PAGEANT Circle

Sad news shocked the entire pageant community after the tragic passing of Cheslie Kryst, an Emmy Award-nominated "Extra" correspondent, and a former Miss USA winner. According to reports, the 30-year-old jumped off a high-rise apartment building in Midtown Manhattan, New York, and her lifeless body was found on Sunday morning. "In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie," her family shared in a statement. "Her great light was one that inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength. She cared, she loved, she laughed and she shined." Cheslie was crowned Miss USA 2019 while representing North Carolina and went on to compete at the Miss Universe 2019 pageant in Atlanta, Georgia where she placed in the Top 10. Before her death, she posted a photo on social media with the caption "May this day bring you rest and peace" and a heart emoji. The Miss Universe and Miss USA Organizations are devastated to lear

Miss Universe 2021 first runner-up Nadia Ferreira has arrived in Dubai, UAE this week to attend the Arab Fashion Week. She also took the chance to visit the Paraguayan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. The Paraguayan fashion model and beauty pageant titleholder went blonde while wearing a glittering dress by Amato Couture during the official party with Expedition Magazine. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nadia Ferreira (@nadiatferreira) Nadia was also joined by former Miss Universe India Urvashi Rautela, Miss Universe Colombia Laura Olascuaga, American musical group Black Eyed Peas, and Expedition Magazine's Josh Yugen. While in Dubai, she visited the Paraguayan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai and shared: "As a national ambassador, I am pleased to visit the Paraguayan Pavilion at Expo Dubai. The largest in the world, in which we are present with our wealth in culture, talents, and dreams of a great nation that stands before the universe." "We

Miss Universe shared a photo of the reigning queen Harnaaz Sandhu with the caption "Happy Republic Day" for her country's celebration of its 73rd Republic Day, the day India became a sovereign republic. In the photo, the 21-year-old beauty queen raises her country's flag while wearing an orange knit ensemble by clothing brand Andreeva. Republic Day is a national holiday in India when the country marks and celebrates the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950, replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India and thus, turning the nation into a newly formed republic. The day also marks the transition of India from an autonomous Commonwealth realm with British Monarch as nominal head of the Indian Dominion, to a fully sovereign republic in the Commonwealth of Nations with the President of India as the nominal head of the Indian Union. To all our Indian friends, supporters, and followers across the world,

Fadil Berisha, an Albanian-American photographer based in New York, shared a sneak peek of his photo session with the reigning Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu. In a video he shared on social media, the beauty queen can be seen wearing a traditional Indian garment "sari" and the Mouawad "Power of Unity" crown. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fadil Berisha Photography (@fadilberishaphotography)

Miss Universe 2022 will be the 71st edition of the prestigious Miss Universe pageant and there are so far four confirmed delegates who will be vying for the coveted title currently held by India's Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu. Here are the delegates from the Dominican Republic, Ghana, Kazakhstan, and Venezuela: Andreína Martinez, 24, of the Dominican Republic holds a degree in psychology and Latin American studies. She won her national title Miss República Dominicana Universo in November last year and was supposed to join the 70th Miss Universe competition in Israel but unfortunately, she tested positive for COVID-19 prior to her departure. Ghana's Engracia Afua Kaley Mofuman is a 27-year-old professional model who represented the Ashanti Region at the Miss Universe Ghana 2022 competition held in December last year. The experienced competitor bested 15 other finalists to win her national pageant. Aidana Akhantaeva was named Miss Universe Kazakhstan 2022 in a national competition held i

Former Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi has announced the exciting news on her social media that she was cast for an upcoming American historical epic film. The South African beauty will have her acting debut alongside stars Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, and John Boyega in "The Woman King" film written by Dana Stevens and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. "I am so honored and excited to announce that I have been cast for the film," the 28-year-old beauty shared on her social media. "It is a completely new world and first-time experience for me so I enter it with the utmost respect and humility. Forever grateful and looking forward," she added. The film was inspired by the true events that happened in The Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is scheduled to be theatrically released by Sony Pictures Releasing on September 16. Zozibini became the third woman from South Africa to be crowned Mi

