Miss Universe 2023: Meet the selection committee
The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) has just announced the phenomenal selection committee for the 72nd annual Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2023) competition to be held this Saturday, November 18 in San Salvador.
In keeping with the hosts and other talent in this year's groundbreaking event, the selection committee features a female majority with an impressive range of personalities and professional backgrounds.
Meet the selection committee:
Halima Aden: Halima Aden is a trailblazing supermodel known for breaking barriers in the fashion industry. Born in a Kenyan refugee camp, she moved to the United States at a young age. In 2016, she made history as the first hijab-wearing model to sign with a major agency and later became the first to wear a hijab and burkini in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant. Aden has graced the covers of numerous fashion magazines and walked the runways for renowned designers, all while advocating for diversity and inclusivity in the fashion world. She continues to inspire many with her commitment to representation and empowerment.
Mario Bautista: Mario Bautista has become one of the most relevant Mexican singer-songwriters of the moment in the Latin music industry. Among his most memorable hits are: Baby Girl, Brindo, Cabrón Yo Puedo and his album CINCO. The fusion of different genres such as Pop, Urbano and Regional Mexican are the ones that define his most recent musical style. Currently conquering multiple stages around the world, with an extensive musical trajectory and three studio albums, Mario Bautista continues to elevate his musical mastery and is living one of the best moments of his career. This year alone, he took home the "Musical Promise" award at the 2023 Heat Latin Music Awards and has received nominations for the Latin American Music Awards and Premios Juventud, respectively, and performed at Nickelodeon en Español's: 2023 Kids' Choice Awards alongside Alex Hoyer.
Giselle Blondet: Giselle Blondet is the co-host of Telemundo's popular afternoon show La Mesa Caliente. The Puerto Rican television personality, host, actress, author, and entrepreneur has acted in and starred in more than 25 telenovelas, numerous movies, and plays in Puerto Rico, the United States, and Latin America. Most recently, she has hosted several red-carpet specials, including Telemundo's Billboard Latin Music Awards and the Latin American Music Awards, among others.
Janelle Commissiong: Janelle Commissiong was the first woman of color to be crowned Miss Universe. As Miss Trinidad and Tobago, she used her platform to champion children's education, and women's empowerment, and to advocate for charitable organizations around the world. After her reign, she went into business in the male-dominated boat-building industry and continues to share her inspirational story as a speaker for educational leaders, business owners, and philanthropic organizations. Commissiong is a recipient of Trinidad and Tobago's highest honor, "The Trinity Cross."
Avani Gregg: Avani Gregg is one of the most prolific Gen Z digital beauty creators on the planet. Her makeup videos feature a masterful range of artistry skills, from edgy special effects looks to bright, colorful glam. Her unique sense of style is embodied by casual cool street-influenced silhouettes to emerging runway-inspired designer looks. This well-rounded mix of inspirational content combined with her effortless sophistication has catapulted her into mega-stardom with a collective global audience of more than 60 million engaged fans across multiple platforms. She has been named as one of Forbes 2022 Top Creators and to the Forbes 2022 Top TikTok Earner list. She also was honored on the Variety 2021 Power of Young Hollywood Impact List and the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 list. She was named TikToker of the Year in 2019 by the Shorty Awards.
Carson Kressley: Carson Kressley is an Emmy Award-winning TV personality, style expert, iconic fashion designer, interior designer, and New York Times best-selling author. He became a breakout star on Bravo's Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and his collaborations with Oprah Winfrey revolutionized America's personal fashion sense of style. Kressley continues to be a key judge on RuPaul's Drag Race. His philanthropic activities include work with the American Humane Society and a seat on the Board of Directors of Cyndi Lauper's True Colors United, which helps homeless LGBTQ youth.
Dr. Connie Mariano: Dr. Connie Mariano’s distinguished 24-year career in the U.S. Navy includes nine years serving in the White House as the White House physician to three U. S. presidents, and a leadership role as the first woman Director of the White House Medical Unit. She is also the first Filipino-American in U.S. history to become a Navy Rear Admiral. Dr. Mariano is an author and a frequent guest speaker in the media on the topics of care to VIPs, optimizing quality of life, and longevity. Her VoiceAmerica network podcast, House Calls with Dr Connie, is in its eighth season, and she recently launched her 2nd podcast, The Widow's Walk. She is also the recipient of the 2020 Global Beauty Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, which celebrates the pageant and beauty community at the international level.
Iris Mittenaere: Iris Mittenaere is a French model, television host, and best-selling author who was crowned Miss Universe 2016. She launched a career in television two years later as the co-host of France's Ninja Warrior and was a finalist on Dancing With the Stars (France). Iris was also the meneuse de revue in her own iconic show, 'L'Oiseau Paradis,' at one of the world’s most famous cabarets in Paris. She was on the judging panel of Top Model Belgium and appeared as a guest judge on the first episode of Drag Race France with the French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier. Today, Iris is celebrated as one of the hottest fashion and beauty influencers in France. She is also an ambassador for the international NGO Vision du Monde, advocating for the rights of women and the most disadvantaged children around the world.
Sweta Patel: Sweta Patel is the Vice President of Growth Marketing & Merchandising at Roku, where she spearheads viewer engagement and monetization for both Roku and The Roku Channel. Sweta is focused on building Roku's marketing technology stack and launching powerful marketing campaigns that drive engagement, build loyalty, and increase customer lifetime value for accounts across the globe. Prior to Roku, Sweta held critical leadership roles at Apple, Hulu, The Walt Disney Company, Cox Communications, and Comcast, where she spearheaded acquisition, engagement, upsell, retention, and win-back marketing initiatives.
Denise White: Denise White, sports crisis strategist and founder of EAG Sports Management, has pushed boundaries in the sports industry and redefined stereotypes. Denise is known as the 'Olivia Pope of the sports world' and is considered a pioneer in the world of sports and crisis management, representing some of the biggest names in sports. Her influence has caught the attention of Hollywood, with a dramedy based on her life (The Fixer) due out on Netflix in 2024. She was crowned Miss Oregon USA in 1994 and awarded the title of "Miss Congeniality" at the 1994 Miss USA Pageant.
Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization and the program's executive producer, said, "We are honored to have such brilliant committee members this year. Each of them brings a unique perspective to the challenging and intricate process of choosing just one special delegate to wear the crown as our 2023 global ambassador for social change and women’s empowerment."
The 72nd MISS UNIVERSE will take place in El Salvador on November 18th, 2023 and will be Executive Produced by Sergio Alfaro’s InventTV. The competition will be streamed on The Roku Channel and broadcast by Telemundo within the United States.
Photos: Miss Universe / Instagram
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