PAGEANT Circle

Laura Bircher was crowned Miss Universe Switzerland 2024 in a glittering national competition held on Saturday, September 28 at the Kursaal Arena in Bern. The 23-year-old mental health advocate from Stans succeeds last year's winner Lorena Santen and will now prepare to represent Switzerland at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico this November. Barbara Suter and Nadiya Karplyuk were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. Last night's event was hosted by Mister Colombia International 2012 Rey Rodríguez with Swiss media personality Virgil Jamie. Former Miss Universe Nepal and Miss Universe 2023 Top 20 semifinalist Jane Dipika Garrett graced the event as one of the judges. The 73rd Miss Universe pageant will be held at the Mexico City Arena (Arena CDMX) in Mexico City, Mexico on November 16. Meet the new Miss Universe Switzerland: View this post on Instagram A post shared by od_photography (@od_fashionphotography) Photos: Oliver Dütschle...

Nora Kenez edged out 11 other contestants to win Miss Universe Hungary 2024 in a national competition held on Saturday, September 28 at the Budapest Operetta Theater. The 28-year-old pharmacist and freelance model from Szombathely will represent Hungary at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. Szimonetta Fekszi was named first runner-up while Molnár Mira and Kis Laura Dóra were the second and third runners-up, respectively. Petróczy Panna bagged the Audience award. The new Miss Universe Hungary succeeds last year's winner Tünde Blága. Road to the 73rd Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nora Kenez (@dr_norakenez) Photos: Esztergályos-Stankovics Beáta, Tóth Szabolcs

After 57 years, Cuba is set to return to the Miss Universe pageant with the newly crowned Miss Universe Cuba 2024 Marianela Ancheta. The 31-year-old entrepreneur representing the Central Region beat 23 other contestants to win the national competition held on Thursday, September 26 in Miami, Florida. She also bagged the Miss Photogenic award. Alina Robert and Maylin Hernández were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. "Today has been a day full of emotion and gratitude, going through media and sharing this achievement with all of you. I don't have enough words to thank you for all the support and love you have given me since the beginning," said the new Miss Universe Cuba. "This triumph is not only mine, it is of every Cuban who dreams, fights, and never gives up and of all the people who follow me. Let's go all out to Miss Universe," she added. Marianela will now prepare to represent Cuba at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this Nove...

Glelany Cavalcante was crowned Miss Universe Italy 2024 during the national competition held on September 18 at Villa Cafiero in San Fernando di Puglia. The 30-year-old model and entrepreneur originally from Brazil bested 20 other contestants to win the title. She became the first Brazilian and married woman to become Miss Universe Italy. Giada Folcia and Marika Nardozi were named the first and second runners-up while Rachele Perelli and Catalina Jacob rounded out the Top 5 finalists. Completing the Top 10 were Carlotta Maggiorana, Federica Ligato, Angela Etiope, Veronica Siniscalchi, and Carolina Trombatore. The new Miss Universe Italy succeeds last year's winner Carmen Panepinto and will now prepare to represent Italy 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 Glelany Cavalcante (@glelany) Photos: Miss Universe Italy, Glelany Cavalcante / Instagram

Melloney Dassanayake was crowned Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2024 during the national competition held on Friday, September 27 at Citrus Waskaduwa. The 25-year-old banker and professional model from Colombo beat 17 other contestants to win the title and will now represent Sri Lanka at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico this November. Sonali Silva was named first runner-up, while Prathibha Liyanaarachchi, Reshalee de Silva, and Chamanthi Bandara were the second, third, and fourth runners-up. This year's Miss Universe Sri Lanka, under the new national director Nirmal Bandara, marked the return of Sri Lanka to the Miss Universe pageant after a 5-year hiatus. Sri Lanka's last participation was during Miss Universe 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand with Ornella Gunesekere who bagged the Miss Congeniality award. Meet the new Miss Universe Sri Lanka: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Sri Lanka Universe (@miss_universe_srilanka) Photos: Miss Universe Sri Lanka / Ins...

