PAGEANT Circle

Nora Emilie Nakken bested 12 other contestants to be crowned Miss Universe Norway 2021 in a national competition held in Oslo on Saturday, August 14. The 23-year-old model and mental health advocate from Trondheim succeeds Sunniva Frigstad. She will represent Norway at the Miss Universe 2021 pageant in Eilat, Israel this December. Angelika Catharina D. Kristiansen and Amine Storrød were the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Julie Dahlen Børresen and Stephany Gabriela Crespo La Rosa completed the Top 5. The new Miss Universe Norway is no stranger to pageantry as she competed last year as Miss Earth Norway during the virtual Miss Earth 2020 pageant. Photo: Joe Urrutia / Miss Norway Organization

Allison Wassmer was crowned Miss Nicaragua 2021 in a national competition held on Saturday, August 14 in Managua. The 26-year-old entrepreneur succeeds last year's winner and Miss Universe Top 21 Ana Marcelo. She represented Managua and bested six other finalists to win her title. Miss Rivas, Glennys Medina, and Miss Acoyapa, Zulema Bravo were the first and second runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Nicaragua will represent her country at the 70th Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2021) pageant to be held later this year for the first time in Eilat, Israel. Photo: Miss Nicaragua

The Top 10 finalist of the Miss South Africa 2021 national competition was virtually announced on Tuesday, August 3 on the pageant's online platform. Four finalists are from Gauteng, three from Western Cape, two from Eastern Cape and one from KwaZulu-Natal. They are Zimi Mabunzi, Jeanni Mulder, Bianca Bezuidenhout, Cheneil Hartzenberg, Kgothatso Dithebe, Catherine Groenewald, Moratwe Masima, Kaylan Matthews, Lalela Mswane and Tiffany Francis. The distinguished panel of judges includes former Miss South Africa titleholders Bokang Montjane-Tshabalala (2010), Liesl Laurie (2015), Melinda Bam (2011), and Tamaryn Green (2018). Miss South Africa 2021 will take place at Sun International's Grand West Arena in Cape Town on October 16. Three winners will be chosen to represent South Africa at Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss Supranational pageants. Photo: Miss South Africa / Instagram

Thessaly Zimmerman was crowned Miss Universe Aruba 2021 last Friday, July 30 at the House of Mosaic in Oranjestad. The 26-year-old social media coordinator holds a bachelor's degree in communication. She succeeds last year's titleholder, Helen Hernandez. "I cannot express how proud I am to be the newly crowned Miss Universe Aruba 2021," Thessaly posted online. "I wanted to thank everyone that made last night possible and believed in me from the start," she added. Thessaly will represent Aruba at the 70th Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2021) competition to be held in Eilat, Israel this December. Photo: Thessaly Zimmerman / Instagram

Alejandra Gavidia was crowned Miss Universe El Salvador 2021 during the Reinado de El Salvador 2021 competition held on Thursday, July 29 in San Salvador. The 25-year-old beauty bested six other finalists to succeed last year's titleholder, Vanessa Velásquez. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration and government and a master’s degree in image consulting and political consulting. Alejandra will represent her country at the 70th Miss Universe pageant to be held in Eilat, Israel later year. El Salvador has yet to win its first Miss Universe. Its highest placement was first runner-up in 1955 courtesy of Maribel Arrieta. Photo: Reinado De El Salvador / Facebook

Shariengela Cjintje bested seven other finalists to be crowned Miss Universe Curacao 2021 in a national competition held on Saturday, July 24 at the Curacao Marriott Beach Resort in Willemstad. The 28-year-old beauty was born in the Netherland and holds a master's degree in law. She authored a book "Release Your Amazon" and hopes "to inspire every woman and girl to live their dreams and every step I take is directed towards that goal." Shariengela succeeds last year's titleholder and Miss Universe 2020 Top 21 placer, Chantal Wiertz, and will now prepare to represent her country at the Miss Universe 2021 pageant in Eilat, Israel this December. Photo: Curacao Beauty Pageant Committee / Facebook

For the first time in history, the 70th Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2021) pageant will be hosted in Israel. Israel's Tourism Ministry and the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) made the official announcement on Tuesday, July 20. A Middle Eastern country on the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is regarded by Jews, Christians, and Muslims as the biblical Holy Land. "Israel has been on our shortlist of host countries for a number of years due to its rich history, beautiful landscapes, myriad of cultures, and appeal as a global tourist destination," the MUO President Paula Shugart said. The international pageant is set to take place this December in the country's southernmost city of Eilat, a southern Israeli port and resort town on the Red Sea, near Jordan. It is renowned for its spectacular combination of the surrounding desert landscape, the beautiful bay, and the summer sun that shines all year round. Mexico's Andrea Meza will crown her successor at the end of the event t