PAGEANT Circle

Miss Universe 1970 Marisol Malaret Contreras from Puerto Rico passed away at the age of 73 on Sunday. The former beauty queen turned television personality became the first Puerto Rican and Caribbean woman to win the Miss Universe pageant on July 11, 1970, at the Miami Beach Auditorium in Miami Beach, Florida. She was only 20 years old, an executive secretary in the Puerto Rico Telephone Company, when she was crowned by her predecessor Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1969 from the Philippines. Following her historic victory, she was honored with what was considered until then one of the biggest welcomings ever at San Juan. It was reported that around 50,000 people turned out to her homecoming. Marisol appeared on the covers of countless international and Puerto Rican magazines and took part in numerous advertising campaigns. The auburn-haired, blue-green-eyed beauty was married three times. Her first marriage was to former male model Butch James, the second was to musician Corky Stroman wit

Miss Universe Ukraine Viktoria Apanasenko was announced the winner of the 71st Miss Universe national costume which was determined by public votes. The Miss Universe Organization made the official announcement of the winning costume on Wednesday, March 15 via the Miss Universe official app. Viktoria paraded her "Warrior of Light" costume during the 71st Miss Universe national costume presentation last January in New Orleans, Louisiana. It consists of an archangel sword, a monolithic jumpsuit that serves like an armor covering her body, a vyshyvanka-styled dress, a headpiece, and angel wings. The beautiful masterpiece designed by Ukrainian costume designer Lesia Patoka took several months to complete under extreme conditions due to the armed conflicts in Ukraine. According to Viktoria, it is a symbol of her nation's fight against the darkness, like an archangel Michael with a sword protecting her country. Importantly, it represents the strength, courage, and determination

The Miss Universe Philippines 2023 competition began with the official announcement of the Top 40 contestants on February 18, followed by their introduction along with the cities and provinces they represent. Two of this year's batch of beauties were part of last year's Top 5 finalists ⁠— Miss Universe Philippines Tourism 2022 Michelle Daniela Dee (also former Miss World Philippines) of Makati and Miss Universe Philippines Charity 2022 Pauline Amelinckx of Bohol. This is also the third time the Boholana representative participated. Her first attempt was in 2020 where she finished third runner-up to Miss Universe Philippines 2020 winner Rabiya Mateo from Iloilo City. Some notable crossovers from other national competitions include Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2021 Samantha Alexandra Panlilio of Cavite, Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2021 Emmanuelle Fabienne Camcam of Cebu Province, and Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific International 2019 Klyza Ferrando Castro. Since

Dubai-based Josh Yugen acquired the Miss Universe license for Pakistan, applications are now open for first ever Miss Universe Pakistan After 72 years since the establishment of the prestigious Miss Universe pageant, Pakistan (officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan), will make its debut at Miss Universe 2023. The Miss Universe Pakistan license has been officially acquired by Josh Yugen, a Dubai-based Filipino celebrity producer, entrepreneur, and multi-awarded publisher of the luxury lifestyle, travel, and fashion magazine Xpedition. "After 2 successful years of bringing Miss Universe Bahrain, we are humbled and honored to take the chance and give opportunity to the empowering queens from Pakistan, a country that is filled with talented, passionate and beautiful souls," posted on the newly established Instagram page of Miss Universe Pakistan. Miss Universe Pakistan 2023 applications are now open for Pakistani women (citizens or heritage), between 18 to 28 years old, rega

Miss Universe Philippines 2023 coronation night will be held on Saturday, May 13 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines. The official announcement was made by the national organization via social media on Friday, March 3 following the introduction of the Top 40 contestants vying for this year's coveted title. A total of 40 contestants representing various cities and municipalities of the Philippines will fight for the crown and get the opportunity to represent the country at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador later this year. Due to health reasons, one of the contestants Evangeline Fuentes of Pangasinan withdrew but she was officially replaced by Kristeen Mae Boccang from the beautiful province of Apayao. Save the date and if you don't want to miss the show. See the official announcement below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Philippines (@themissuniverseph) Photos: Miss Universe Philippines RELATED POSTS: Miss Uni