Loredana Salanță was crowned Miss Universe Romania 2024 during the national competition held on Wednesday, September 25 at the Kong restaurant in Bucharest. The 33-year-old film and fashion editor from Bistriţa beat 24 other beauties to win the opportunity to represent Romania at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico this November. Andreea Ioana Stan was named first runner-up while Raisa Mitruti, Alexandra Elena Miu, and Antonia Iftime were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. This year's event marked the return of Romania to the Miss Universe pageant. The country's last participation was in 2021 with Carmina Cotfas. The new Miss Universe Romania has made history as the first mother and married woman to win the national title. She also became the oldest titleholder since age limits were removed by the Miss Universe Organization (MUO). No stranger to pageantry, Loredana is a former Miss World Romania who participated in Miss World 2009 in Johannesburg, ...

After a 10-year hiatus, Botswana is all set to return to the Miss Universe stage with newly crowned Miss Universe Botswana 2024 Thanolo Keutlwile. The 28-year-old medical doctor and international model won her title during the national competition on Saturday, September 21 at the Gaborone International Conference Centre (GICC). Botswana's last participation at Miss Universe was in 2013 with Tsaone Macheng. The country has won the international pageant once during its debut in 1999 courtesy of Mpule Kwelagobe. The new Miss Universe Botswana will now represent the "Gem of Africa" at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. "I am overflowing with gratitude; truly, life brings me joy and ease. Thank you God," Thanolo shared online. "I am beyond grateful for the chance to represent my country and help reshape its narrative. As a nation, we are capable," she added. "The love and support I've received from all of you has been incredibl...

Rhea Singha was crowned Miss Universe India 2024 on Sunday, September 22 at the Zee Studios in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The 19-year-old beauty from Ahmedabad, Gujarat bested 50 other competitors to win the national title. She received her crown from Indian actress and former Miss Universe India Urvashi Rautela. Pranjal Priya was named first runner-up while Chhavi Verg, Sushmita Roy, and Ruopfuzhano Whiso were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. This year's glittering national competition was the first edition under the Glamanand Group, with the new national director Nikhil Anand. The new Miss Universe India will now prepare to represent the "land of diversity" 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 India (@missuniverseindiaorg) Photos: VJ Suraj / Miss Universe India

Charlotte Lucille Chia beat 14 other finalists to win Miss Universe Singapore 2024 on Sunday, September 22 at The Clifford Pier at The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore. The 26-year-old public relations account executive will now prepare to represent Singapore at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. Adelene Stanley and Olivia Dewi Cinta Higgins were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. This year's Miss Universe Singapore pageant was held under the directorship of former Miss Universe Malaysia Elaine Daly. Recently crowned Miss Universe Malaysia 2024 Sandra Lim and Miss Universe Indonesia 2024 Clara Shafira Krebs were special guests at the event. No stranger to pageantry, the new Miss Universe Singapore is a former Miss Singapore International titleholder who competed in Miss International 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. Last year, she went to Antalya, Turkey to participate in the Global Model of the World 2023 competition and took home the international title. ...

Sofia Labus triumphed over 26 other competitors to be crowned Miss Universe Ireland 2024 on Friday, September 20 at the Fairways Hotel in Dundalk. The 21-year-old social justice advocate and entrepreneur from Montenotti in Cork already joined last year and finished second runner-up. She succeeds last year's winner from County Kildare, Aishah Akorede, and will now prepare to represent Ireland at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. Caoimhe Kenny from County Donegal and Annie O'Dea from Galway were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Universe Ireland was born in Ireland to immigrant parents from Serbia. She holds a Level 5 qualification in psychology and social studies and is pursuing criminology at University College Cork (UCC). As part of the first-born generation of Irish-Serbs, Sofia champions educational opportunities for immigrants. She aims to work in immigration, leveraging her degree to fight for the rights and education o...