PAGEANT Circle

The 25 beauties vying for Miss Venezuela 2023 officially presented in a glittering gala held on Saturday, September 9 in Caracas. Hosted by Henrys Silva and Nieves Soteldo, the contestants officially received their sashes during the special program broadcasted by Venevisión. Representing the 24 states and the federal district of Venezuela, they will compete for the national titles currently held by Diana Silva (Miss Universe Venezuela), Ariagny Daboín (Miss Venezuela World), and Andrea Rubio (Miss International Venezuela). The next winners, to be crowned later this year at the Centro Comercial Líder, are expected to represent Venezuela at next year's Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International editions. Meet the 25 contestants: Amazonas - Ileana Márquez Pedroza Anzoátegui - Giorgiana Rosas Apure - Raulimar Díaz Aragua - Georgette Musrie Barinas - Racha Saab Bolívar - Argiannis Luna Carabobo - Mariangela Ramírez Cojedes - Sheba Sichini Delta Amacuro - Dayana Lara Depe

Over two weeks after winning the coveted Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023, Karla Guilfú Acevedo has returned to her hometown Patillas. The 24-year-old beauty originally from Esmeralda del Sur, was overjoyed to receive a heartwarming welcome upon her return on Saturday following her successful stint in the national competition. Karla is set to represent Puerto Rico in the upcoming 72nd Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2023) in El Salvador this November. Known for her incredible first runner-up finish at Miss Supranational 2021, the psychology graduate student is expected to do very well at Miss Universe and hopefully bring home the sixth crown for Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico's past Miss Universe winners were Zuleyka Rivera (2006), Denise Quiñones (2001), Dayanara Torres (1993), Deborah Carthy (1985), and the late Marisol Malaret (1970). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Puerto Rico (@muniversepr) Photos: Jalimar Febo, Brandon Cruz / Wapa.TV RELAT

Paula Susanna Joukanen edged out nine other finalists to win Miss Suomi 2023 (Miss Universe Finland 2023) on Saturday, September 9 at Aino Areena in Järvenpää. The 22-year-old law student at the University of Helsinki who also works as a legal trainee at a construction consulting firm will now prepare to represent Finland at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador this November. "I applied for the Miss Suomi competition because I want to show the world that the age-old cliche 'beauty and brains' is quite possible," said the new Miss Universe Finland. "You can be groomed and impressive on the outside without taking away your academic intelligence or athleticism," she added. Serina Suvila, 23, from Turku, and Maisa Alatalo, 21, from Tampere, were the first and second runners-up, respectively. Reigning Miss International Jasmin Selberg of Germany graced the glittering gala as a special guest. Last year's winner, Petra Hämäläinen, who was recently appointed as Mis

Angelina Usanova was officially crowned as Miss Universe Ukraine 2023 in a special ceremony held on Thursday, September 7 at the National Botanical Garden in Kyiv. The 26-year-old singer-songwriter received her crown from last year's titleholder Viktoria Apanasenko, who won Best in National Costume and the Spirit of Carnival award during the 71st Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans last January. At the end of the coronation event, Angelina performed her own song which translates as "Our prayers will be heard" and another one, "Hold on to your own" with talented Ukrainian pianist Dmytro Shurov. The new Miss Universe Ukraine was appointed for the national title last month following rounds of online screenings. A physical competition was not held due to the ongoing armed conflict situation in Ukraine. Angelina has already started her preparations and training in the United States to represent her country at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador this November. "

John Sotima was crowned Miss Universe Cambodia 2023 on Thursday, September 7 at Bayon TV Steung Meanchey Studio in Phnom Penh. The 23-year-old beauty representing Kampong Cham bested over 30 other competitors to win the national title. She will now prepare to represent Cambodia at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador this coming November. Sai Fhon of Phnom Penh was announced as the first runner-up while Vannak Bormey of Svay Rieng, Channa Pisey of Battambang, and Kolianne Mailfait of Prey Veng were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Universe Cambodia is no stranger to pageantry as she has already joined the national pageant in 2019 and placed second runner-up. She was then named Miss Tourism Cambodia and went on to compete in Miss Tourism International 2019 in Malaysia where she was awarded the title Dreamgirl of the Year International. Road to the 72nd Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬

