Miss World 2021 Top 40: Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland

The Miss World 2021 Top 40 will return to Puerto Rico to compete for the 70th Miss World final at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan on March 16.

Meet the semi-finalists from Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, Philippines, and Poland:

MEXICO - Karolina Vidales - After graduating in Marketing and International Business, Karolina is currently working as an International Model and Tourism Ambassador. Her dream job would be to work for the United Nations Children’s Fund. She enjoys painting, photography, cooking, and roller skating and has a talent for singing and writing. Karolina’s favorite book is, ‘The Alchemist’ by Paolo Coehlo, and ‘Forrest Gump’ is her favorite film.

Karolina’s Beauty with a Purpose project “Cue Michoacan” is an initiative that supports indigenous children in Michoacan who are subject to abuse, discrimination, poverty, and illiteracy. The project started in the region of La Cienega bringing homeless children educational workshops, recreational activities and donating 500 pantries, 470 clothes packages, and 230 packages of school supplies and backpacks. Karolina furthered her Beauty with a Purpose project by raising funds to build bathrooms in Yurecuaro, a disadvantaged community in the northwest of Michoacan, and by reaching the most remote communities in the state. This includes La Cañada de los Once Pueblos where an educational program was launched for 200 children.

Placement in Miss World fast track events: Sports Winner, Head to Head Challenge Top 16, Top Model Top 13

MONGOLIA - Burte-Ujin Anu - After studying Art Education, specializing in Dance, Burte-Ujin is currently working as a Contortionist and has opened her own studio. At the age of eight, she performed as a contortionist in every city in Germany. Her hobbies include fitness, hiking, dancing, and singing. ‘The Terminal’ is her favorite film and she has a passion for classical music.

Burte-Ujin’s Beauty with a Purpose project “Let’s Respect the Difference” provides help to children with disabilities below their waist and free lectures regarding contortion and stretching. The project also launched a campaign to spread awareness of cyberbullying and depression in people of all ages.

Placement in Miss World fast track events: Talent Winner, Head to Head Challenge Top 16

NEPAL - Namrata Shrestha - Namrata is currently studying for a Post Graduate Degree in Sociology and is working as a Kindergarten Teacher, one day she would like to open her own school. Her proudest moment was when one of her pupil’s parents said that her daughter would like to be like her when she grows up. She also has a passion for belly dancing and the arts.

For her Beauty with a Purpose project “Bridging the Gap”, Namrata took on the task of building a 73-meter bridge in a remote part of Nepal. The bridge connects three villages and will directly benefit 2,804 households and 12,376 people. The completed bridge saves the villagers a two-hour journey which requires them to dangerously cross the river. The construction of the bridge also provided over 200 laborers with employment for five months.

Placement in Miss World fast track events: Head to Head Challenge Winner, Top 10 Beauty with a Purpose

NICARAGUA - Sheynnis Palacios - After completing her Degree in Communications, Sheynnis is currently working as a Brand Ambassador and a TV Host. She has dreams to own her own International PR company. She also has an interest in creating Audio Visual Digital Content and would one day like to be an Audio-visual Producer.

Since being crowned, Sheynnis has attended over 100 events raising funds and awareness for a number of charities and social projects. Sheynnis’ launched her Beauty with a Purpose project “Uniendo Vidas” (Joining Lives) after Nicaragua was hit by two hurricanes in November 2020. The initiative is based on the rehabilitation of the San Bartolo Bridge, which was damaged during the hurricanes, preventing local children from getting to school. Sheynnis carried out various fundraising activities to make the rehabilitation of the bridge possible. Now complete the two local villages are able to proceed with their lives as normal.

Placement in Miss World fast track events: Head to Head Challenge Winner, Top Model Top 13

NORTHERN IRELAND - Anna Leitch - Anna is currently working as a Primary School Teacher and also studying for a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership. Anna’s dream job would be to be a Children’s Television Presenter. She plays both the piano and the violin, her favorite song is ‘Everybody Dance’ by Chic and her favorite film is ‘The Holiday.’

Anna’s Beauty with a Purpose project “People of the Future” focuses on raising awareness for mental health especially in schools. Anna uses her role as a Teacher to promote a positive mental attitude to life within children. In addition, Anna is also an Ambassador for the Northern Ireland Hospice and took part in their campaign “Kindness Counts” within her school.

Placement in Miss World fast track events: Talent Top 5

PARAGUAY - Bethania Borba - Currently Bethania is a student working as a Social Influencer and a Model and would one day like to set up her own agency and train women in Digital Marketing. Bethania enjoys running marathons, dancing, and singing. One of her achievements is that she is the Vice President of the Paraguay Student center. She enjoys watching documentaries and has a pit bull called America as a pet.

Bethania’s Beauty with a Purpose project “Igualidad” (Equality) supports the indigenous communities in Paraguay who are amongst the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people, often with no access to employment, education, and healthcare. Bethania worked alongside the organization Itaipu and visited several indigenous communities to provide food, dental care, healthcare, and medicines. Placement in Miss World fast track events: Head to Head Challenge Winner

PHILIPPINES - Tracy Perez - After completing her Degree in Industrial Engineering, Tracy is currently working in Sales and Operations, as a model, and has ambitions to be an Entrepreneur. Her interests include hiking, cooking, swimming, and playing badminton and volleyball. She also has a passion for folk dancing and singing. Her favorite film is ‘Avengers.'

Tracy’s personal story of being brought up by a single mother inspired her to start her Beauty with a Purpose project “Para Kay Nanay: A Single Mother’s Journey to Love”. Tracy started a program to empower all single parents. The program provides training in computer skills and financial training to ensure they have better job opportunities. The program also provided a safe space and community for the single mothers where they can talk about their struggles and feel that they are not alone.

Placement in Miss World fast track events: Beauty with a Purpose Winner, Head to Head Challenge Winner

POLAND - Karolina Bielawska - Karolina is currently studying for a Master’s Degree in Management and would like to continue her studies with a PhD. Karolina also works as a Model. One day she hopes to become a Motivational Speaker. She enjoys swimming and scuba diving and playing tennis and badminton.

Karolina is also very passionate about the voluntary work that she is involved in. ‘Intouchables’ is her favorite film. Karolina’s Beauty with a Purpose project “Zupa Na Pietrynie” provides constant help to homeless people in crisis as well as raise awareness of this problem and fight against social exclusion. Every Sunday they provide hot meals, food packages, drinks, clothing, masks, law advice, and professional medical support for almost 300 people in need in Lodz. Many of these people did not have access to register for a COVID-19 vaccine but the project was able to get Governmental permission for over 400 people to receive their vaccinations. The project also built the first Social Bathroom for people in the homelessness crisis in Lodz.

Placement in Miss World fast track events: Top Model Top 13

Source: Miss World