Miss Universe Australia 2020 Maria Thattil has come out as bisexual on a recent episode of the Australian reality television series "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!" The 28-year-old Australian model of Indian descent took to social media after the episode aired to talk more about her coming out. "Before the show, I had only come out to a handful of people. My brother took my call at midnight last night and talked it over with me - and I realized the reason I’ve been so scared to do this is exactly why I need to," Maria wrote on her official account with photos of herself painted in rainbow colors. "A lack of bisexual visibility for most of my life has meant that the experience was confusing and there were parallels to other experiences I had with social identity. Fear of falling in between the cracks, never fully finding a place in myself," she continued. "No longer a secret to protect but a part of me to celebrate," she added to her c

India's very own Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu has visited the Empire State Building in New York City on Wednesday, January 12. It has been a tradition for a reigning Miss Universe to visit the 102-story Art Deco skyscraper designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon in Midtown Manhattan. Harnaaz, who won the 70th Miss Universe pageant in December of last year, also kicked off her media tour this week since arriving in her NYC apartment early this month. Photos: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images North America

Applications are now open to those who would like to participate in the Miss Universe Great Britain 2022 competition. The deadline for submission of the application is on January 31. To be eligible, applicants must meet the following requirement: - Resident of England, Scotland or Wales - British passport holder - Between 18-28 years old (must be over 18 and under 28 - ie 27 - on 1st January in the year of the final) - Free to take part in Miss Universe (if crowned Miss Universe GB) - Never have been married or have had children The final competition is expected to take place in July and the winner will represent Great Britain at the Miss Universe 2022 pageant later this year. Last year's titleholder and Miss Universe 2021 Top 16 semi-finalist from Ipswich, Emma Rose Collingridge, will crown her successor at the end of the event. If you would like to follow in Emma’s footsteps, apply online at www.missuniversegb.co.uk ! Photo: Miss Universe Great Britain

Three weeks after her coronation at the 70th Miss Universe competition in Israel, India's Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu has finally arrived at her apartment in New York. The 21-year-old beauty went back to her home country and stayed there for three weeks following her victory. She will now be based in the "Big Apple" during her reign as Miss Universe 2021. Here's a short arrival video at her "newly designed" apartment in NYC courtesy of the Miss Universe Organization: Photo: Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu / Instagram

Miss Universe Philippines organization has officially announced on social media that screening of applicants for the 2022 competition will start this February. The announcement also confirmed the month when the pageant will take place. "We’re brewing something phenomenal. Miss Universe Philippines 2022, this coming April," the organizers posted. Last year's winner and Miss Universe 2021 Top 5 finalist from Cebu City, Beatrice Luigi Gomez, will crown her successor who will represent the Philippines at the 71st Miss Universe edition possibly later this year. The exact date and venue of the final competition have yet to be announced. "Get your profiles and papers ready, aspiring queens!" Photo: Miss Universe Philippines

Miss Universe 2022 will be held in Paris, France according to a now-deleted social media post of Israeli fashion photographer Itai Kadosh. This will of course remain a rumor until the Miss Universe Organization releases an official confirmation announcing the host country of the next Miss Universe edition. If so happened that the rumor is true, it will be the first time for France to host the competition and the second time for Europe since Miss Universe 2000 in Cyprus. The 71st Miss Universe pageant will probably take place before the annual Miss France competition in December. Photo: Yann Caradec

Engracia Afua Kaley Mofuman bested 15 other finalists to be crowned Miss Universe Ghana 2022 in a national competition held on Tuesday, December 21. The 27-year-old professional model representing the Ashanti Region succeeds Naa Morkor Commodore and will represent her country at the 71st Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2022) pageant expected to be held next year. Miss Ahafo, Dorothy Ndede Kojo, and Miss Eastern, Magalie Ama Kabangele, were the first and second runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Universe Ghana is no stranger to pageantry. In 2018, she held the title Miss Intercontinental Ghana and went on to compete at Miss Intercontinental 2018 pageant held in the Philippines where she placed in the Top 20. Photos: Vine Imagery / Miss Universe Ghana

