PAGEANT Circle

Mariela Cerros was crowned Miss Mundo Nicaragua 2021 in a national competition that aired from the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Managua on Saturday, May 22. The 22-year-old marketing student from Nueva Segovia bested 11 other finalists to win her national title. She succeeded Sheynnis Palacios who will compete at Miss World 2021 in San Juan, Puerto Rico later this year. Kendal Suárez and María del Pilar Sequeira were named first and second runners-up, respectively, while Katherine Mora, Lyska Cuthbert, and Jatzary Salvatierra completed the Top 6. The new Miss Mundo Nicaragua will represent her country at the 71st Miss World (Miss World 2022) competition. Photos: Miss Mundo Nicaragua

Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh has on the weekend arrived in Puerto Rico together with Miss World Organization's Julia Morley ahead of the Miss World 2021 competition on the island later this year. They were welcomed by former Miss World from Puerto Rico and Miss World 2021 organizer, Stephanie del Valle. It was Toni-Ann's first official trip since the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions happened. The Jamaican beauty said she was very excited about her visit as Puerto Rico is so much like her own country. During their official visit, they will attend meetings with local government officials and look at various locations to be selected for the 70th edition of the international pageant. Miss World 2021 is scheduled to be held on December 16 at the Coca-Cola Music Hall in San Juan. The event is aiming to promote the Caribbean island as a tourist destination to an expected two billion viewers worldwide. Photos: Miss World

Miss World Philippines 2021 candidates have been officially announced and the final will be held this July 11. Over 40 beauties are vying for the coveted national title and the opportunity to represent the Philippines at the Miss World 2021 pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico later this year. Other titles at stake will be for the next representatives at various international competitions such as Miss Supranational, Reina Hispanoamericana, and Miss Eco International. Here are the early standouts from the first official photos released by the Miss World Philippines Organization: Photos: Charvin Valdez Torne / Miss World Philippines Organization

Julia Morley's Miss World Organization took to social media on Monday, May 17 to congratulate the newly crowned Miss Universe Andrea Meza of Mexico. The 26-year-old software engineer and women's rights activist from Chihuahua has placed first runner-up at Miss World 2017 pageant won by India's Manushi Chhillar in Sanya, China, and was named Miss World Americas 2017. "As part of her duties as Miss World Americas 2017, Andrea joined Miss World 2017, Manushi Chhillar and her fellow continental winners on a Global Humanitarian Tour visiting India, China, Indonesia, British Virgin Islands, and the USA. This was documented in the series Miss World – The Story Never Told," MWO said. Andrea replied in a comment: "Thank you so much. My experience at Miss World was life-changing, will always have you all in my heart." Miss Universe and Miss World are considered two of the world's most important beauty pageants for women. Based in the United Kingdom, Miss World

Miss Mundo Naranjito Aryam Díaz Rosado was crowned Miss Mundo Puerto Rico 2021 at the Alejandro Tapia Theater in Old San Juan on Saturday, April 24. The 22-year-old TV host and international model succeeded Daniella Rodríguez. She bested 16 other contestants to win the coveted national title. Miss Mundo San Juan, Bárbara Betancourt Cortés, and Miss Mundo Fajardo, Bianka Loriel, were the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Miss Mundo Río Grande, Raishmar Carrillo, and Miss Mundo Rincón, Chelsey García, completed the Top 5. The new Miss Mundo Puerto Rico previously held the title Miss Teen Global Beauty International 2018. Later this year, she will be representing the Caribbean island at the Miss World 2021 pageant in San Juan's Coca-Cola Music Hall. Photo: Miss Mundo Puerto Rico

Following its cancellation last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Miss Namibia 2021 pageant will finally be held in Windhoek on June 5. Nadja Breytenbach, who represented her country at the Miss Universe 2019 pageant, will crown her successor at the end of the event that will air live across NBC Television and the official social media platforms. The national organization has yet to announce if the winner will compete internationally, either Miss Universe or Miss World, later this year. Here are the Top 15 finalists vying for the coveted national title: Chloe Ashley Brandt - 22, from the resourceful Uis in the Erongo region. She is a law graduate who stands for women empowerment, education, and justice. Stella Da Costa - 23, an office administrator who believes in the power of achieving anything regardless of the circumstances or background. Annerie Mare - 26, from Kamanjab, currently doing her Bachelor’s Degree in counseling. Her hopes are for Namibia to be a self-sufficient coun

The Silverbird Group, Nigeria’s leading multi-media conglomerate and organizers of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant, has officially announced the 2021 edition of the most prestigious beauty pageant in the country. MBGN beauty pageant has discovered, produced, and nurtured exceptional young ladies since its inception over three decades ago, including former Miss World Agbani Darego, lawmaker Lynda Chuba Ikpeazu, Bianca Ojukwu, Adaeze Igwe-Yobo, actress and singer Munachi Abii, and more recently Nyekachi Douglas, the reigning Miss World Africa among many others. Participants for this year’s edition will all be screened virtually online, in observance of COVID-19 safety protocols. To participate in the 2021 MBGN, candidates are expected to first visit the website:  www.mbgnsilverbird.com . Then pay the registration fee of N10,000 naira, fill in the registration form, and upload a one-minute video stating why they want to participate in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant.