Keno Manzur acquires Miss Universe license for Argentina, applications now open for Miss Universo Argentina 2023 After Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, Argentina has also entered a new era in pageantry with a new national director for Miss Universe Argentina and he is no other than Keno Manzur. A commercial engineer by profession, Keno has many years of experience in beauty pageants. He also holds licenses for Miss Earth, Miss World, and Miss Universe Chile, among others. Besides running prestigious national beauty pageants, he also established Escuela Supermiss, a training school for aspiring beauty queens in Chile and Argentina. Applications are now open for Miss Universo Argentina 2023. Argentinian nationals, 18 to 27 years, mothers, and pregnant women with any marital status are welcome to apply. The next Miss Universe Argentina will go to the Miss Universe 2023 edition in San Salvador, El Salvador later this year. Meet the new director: View this post on Instagram

Daniela Victoria Arroyo González becomes the first-ever transgender contestant at Miss Universe Puerto Rico pageant Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023 pre-qualified contestants were recently announced and one of the most talked about is Daniela Victoria Arroyo González. The transgender beauty and advocate for the rights of her own community made history by qualifying as one of the contestants in one most prestigious national pageants in Puerto Rico. "Following my intuition most definitely and manifesting this is a start. I trust my heart and what the universe has written for me," she wrote on her social media. "I have felt your support and I know that your emotion is just as strong as mine. I thank you all for the unconditional love," she added. "Grateful and excited to take you with me on this journey. Let's make history together," she wrote in another post. If Daniela succeeds in winning Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023, she will be the second transgender

India's first Miss Universe winner Sushmita Sen went to social media to share her ordeal with a heart attack earlier last week. In her post, she revealed undergoing angioplasty which is a procedure used to open blocked coronary arteries caused by coronary artery disease. Talking about the good news following her big heart's life-threatening experience, she said "all is well and I am ready for some life again." The former beauty queen turned famous actress also shared wise words from her father, "Keep your heart happy and courageous, and it’ll stand by you when you need it the most Shona." Thousands of fans and supporters stormed her social media with heartwarming messages that she had to post a video to thank them all. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sushmita Sen (@sushmitasen47) Source: Sushmita Sen / Instagram

Following rounds of auditions, thirty-eight contestants have been pre-selected to take part in the Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023 competition. This year's pageant will be the 67th edition whose winner will represent the Caribbean island later this year at Miss Universe 2023 in San Salvador, El Salvador. For the first time in history, a transgender contestant (Daniela Arroyo González) qualified to compete for the coveted national title. Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022 and Miss Universe Top 5 finalist Ashley Cariño will crown her successor at the end of the competition with the final date and venue yet to be announced. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ashley Cariño (@ashleyanncarino) Here are the pre-selected contestants: Andrea Sofía Collazo Molina Karina M. Rivera Camacho Natalia Elena Zayas Morales Gabriela Veguilla Cotto   Camila Yari Molina García Luisa A. Vázquez Fiorella Medina Angela Escalera Kiara Rivera Rocío del Mar Avilés Juanita Polanco Ir

The Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Top 40 contestants were officially announced last February 18 in Manila and one of them is former Mutya ng Pilipinas winner Klyza Castro. Klyza is 23 years old, pure Filipina beauty with indigenous Mandaya tribe roots, and born in Mati City, Davao Oriental. She is a graduate of Ateneo de Davao University with a degree in political science. No stranger to pageantry, the Miss Universe Philippines aspirant won the 51st Mutya ng Pilipinas while representing Davao del Sur and went on to compete in Miss Asia Pacific International 2019 where she placed in the Top 25 and bagged the Continental Queen of Asia title. Her advocacy is focused on supporting and sustaining the livelihood of her indigenous communities. She recently shared that in 2021, she started a charity drive using her own savings for the Mandaya tribe of Sangab Davao Oriental where she met the woman chieftain of one of the last remaining communities to fully preserve the Mandaya culture. "H