PAGEANT Circle

Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo said "I live in a cruel industry" in the caption of the latest video she posted on her official social media page where she appears without makeup. The 24-year-old beauty shared how she is always being compared to different girls and people have always something to say like “you’re not beautiful enough, you’re so thin, I don’t like what you wear.” "But then life is never superficial. It’s not always what’s attractive to our eyes but it’s the love we choose to build, the connection we make to people, and how we want to celebrate ourselves," she said. "This is the real me. No makeup. No heavy hair extensions. Nothing fancy to wear. Just me," she added. "Even in my simplest form, I know in my heart I am nothing less than phenomenal." With the Filipinos being one the biggest pageant fans in the world, Rabiya carries the pressure to win her country's 5th Miss Universe title in the highly anticipated 69th

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

Miss Universe Brazil 2020 Julia Gama will wear the "Queen of Cotton" national costume at the 69th Miss Universe pageant in Hollywood, Florida this May. The costume created by fashion designer and stylist Michelly X features cotton and crystals on a transparent fabric. It highlights Brazil as one of the largest producers of cotton in the world. In the last years, the country has occupied the fifth position in the production of cotton. It’s not by chance that the product is called “the white gold.” "This year we have decided for a totally innovative typical costume in order to reverence the economic greatness of Brazil," Julia shared on social media. "The costume of my dreams was made by the incredible and amazing hands of [Michelly X]. Having a costume designed by her is like a dream coming true and she has embraced this dream with so much love and dedication," she added. Photos: João Vitor Cruz

Miss Universe El Salvador 2020 Vanessa Velásquez will be wearing a "Flor de Izote" national costume at the 69th Miss Universe pageant in Hollywood, Florida this May. The beautiful creation of Francisco Guerrero was inspired by El Salvador's national flower, a symbol of pride that showcases the identity and richness of the country’s people and its breathtaking landscapes. Flor de Izote’s versatility is reminiscent of Salvadorans' rooted inspiration, appreciation, and love for their emblem because of its ability to offset the planet’s carbon footprint. In addition, the flower has medicinal value and the stems are used to create beautiful textiles and nutritious dishes. It’s a reminder to our world and a call for action to protect the environment and to appreciate every blooming flower and plant on our planet. Photos: Estudio Guti

Besides the virtual live celebration of its reigning queens, the Miss Earth pageant launched its first-ever digital magazine on Earth Day, the movement that began on April 22, 1970, to demonstrate support for environmental protection. For the first issue, former Miss Earth Ukraine Diana Mironenko graced the cover. She is an environmental activist, educator, and author who founded the Power Woman Charity Foundation. "It is a great honor for me to be a part of this project and even more so to take a place on the cover," Diana said in a post on her social media page. "This is a huge motivation and understanding that everything is not in vain. Every day of work will definitely bear fruit. It just takes a little time," she added. The digital magazine is now available at the Miss Earth official website  www.missearth.tv . Photo: Miss Earth

Mrs Ireland World Kate Schneider has been named the new Mrs World 2020. She was the first runner-up at the last edition of the international pageant for married women. The original titleholder Caroline Jurie resigned following a controversial on-stage drama in the Mrs Sri Lanka pageant earlier this month where she snatched the crown of the winner Pushpika De Silva because of false allegations. She was later arrested for the incident but released on bail. Mrs World organization took to social media to announce the new titleholder on Tuesday, April 20 and revealed that Caroline's voluntary resignation was solely her decision. The new Mrs World, who advocates health, wellness, and nutrition, also shared a statement on the official Mrs World page following her designation as the new titleholder. "I want to give my sincerest thank you to everyone for being so incredibly welcoming as I take on this once-in-a-lifetime journey! I vow to make every single day count, take on each opport

Miss Universe Indonesia 2020 Ayu Maulida has unveiled her national costume for the 69th Miss Universe pageant in a press conference held at The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Mega Kuningan on Thursday, April 22. Fashion designer Diana Putri of Diana Couture and accessories designer Yuling Hoo and Silvy Prajogo of Le Ciel Design have collaborated to create the costume inspired by the Komodo dragon. Reaching up to 10 feet in length and more than 300 pounds, Komodo dragons are the heaviest lizards on Earth. Native to Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands for millions of years, the Komodo dragon is often referred to as “the last link to the prehistoric dinosaurs.” Consisting of over 5000 unique scales to create the most opulent yet realistic approach, the national costume features a komodo headpiece, a sequin 3D black and gold reversible base, and a 3D chest piece and dramatic tail. Beadwork was done by hand while all the metal plates to resemble the scales were hand-stitched. The most intricate process