were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. A total of six contestants were selected to take part in this year's Miss Universe Cayman Islands. Last year's winner, Ileann Powery, crowned her successor at the end of the event. The new Miss Universe Cayman Islands started her own podcast "The Raegan Way" to share life lessons and inspiring stories. Raegan is dedicated to empowering others especially her fellow Caymanians to pursue their dreams regardless of where they come from. She reminds everyone that "just because we come from a small island, does not mean we can't accomplish big things." Road to the 73rd Miss Univ

Ilda Amani edged out 19 other competitors to be crowned Miss Universe DR Congo 2024 on Thursday, August 29 at the Pullman Grand Hotel in Kinshasa. The 26-year-old model from Bukavu will represent the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. Aurelie Mbaay Mwadi was named first runner-up while Océane Ambapeto Mpundu, Dalal Hoballah, and Eunice Yaosiya Favour were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Situated in Central Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo last competed under its former name Zaire at Miss Universe in 1986. Its representative Aimée Likobe Dobala made the Top 10. The new Miss Universe DR Congo is a finance and accounting graduate of Multitech Business School. She is an advocate for women empowerment and menstrual health. Road to the 73rd Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe République Démocratique du Congo (@missuniversecongokinshasa) Photo

Maria Vicinska bested 14 other finalists to be crowned Miss Universe Latvia 2024 on Thursday, August 29 at the Digital Art House in Riga. The 26-year-old model will now prepare to represent Latvia at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. Anastasija Aleksejevska and Zinaida Tesliuk were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. "I have so many emotions. Yesterday was a day I will never forget. Coming from a small town, I used to think it was just a dream and it would never come true but here I am, making it a reality," shared the new Miss Universe Latvia. "A small town girl with big dreams. That's a reminder for everyone to never give up regardless of what others say and to keep moving forward because in the end you will always succeed if you put work into it," she added. No stranger to pageantry, Maria went to the Philippines last April to participate in Miss Charity International 2024 where she was named one of the ambassadors. She

Davin Prasath was crowned Miss Universe Cambodia 2024 in a glittering national competition held on Thursday, August 29 in Phnom Penh. The 33-year-old model, actress, and philanthropist succeeds last year's winner John Sotima, and will now prepare to represent Cambodia at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico this November. No stranger to pageantry, she previously joined the Universal Woman 2024 pageant last March and finished as third runner-up. The new Miss Universe Cambodia made history as the first-ever married woman and mother to win the national title. She is also the oldest contestant from Cambodia to compete in Miss Universe since the Miss Universe Organization abolished age limits. Davin will join fellow mothers from Honduras (Stephanie Cam), Malta (Beatrice Njoya), Puerto Rico (Jennifer Colón Alvarado), and Venezuela (Ileana Marquez Pedroza) at the 73rd Miss Universe. "As a newly crowned Miss Universe Cambodia, I am a testament to the fact that dreams are not just a sculpture

Ana Gabriela Villanueva Jolón, from Santa Cruz Naranjo, Santa Rosa, has been designated the new Miss Universe Guatemala 2024. The 22-year-old law and social sciences student has assumed the national title previously held by Andrea Radford who decided to prioritize her pregnancy. Ana was first runner-up to Andrea at the Miss Universe Guatemala 2024 pageant. She will now be the representative of her country for Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico this November. Andrea passed on her crown and sash to the new Miss Universe Guatemala in a special ceremony on Sunday, August 25 in Guatemala City. Road to the 73rd Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by • Miss Universe Guatemala • (@missuniversegt) Photos: Miss Universe Guatemala / Instagram