PAGEANT Circle

Juri Watanabe was crowned Miss Universe Japan 2021 in a national competition held in Tokyo last Wednesday, September 22. The 25-year-old beauty bested over 30 other contestants to win her title and succeed Aisha Harumi Tochigi. She will represent Japan at the 70th Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2021) pageant in Eilat, Israel this December. Juri holds a bachelor’s degree in development economics and international development from the University of California. She is no stranger to pageantry as she won Miss Asia USA 2016 and a Top 10 finalist during Miss World Japan 2019. Photo: Miss Universe Japan

Xaria Penn was named Miss Universe British Virgin Islands 2021 in a national competition held on Saturday, September 25. The 18-year-old and six-feet tall beauty from Tortola succeeds Bria Smith and will represent the British overseas territory at the Miss Universe 2021 pageant to be held in Eilat, Israel this December. Lia Claxton and Kasaddi Chalwell completed the Top 3 finalists. Photos: Miss Universe British Virgin Islands

Pageant veteran Baitong Jareerat Petsom was named Miss Earth Thailand 2021 in national competition held in Bangkok on Saturday, September 25. The 28-year-old architecture graduate from the southern Thai province of Chumphon is an environmental ambassador for the Green World Foundation and an advocate for sustainable ocean. She founded Baanbaan to promote a green lifestyle. Baitong will represent her country at the Miss Earth 2021 competition to be held virtually later this year. Miss Earth Thailand competition was held for the first time after an eight-year hiatus. The national organization is currently headed by Dr. Sirikan Onsonkarn of the Siri Hotel Group. Thailand has yet to win the Miss Earth crown. Its highest placements were in 2010 and 2013 with Watsaporn Wattanakoon and Punika Kulsoontornrut who both placed in the Top 4 and bagged the Miss Earth Water title. Photos: Wasunpas Pengsomya / Miss Earth Thailand

Meet the official delegates of the Miss Earth 2021 virtual competition from the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Sri Lanka: Miss Earth Czech Republic 2021 is Adéla Stroffeková. She is a teacher, model, and a physical education graduate from the Univerzita Karlova. Miss Earth Estonia 2021 is 21-year-old Eliise Randmaa, who is currently in her last year of attaining a bachelor's degree in IT systems development and working as a junior development specialist. She is passionate about dancing, makeup, and the environment. Miss Earth Sri Lanka 2021 is 22-year-old Diandra Soysa, who is currently finishing her studies in computer science. She has been working as a part-time model and an absolute nature lover who spends her leisure time gardening along with her family. Source: Miss Earth

Meet the official delegates of the Miss Earth 2021 virtual competition from Bulgaria, Indonesia, Northern Marianas, and Peru: Miss Earth Bulgaria 2021 is 28-year-old Yuliia Pavlikova. She holds a doctorate degree in economics and is a member of the Fund for the Protection of Animals. Monica Francisca Khonado was appointed as Miss Earth Indonesia 2021. She is a host and moderator and founded the sustainability project Voice of Nature Indonesia. Crystal Fiona Rio was named Miss Earth Northern Marianas 2021 in a national competition held at the Hyatt Regency Saipan on September 18. The 18-year-old college student is currently working towards her master's degree in psychology. Miss Earth Peru 2021 is Briggitte Corrales, who is a graduate of business and marketing. At 26, she has established her own modeling production and created a beauty pageant for plus-size women to empower them and help them achieve their goals. Source: Miss Earth

Olivia Harris was crowned Miss Wales 2021 during the glistening competition held at The Riverfront, Newport on Saturday, September 11. The 18-year-old beauty from Magor succeeds Gabriella Jukes, Miss Wales 2019 who is the longest-reigning Miss Wales in history. She is a model, beauty therapist, and ambassador for Ready, Steady, Go, a charity that supports children with autism. Lauren Parkinson was announced as first runner-up and the second runner-up position was awarded to Emily Norris. "Dreams do come true," said the new Miss Wales. "Today marks another new chapter in my life as I sign my contract as a contestant for Miss World 2021, I am truly blessed," she added. Olivia will represent Wales at the 70th Miss World (Miss World 2021) pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico this December. Photos: Danielle Latimer / Miss Wales

Daria Goncharevich bested 28 other beauties to be crowned Miss Belarus 2021 at the Palace of Sports in Minsk last Friday, September 10. The 18-year-old model and runway instructor from Minsk fluently speaks Russian and English. She will represent her country at the 70th Miss World pageant to be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico this December. Yulia Mishchenko and Alexandra Popok were named first and second runners-up, respectively. Photos: Miss Belarus

Jillyan Chue, representing Colón, was crowned Miss Earth Panama 2021 in a glittering competition held at the Teatro En Circulo in Panama City on Saturday, September 11. The 25-year-old professional model graduated with a degree in social communication from the Universidad Catolica Santa Maria La Antigua. Jessybel Babikian, Justine De Frias, and Liney Mena were named Miss Earth Air, Water, Fire, respectively, while Nathaly De la Flor Herrera bagged the Miss Of Latinamerica Panamá title. The new Miss Earth Panama succeeds Anayansi De Gracia and will represent her country at the Miss Earth 2021 pageant later this year. Photo: Said Hanafi Krayem / Miss Earth Panama

