PAGEANT Circle

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...

Eleonora Kachalovskaya was crowned Miss Belarus 2023 (Miss World Belarus) in a national competition held on Friday, September 8 at the Minsk Sports Palace. The 23-year-old model bested 23 other competitors to win the national title. She succeeds Daria Goncharevich and is now expected to represent Belarus at the 72nd Miss World (Miss World 2024) pageant. Ksenia Vlasyuk and Milana Yakimovich were the first and second runners-up, respectively. Rounding out the Top 10 were Elizabeth Kazak, Daria Nizhnikov, Diana Tsareva, Christina Ivanova, Alina Gerasimenko, Martha Mireiko, and Nadezhda Tolstikova. Meet the new Miss Belarus: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Elia | Элеонора Качаловская (@_kachalovskaya_elia) Photos: Miss Belarus, Eleonora Kachalovskaya / Instagram

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...

Jane Dipika Garrett bested over 20 other competitors to win Miss Universe Nepal 2023 on Saturday, September 9 at the Godavari Sunrise Convention Center. The 22-year-old nurse and business developer from Kathmandu made history as she became the first-ever plus-size beauty to win the national title. She is advocating for mental health, body positivity, and hormonal health for women in Nepal. "As a woman who is curvy and who does not meet certain beauty standards, I'm here to represent women who are curvy, who struggle with weight gain, who struggle with hormonal issues — I believe that there is not only one type of beauty standard but every single woman is beautiful just as she is," said the new Miss Universe Nepal. Garima Ghimire was named first runner-up while Buddhisara Sunar, Shitashma Pokharel, and Abhilasha Lamsal were announced as the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Rounding out the Top 10 semifinalists were Alista Subedi, Sanskriti Chhetri Karki,...

Denmark is set to return to the Miss Earth pageant this year with newly appointed Miss Earth Denmark 2023 Silvia Ooi Topholm. The 22-year-old biracial beauty is a medical student from Copenhagen who was born to a Danish father and a Malaysian mother. She placed in the Top 11 at Miss Denmark 2023 and bagged the Miss Natural Beauty award. For her advocacy, Silvia believes that science is the key to solving the current climate crisis and many other global issues. She wants to use her platform to draw attention to environmental and biotechnical start-ups. The skin clinic employee and part-time model will now prepare to represent Denmark at Miss Earth 2023 in Vietnam this coming December. Denmark won its first and only Miss Earth to date with Catharina Svensson during the inaugural edition of the Philippines-based international pageant in 2001. Meet the new Miss Earth Denmark: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Official Miss Denmark Organization ✨🇩🇰👑🇩🇰✨ (@...

Miss Denmark 2023 third runner-up Julie Brink has been officially announced as Miss International Denmark 2023. The 26-year-old law student from Copenhagen will now represent Denmark at Miss International 2023 in Tokyo, Japan this October. She succeeds last year's titleholder Dana Myrvig, No stranger to pageantry, the new Miss International Denmark first participated in Miss Denmark 2021 and bagged the Best Public Speaker award. Returning to the national pageant this year, Julie shared, "I am proud to say, that I have been very dedicated and have worked very hard towards becoming my ultimate self the last two years to prepare myself for this moment." "I couldn't be more proud to be a part of an organization that is so committed to empowering women, making them believe in themselves and their abilities while remaining true to who they are and kind towards others." Road to the 61st Miss International: View this post on Instagram A post shar...

Deliart Association, the organizers of the annual Miss Shqiperia (Miss Albania) and The Miss Globe pageants, has been officially announced as the new owner of the license for this year's Miss Earth Albania. The Tirana-based organization has appointed Drita Ziri as Miss Earth Albania 2023 and will now go on to represent Albania at Miss Earth 2023 in Vietnam this December. No stranger to pageantry, the  18-year-old model and TV host from Fushë-Krujë was crowned Miss Shqiperia 2022 and went on to participate in The Miss Globe 2022 where she finished as second runner-up and bagged the Miss Bikini award. Road to the 23rd Miss Earth: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Shqiperia (@missshqiperia) Photos: Greta Lila / byglvisuals, Miss Shqiperia / Instagram

For the first time since 2019, the annual Miss USA pageant will air live on national television. The CW Television Network will broadcast Miss USA 2023 on September 29 at 8 p.m. EST from the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada. Miss Teen USA 2023 will also be held at the same venue, on September 28 at 7 p.m. EST, and will stream live on the network's official app and website. Further details on the upcoming national competitions including the hosts and members of the selection committee have yet to be announced. Reigning Miss USA Morgan Romano and Miss Teen USA Faron Medhi will crown their respective successors at the end of the much-awaited events. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss USA (@missusa) Photos: Miss USA / Instagram RELATED POSTS: Miss USA 2023: Meet the contestants Miss USA 2023 schedule of events — costume show, preliminary and final competition

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. "...

Valeria Villanueva was crowned Mexicana Universal Internacional 2023 (Miss International Mexico 2023) during the Mexicana Universal 2023 national final held last Saturday, September 2 in Aguascalientes. The 24-year-old model and actress, who represented the state of Colima, will participate in the 62nd Miss International (Miss International 2024). Her predecessor, Itzía Garcia, who is also from Colima, will be heading to Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan for Miss International 2023 this October. The new Miss International Mexico went to social media to thank her family, friends, and supporters who helped make her successful journey to the national pageant possible. "I'm blessed to have them in my life," she said. Valeria is a mental health advocate who initiated a social project called "En caso de emergencia rompe el cristal" (In case of emergency, break the glass). After overcoming anxiety disorder and depression from a young age, she vowed to contribute to society by help...