From 25, only the Top 12 contestants have been selected to continue their journey to the Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2023 crown. The highly anticipated grand final and coronation will take place on Saturday, September 16 at the Harare Hippodrome. Several artists have been revealed to perform on the show including Diamond Musica, Nutty O, Ammara Brown, Enzo Ishall, and Prudence Katomeni Mbofana. This year's national competition will mark Zimbabwe's return to the Miss Universe pageant after an absence of over two decades. Who will represent Zimbabwe at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador this November? Meet the Top 12: View this post on Instagram A post shared by MISS UNIVERSE ZIMBABWE ® (@missuniversezw) Prudence Moyo Audrey Ward Allyfina Mwanyali Nokutenda Marumbwa Amanda Mpofu Angela Guta Life Matunzeni Yamikani Nyenga Nicole Musiyarira Noliwe Shand Stacey Salaman Brooke Bruk Jackson Photos: Miss Universe Zimbabwe / Instagram

Mariana Downing was crowned Miss República Dominicana Universo 2023 (Miss Universe Dominican Republic 2023) during the Miss República Dominicana 2023 grand final held on Sunday, September 3 at Centro de Convenciones Sambil in Santo Domingo. The 27-year-old Dominican-British model and actress, representing Sánchez Ramírez, bested over 20 other competitors to win the national title. She will now prepare to represent the Dominican Republic at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador this November. Yamilex Hernández of La Vega was named Miss International Dominican Republic 2023 while Melissa Domínguez of Santo Domingo de Guzmán won the title Reina Hispanoamerican Dominican Republic 2023. Eoanna Constanza of Distrito Nacional and Chantal Silliman of Santiago rounded out the Top 5 finalists while Heidy Rosado of Barahona, Celinda Ortega of Com. Dom. En USA, Leonela González of Com. Dom. En Puerto Rico, Yuli Mercedes of La Romana, and Amelia Ramírez of San Cristóbal were the rest of the Top 10. The

Melissa Flores bested over 30 other competitors to be crowned Mexicana Universal 2023 (Miss Universe Mexico 2023) in a national competition held on Saturday, September 2 at the Convention and Exhibition Center of Aguascalientes. The 25-year-old model and psychology graduate from Michoacán will now represent Mexico at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador this November. She succeeds last year's winner Irma Miranda. Valeria Villanueva of Colima was named Mexicana Internacional while Tania Estrada of Chihuahua, Carolina Pérez of Sinaloa, and Xiadani Saucedo of Ciudad de México were awarded the titles Mexicana Charm, Mexicana Hispanoamericana, and Mexicana Orb Internacional, respectively. The new Miss Universe Mexico advocates #NoMeLimites (Don't Limit Me) which focuses on raising awareness for prevention and protection against courtship violence. Melissa is no stranger to pageantry, having previously won Miss Earth Mexico and went on to participate in Miss Earth 2018 in the Philippine

Maria Camila Avella Montañez was crowned Miss Universe Colombia 2023 in a national competition held on Saturday, September 2 at Centro de Eventos del Caribe in Puerta de Oro, Barranquilla. The 28-year-old model, content creator, and TV host representing Casanare bested over 20 other contestants to win the national title. She made history by being the first ever mother and married woman to become Miss Universe Colombia. Adriana Numa Vega of Norte de Santander and Lina María Hurtado Mosquera of Buenaventura were the first and second runners-up, respectively. The representatives of Atlántico, Sophia Isabel Koepke, Cali, Wendy Michelle Murillo, Risaralda, Valentina Valderrama Patiño, Santander, Nina María Pinzón Zambrano, and Valle, Valentina Cardona Rincón were the rest of the Top 8 finalists. Completing the Top 15 were Amazonas, María Paula Torres, Boyacá, Laura Valentina Parra Giraldo, Cundinamarca, Sherren Londoño Perea, Nariño, Rouse Valentina Cortés Betancourt, Quindío, Jazmín Eliana

Ileann Powery was crowned Miss Universe Cayman Islands 2023 in a national competition held on Saturday, September 2 at the Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa. The 25-year-old entrepreneur and professional volleyball player from West Bay will now represent the Cayman Islands at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador this November. She succeeds last year's titleholder Chloe Powery-Doxey. Sydonie Barrett and Tracey Campbell were named the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Ayana Woolery and Mili Almaguer were the rest of the finalists. This year's event which was streamed live on the official Miss Universe YouTube channel was the first edition of the national pageant since the Cayman government dropped the license earlier this year. The Miss Universe Cayman Islands Committee is now headed by media personality Catherine Tyson-Sewell with Derri Dacres-Lee as national director. Meet the new Miss Universe Cayman Islands: View this post on Instagram