Susy Sacoto, the representative of Portoviejo (Manabí), was crowned Miss Ecuador Universo 2021 in a national competition held on Saturday, September 11 in Quevedo, Los Ríos. The 24-year-old lawyer and medicine student succeeds last year's winner, Leyla Espinoza. She will represent Ecuador at the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel this December. Valeria Gutiérrez, the representative of the Ecuadorian community in the United States, was the first runner-up and received the title of Miss Ecuador International 2021. She will go to the Miss International pageant in Japan. Runners-up Karla Romero, Génesis Guerrero, Valeri Carabalí will be sent to Miss Charm, Reina Hispanoamerican and Miss Supranational competitions, respectively. Sofia Jiménez Thompson and Melane Rubio completed the Top 7 finalists. Photos: Miss Ecuador

Miss Coquimbo, Antonia Figueroa, was crowned Miss Universo Chile 2021 (Miss Universe Chile) in a national competition held in San Fernando on Saturday, September 11. The 26-year-old "MasterChef" finalist and professional model is a civil environment engineer, taekwondo champion, and former professional violinist of the municipal theater in her region. She is also the president of an NGO called “Voluntarios por la Infancia” (Volunteers for Children) that helps children and adolescents at SENAME. She fluently speaks English, German and Portuguese. Miss Los Ángeles, Daniela Riquelme, and Miss San Fernando, Maria José Norambuena, were named Miss World Peace Chile and Miss Tourism Global Chile 2021, respectively. Miss Iquique, Daniella Morgado, Miss Valparaiso, Bárbara Pacheco, Miss La Serena, Amanda Fidalgo, Miss Temuco, Angela Aguila, and Miss La Reina, Amanda Fidalgo completed the Top 7 finalists. The new Miss Universe Chile bested 14 other finalists to win her beauty title. Sh

Miss Galway, Pamela Uba, claimed the coveted Miss Ireland 2021 title at the Lakeside Manor Hotel in Virginia, Co. Cavan last September 5. The 25-year-old beauty has just completed her master's in clinical chemistry and works at University Hospital Galway. Her "Beauty with a Purpose" project focuses on education. She launched a fundraiser entitled “Make Education A Superpower.” The funds raised go towards educational equipment, such as upcycled iPads, for children living in direct provision, a system of asylum seeker accommodation. Pamala made history as the first-ever black woman to be crowned Miss Ireland. She traveled from Johannesburg, South Africa at a young age and seek asylum to start a new life in Ireland. The new Miss Ireland will represent her country at the 70th Miss World pageant to be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico this December. Photo: Miss Ireland

Nadia Ferreira was officially announced by the Promociones Gloria organization as Miss Universo Paraguay 2021 last August 31. The 22-year-old stunning model and student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business engineering from Villarica succeeds last year's titleholder, Vanessa Castro. "This is a dream come true. I will officially be Paraguay to the eyes of the universe. I can’t help but feel so much happiness and joy for this great honor and for the support, I’m already receiving from a whole country, my country," she shared on social medial. The new Miss Universe Paraguay will represent her country at the 70th Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2021) pageant to be held in Eilat, Israel this December. Photo: Promociones Gloria

Miss Turkey 2021 has crowned its official representatives for the next Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss Supranational pageants on Wednesday, September 8 in Istanbul. Dilara Korkmaz, 23, Cemrenaz Turhan, 23, and Şira Sahilli, 21, were announced as Miss Turkey World 2021, Miss Turkey Universe 2021, and Miss Turkey Supranational 2021, respectively. Su Bige Korucu was named Miss Farmasi Turkey. While master's student Dilara will go on to represent Turkey at Miss World 2021 pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico, engineering student Cemrenaz will travel to Eilat, Israel for Miss Universe 2021. Industrial engineering student Şira will go to Miss Supranational 2022 in Poland next year. Photos: Miss Turkey

Dilara Korkmaz, 23, was crowned Miss Turkey World 2021 in a glittering competition held in Istanbul on Wednesday, September 8. The second-year master's degree student at Ankara University bested 19 other beauties to win her national title. Dilara will represent Turkey at the 70th Miss World pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico this December. Turkey has won the Miss World crown for the first time in 2002 courtesy of Azra Akın. Photo: Miss Turkey

Amara Shune Lei, 25, has been officially announced as the newly appointed Miss Grand Myanmar 2021. The 25-year-old model, hairstylist, and makeup artist placed in the Top 8 during the Miss Earth 2020 virtual competition held in November last year. She will now prepare to represent her country at the Miss Grand International 2021 pageant in Thailand later this year. Amara succeeds Miss Grand Myanmar 2020 Han Lay, who placed in the Top 20 at Miss Grand International 2020 last March. Photos: Miss Grand International