Letícia Cocito, 18, has been named Miss Grande Curitiba 2021 for Miss Brasil Mundo (Miss Brazil World) 2021 competition. The first-year biomedical student will join the rest of the contestants from across the country in the national final at Brasilia Palace Hotel this August 19. Forty-eight beauties will compete during the 61st edition of Miss Brasil Mundo. The winner will represent Brazil at the Miss World 2021 pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico, later this year. Photo: Letícia Cocito / Instagram

Phonvilai Luanglath, 24, has been officially named Miss World Laos 2021 after the original winner, Phongsavanh Souphavady, stepped down as titleholder due to an age limit issue. Miss World Organization requires the contestants must be between 17 to 26 years old before the entry date of the international pageant. “I apologize to the organizers and the audience who always believed in the competition. Many thanks to my parents, relatives, and all strangers who have always supported me," Phongsavanh said when she announced her resignation. The new Miss World Laos finished as the first runner-up during the national competition held at the Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel in Vientiane last Wednesday, March 31. Phonvilai will now prepare to represent Laos at the Miss World 2021 pageant to be held at the Coca-Cola Music Hall in San Juan, Puerto Rico later this year. Photo: Miss World Laos

Miss East Flanders, Kedist Deltour, was crowned Miss Belgium 2021 on Wednesday, March 31 in a gala show held at the Proximus Theater (formerly Plopsa Theater) in Adinkerke, De Panne. The 23-year-old hairdresser who hails from Nazareth (East Flanders) succeeds Céline Van Ouytsel. She bested 32 other contestants to win her national title. Thanaree Scheerlinck was named first runner-up while Louise-Marie Losfeld finished second runner-up. Elodie Gualano, Cassandra Tordeur, and Camilia Martinez were the third, fourth, and fifth runners-up, respectively. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the national pageant took place without a live audience. During the show, the new Miss Belgium shared her difficult childhood in which she was adopted from Ethiopia after the death of her mother, as a child of 10, together with her brother and sister. Kedist will represent Belgium at either Miss World or Miss Universe pageant. Photos: Miss Belgium

Miss Mexico 2021 grand final will be held this July 3 in the northwestern Mexican state of Chihuahua. The recent announcement was made by the Miss Mexico Organization on its official social media pages. Chihuahua's Ashley Alvídrez, the reigning Miss Mexico, has been waiting to crown her successor who will compete in the 70th Miss World pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico, later this year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 4th edition of the national competition has been postponed a few times. The national organization is responsible for sending Mexican representatives to Miss Grand International and Miss World pageants. Its greatest achievement was producing the first-ever Mexican woman to win Miss World, Vanessa Ponce (Miss World 2018). Photo: Miss Mexico Organization

Alejandra Suárez was named Miss Hidalgo 2021 in a state competition held at the municipality of Real del Monte last Saturday, March 27. The 24-year-old beauty representing Pachuca is a dance student at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo (Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo). Alejandra succeeds Jaqueline Gómez Cisneros and will represent the central Mexican state of Hidalgo at the Miss Mexico 2022 national final. Photo: Miss Hidalgo

The Miss Belgium 2021 final competition will air live next Wednesday, March 31 at 8:30 p.m. on RTLplay,  HLN  (online), and Eclips TV. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will take place without an audience. Thirty-three beauties will battle it out for the coveted title and the winner is expected to represent the country at either Miss World or Miss Universe competitions. The contestants are Pô-Lynn Koopmans, Aïcha Thomis, Imane Khoudairi, Iona Vanden Noortgate, Thanaree Scheerlinck, Laura Baeyens, Clara Just Petrella, Donatella Willemyns, Maritsa van Iterson, Kedist Deltour, Cassandra Tordeur, Daphné Nivelles, Marine Godin, Kaylee Stroobants, Sana Nasri, Luna Geens, Camilia Martinez, Michèle Debouverie, Solenne Coppens, Emilie Brismé, Kelly Godefroid, Louise-Marie Losfeld, Elodie Gualano, Véronique Michielsen, Christina Boenneken, Lara Buyse, Gul Arikaya, Jennifer Felix, Estelle Leglise, Ellen Duplessis, Melissa Crescibene, Michelle De Vos and Dounia Allali. Céline Van Ouytsel, th

Grace Ingabire, 25, representing Kigali, bested 19 other contestants to be crowned Miss Rwanda 2021 in a national competition held on Saturday, March 20 at the Intare Conference Arena in Kabuga. The university graduate with a major in dance drove home a brand new Hyundai Creta 2021 series from Hyundai Rwanda, a 55-inch TV courtesy of Star Times Rwanda, a monthly salary, and other benefits. Amanda Akaliza and Witness Umutoni were the first and second runners-up, respectively. Each won a cash prize, a full-year scholarship at the University of Kigali, and a weekend getaway for 6 months offered by La Palisse Nyamata. The new Miss Rwanda succeeded last year's winner, Naomie Nishimwe, and will now have the opportunity to represent her country at the Miss World 2021 pageant to be held later this year in Puerto Rico. Rwanda has yet to win the Miss World title. The East African country debuted at the international pageant in 2016 with Jolly Mutesi as its first representative. Photos: Emman

Former Miss World Priyanka Chopra and husband Nick Jonas have announced the nominations for the Oscars 2021 in a two-part live stream on digital platforms from London on Monday, March 15. The Indian beauty could not contain her excitement for the film she produced and starred "The White Tiger" which was nominated in the best adapted screenplay category. "This is by far the coolest [work from home] day ever," Priyanka wrote on social media. She also shared some photos taken by English photographer and film director Greg Williams while congratulating all the nominees and thanking the academy for the opportunity to host the announcement. The 93rd Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, April 25 at the Dolby Theatre and Union Station in Los Angeles, two months later than originally planned due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be televised live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT and in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide. Photo: The Academy /