PAGEANT Circle

Susy Sacoto, the representative of Portoviejo (Manabí), was crowned Miss Ecuador Universo 2021 in a national competition held on Saturday, September 11 in Quevedo, Los Ríos. The 24-year-old lawyer and medicine student succeeds last year's winner, Leyla Espinoza. She will represent Ecuador at the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel this December. Valeria Gutiérrez, the representative of the Ecuadorian community in the United States, was the first runner-up and received the title of Miss Ecuador International 2021. She will go to the Miss International pageant in Japan. Runners-up Karla Romero, Génesis Guerrero, Valeri Carabalí will be sent to Miss Charm, Reina Hispanoamerican and Miss Supranational competitions, respectively. Sofia Jiménez Thompson and Melane Rubio completed the Top 7 finalists. Photos: Miss Ecuador

Miss Coquimbo, Antonia Figueroa, was crowned Miss Universo Chile 2021 (Miss Universe Chile) in a national competition held in San Fernando on Saturday, September 11. The 26-year-old "MasterChef" finalist and professional model is a civil environment engineer, taekwondo champion, and former professional violinist of the municipal theater in her region. She is also the president of an NGO called “Voluntarios por la Infancia” (Volunteers for Children) that helps children and adolescents at SENAME. She fluently speaks English, German and Portuguese. Miss Los Ángeles, Daniela Riquelme, and Miss San Fernando, Maria José Norambuena, were named Miss World Peace Chile and Miss Tourism Global Chile 2021, respectively. Miss Iquique, Daniella Morgado, Miss Valparaiso, Bárbara Pacheco, Miss La Serena, Amanda Fidalgo, Miss Temuco, Angela Aguila, and Miss La Reina, Amanda Fidalgo completed the Top 7 finalists. The new Miss Universe Chile bested 14 other finalists to win her beauty title. Sh

Nadia Ferreira was officially announced by the Promociones Gloria organization as Miss Universo Paraguay 2021 last August 31. The 22-year-old stunning model and student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business engineering from Villarica succeeds last year's titleholder, Vanessa Castro. "This is a dream come true. I will officially be Paraguay to the eyes of the universe. I can’t help but feel so much happiness and joy for this great honor and for the support, I’m already receiving from a whole country, my country," she shared on social medial. The new Miss Universe Paraguay will represent her country at the 70th Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2021) pageant to be held in Eilat, Israel this December. Photo: Promociones Gloria

Miss Turkey 2021 has crowned its official representatives for the next Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss Supranational pageants on Wednesday, September 8 in Istanbul. Dilara Korkmaz, 23, Cemrenaz Turhan, 23, and Şira Sahilli, 21, were announced as Miss Turkey World 2021, Miss Turkey Universe 2021, and Miss Turkey Supranational 2021, respectively. Su Bige Korucu was named Miss Farmasi Turkey. While master's student Dilara will go on to represent Turkey at Miss World 2021 pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico, engineering student Cemrenaz will travel to Eilat, Israel for Miss Universe 2021. Industrial engineering student Şira will go to Miss Supranational 2022 in Poland next year. Photos: Miss Turkey

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

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

Four former Filipina beauty queens appeared on the 10th anniversary cover of Harper's Bazaar Vietnam. Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Miss World 2013 Megan Young, Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong, and Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa have gathered for the first time on the fashion magazine cover. The Philippines is the second country after Venezuela with the highest number of winners on major beauty competitions in the world including four Miss Universe, one Miss World, six Miss International, and four Miss Earth. Photos: BJ Pascual / Harper's Bazaar Vietnam