PAGEANT Circle

Former Miss World Greece Rafaela Plastira has been named Miss Universe Greece 2021. She succeeds Miss Universe Greece 2018, Ioanna Bella. The 21-year-old model was crowned Star Hellas 2019 and went to compete in the 69th Miss World pageant in London. She holds a degree in the management of social services and aspires to pursue postgraduate study in journalism. "My dream since a young girl has come true. I can't wait to represent my country again," she shared online. "This time it's gonna be very different for me. It will be my last pageant so I will give my all into it," she added. Rafaela is expected to represent Greece at the 70th Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2021) pageant whose date and venue have yet to be announced. Photos: Rafaela Plastira / Instagram

Mexicana Universal Organización has been officially named Debora Hallal as Miss Universe Mexico 2021 on Monday, May 31. The 24-year-old beauty who hails from Los Mochis holds a degree in business administration. She represented Sinaloa in Mexicana Universal 2020 competition where she placed first runner-up. Debora succeeded Andrea Meza, who was crowned Miss Universe 2020 last month in Florida, USA. The newly appointed Miss Universe Mexico will try to pull off a back-to-back win for her country in the 70th Miss Universe pageant (Miss Universe 2021) on a date and venue yet to be announced. Photos: Mexicana Universal Organización

The finalists of Miss Nederland 2021 (Miss Netherlands 2021) pageant have been revealed over the weekend at Studio 21 in Hilversum. During the casting day, around 50 beauties presented themselves in front of the distinguished panel of judges including former titleholders. The 10 selected finalists are Marlies Smedinga, Esmee Cornet, Benthe van der Kleij, Eleanor Dingemans, Julia Sinning, Myrthe van der Vlies, Shizen Wong, Kim van der Vlies, Maud van Oossanen and Isa de Bruin. They will be featured in a TV program and follow various training courses and workshops leading up to the final on a date yet to be announced. The winner will succeed Denise Speelman and expected to represent the Netherlands at the next Miss Universe competition. Visit Miss Nederland official website and social media pages to learn more about the finalists and this year's competition. Marlies Smedinga, Esmee Cornet, Benthe van der Kleij, Eleanor Dingemans, Julia Sinning, Myrthe van der Vlies, Shizen Wong, Kim

For the first time in history, the Miss South Africa pageant is now open for transgender women to participate. According to the Miss South Africa organization, interested applicants need to have a valid South African ID document that shows "female" as their amended sex in order to be eligible to compete. South Africa has been blazing a trail in a continent where many countries still consider homosexuality taboo. The rainbow nation was the fifth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. Out of the 54 states recognized by the United Nations or African Union or both, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association stated in 2015 that homosexuality is outlawed in 34 African countries. Spain's Angela Ponce became the first-ever transgender woman to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. Since then, several other national pageants that traditionally only accept naturally born female changed their rules. Photo: Miss South Africa / Facebook

Miss South Africa organizers have announced that applications are now officially open for Miss South Africa 2021 competition. For interested applicants, you may submit your entries until midnight of June 24 and here are the easy steps to follow on how to apply: 1. Complete a few questions via online entry form. 2. Submit 2 photographs in colour (1x head & shoulders & 1 x full body). 3. Post your introduction video on social media to complete your entry. Tell who you are and why you should be #MissSA2021? 4. After you posted your 45 seconds video on Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter, copy and paste your video post link in your online entry form. 5. Ensure to use #MissSA2021 in your video post and tag @official_misssa. The winners of Miss South Africa 2021 will have the opportunity to represent the rainbow nation at Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Supranational pageants. You can follow Miss South Africa on its official social media pages or visit its  official website for mo

Following Michael Cinco's "ungrateful rant" towards the Miss Universe Canada (MUC) organization, another Filipino designer shared his "awful experience" with the Canadian team during Miss Universe 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand. The feud between parties involved became a hot topic among news outlets especially in the Philippines and the netizens came swarming into social media pages in support of the Filipino designers. In a lengthy post on its official social media page on Monday, MUC has finally broken its silence over the controversy that recently rocked the beauty pageant community. Below is the full statement from the organization: We at the Miss Universe Canada organization are deeply saddened to read the recent negative online comments directed at us, the current Miss Universe Canada titleholder, some of our designer supporters and third-party organizations. The Miss Universe Canada (MUC) organization appreciates the relationships we have worked hard to build

Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco lashed out at the team behind Miss Universe Canada Nova Stevens for allegedly spreading rumors about him trying to sabotage her chances at the Miss Universe pageant with late arrivals of ill-fitted gowns. Miss Universe Canada's MGmode Communications said, "The truth needs to be told! The gown was sent late by Michael’s team, and when it arrived none of them fitted! We were able to fix one for the finals but the one for prelims, we didn’t have time." In a lengthy social media post on Saturday, May 22, Michael cried foul and responded, "You have been spreading fake news about me and my team being unprofessional days before the pageant but I chose to be quiet and calm. But this time, I need to stand up for me and my team, as it is just so unfair." The designer to Hollywood celebrities, royalties, and wealthy clients, who hails from Catbalogan, Samar (Philippines) said he has been dressing up Canada's representatives a