PAGEANT Circle

Julia Sinning was crowned Miss Nederland 2021 in a glittering national competition held at Studio 21 in Hilversum on Sunday, August 29. The 24-year-old student from Amsterdam is training at a drama school (faaam Film Actors Academy) and currently part of "The Bachelor." Besides winning her national title, she also took home the Miss Congeniality award. Julia succeeds last year's winner, Denise Speelman, and will now prepare to represent the Netherlands at the 70th Miss Universe pageant to be held in Eilat, Israel later this year. Photo: Ferieke Berendsen / Miss Nederland

Carmina Elena Olimpia Coftas was crowned Miss Universe Romania 2021 in a national competition held in Bucharest on Saturday, August 28. The 20-year-old history student and model from Cluj-Napoca was born and raised in Târgu Mureș. Working as a television and radio producer since the beginning of this year, she interviewed well-known doctors to advocate the importance of healthcare through social media. Julia Tisza and Vivien Bungardean were the first and second runners-up respectively while Delia Bulgaru and Emma Trache completed the Top 5 finalists. Carmina succeeds last year's titleholder Bianca Tirsin and will represent her country Romania at the 70th Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2021) pageant in Eilat, Israel later this year. "I am very excited and deeply honored to be part of the Miss Universe Romania family and I can't wait to all of you there," she said. Photos: Miss Universe Romania

Miss Universe Malaysia Organization (MUMO) released an official statement on Tuesday, August 17 in regard to Malaysia's non-participation at the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel this December. "Unfortunately, due to the worsening COVID-19 situation, which has resulted in limited international and domestic travel, we have been unable to hold our local Miss Universe Malaysia 2021 pageant," the MUMO said. "We have therefore declined the invitation to this year's pageant and regretfully would not be able to hold a local Miss Universe Malaysia pageant this year." The national organization has yet to announce when the next Miss Universe Malaysia pageant will take place. Photo: Miss Universe Organization

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