Former Miss Universe Catriona Gray looked stunning in Michael Cinco Couture creations in a photoshoot that took place at Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai. Catriona posed against the backdrop of the city's skyscrapers (including Burj Khalifa) while wearing the fall-winter 2022 collection of the Dubai-based renowned Filipino fashion designer. The Filipino-Australian beauty known for her slow-mo turn and lava walk during the Miss Universe 2018 competition in Bangkok, Thailand, is the fourth woman from the Philippines to win the Miss Universe title. In a recent post on social media, Catriona commemorated her victory in a "3 years crown-versary" tribute. "Crazy to think that 3 years ago today my dreams came true. And I'm infinitely proud to have represented and brought pride to my country. To celebrate I'm sharing never seen before snaps from my MU journey," she wrote. "The years since my reign ended (Dec 2019) have been a rollercoaster. And I know I'm not al

India's third Miss Universe titleholder Harnaaz Sandhu has arrived back in her home country after winning the prestigious 70th Miss Universe pageant in Israel on Sunday. The 21-year-old wore a red shimmery silhouette dress by Bhawna Rao during her arrival in Mumbai. Excited fans and members of the media flocked to the airport to see their newly crowned queen. A grand welcome celebration is being planned by the Miss Diva organization for the new Miss Universe after she completes her 7-day quarantine period. After her visit to India, Harnaaz is expected to fly to the United States where she will be based in New York during her reign as Miss Universe 2021. India waited 21 years since Lara Duta won Miss Universe 2000 to bring the coveted crown back again to the country. Photos: Miss Diva

Diane Leyre, representing the northern Ile-de-France region, was crowned Miss France 2022 in a glittering national final held on Saturday, December 11 at the Zenith in Caen. The 24-year-old international trade graduate bested 28 other beauties to win the beauty title. She succeeds Amandine Petit of Normandy and became the 16th woman from her region to win Miss France. Floriane Bascou of Martinique and Cécile Wolfrom of Alsace were named the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Tumateata Buisson of Tahiti and Youssra Askry of Normandy completed the Top 5 finalists. The new Miss France will either represent her country at the international Miss Universe or Miss World pageant next year. Photos: Sipa Press / Miss France

The 70th Miss Universe winner Harnaaz Sandhu of India wore a custom EyeCandy by Pinky & Sheshankon hot-pink blazer dress on the first day of her reign. Harnaaz shared a photo of herself with a short caption "first interview day as Miss Universe 2021" on her official social media account that gained over a million followers overnight. The 21-year-old beauty achieved India's third Miss Universe victory on Sunday in Israel, 21 years after Lara Dutta won Miss Universe 2000 in Cyprus. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe (@missuniverse) Source: Harnaaz Sandhu, Miss Universe / Instagram

Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza gave an emotional farewell walk before crowning India's Harnaaz Sandhu during the 70th Miss Universe final held in Eilat, Israel on Sunday, December 12. The Mexican beauty looked like a real-life princess in a couture plum ballgown by Michael Cinco, a Filipino fashion designer based in Dubai, during her final walk as Miss Universe. "What a journey this has been. I’m so glad and proud to be part of Miss Universe history," Andrea shared. "I am Andrea Meza, the third Mexican Miss Universe. Forever Miss Universe 2020," she added. Following her reign, Andrea will be working for Telemundo, an American Spanish-language television network that broadcasts programs and original content aimed at Latin American audiences in the United States and worldwide. The 27-year-old former Miss Universe also has a congratulatory message for the newly crowned queen. "You are part of this history, this family, and this legacy. Enjoy this journey and m

India's Harnaaz Sandhu won her country's third Miss Universe crown during the final competition of the 70th Miss Universe pageant held on Sunday, December 12 in Eilat, Israel. The 21-year-old Bollywood actress succeeds Andrea Meza of Mexico and will now move to New York City where she will live during her reign and become a spokesperson for various causes alongside the Miss Universe Organization. Former Miss Universe winners from India are Sushmita Sen (Miss Universe 1994) and Lara Dutta (Miss Universe 2000). Photos: Benjamin Askinas / Miss Universe Organization