New Zealand returns to Miss Universe with Kiwi-Filipina Franki Russell


After a 4-year hiatus, New Zealand is set to return to the Miss Universe stage with the recently appointed Miss Universe New Zealand 2024 Franki Russell.

The 29-year-old Kiwi-Filipina beauty was awarded the national title by this year's Miss Universe license holder for New Zealand, Dubai-based celebrity producer and publisher Josh Yugen.

New Zealand was last represented at the Miss Universe pageant with Diamond Langi in 2019. The country has won the Miss Universe crown once with Lorraine Downes in 1983.

The new Miss Universe New Zealand will now prepare for the 73rd Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2024) competition to be held in Mexico later this year.

Franki is a recognized reality star (Pinoy Big Brother) and actress in the Philippines.

Photo: Miss Universe New Zealand

Popular posts from this blog

Miss Supranational Spain 2025 is Luna Negrín of Madrid

Image
Luna Negrín, repesenting Madrid, was crowned Miss Supranational Spain 2025 during the Miss RNB España 2025 final gala held on Saturday, April 12 at the Teatre Auditori Salou (TAS). The 21-year-old journalism student will represent Spain at Miss Supranational 2025 in Poland this June. She succeeds last year's winner Elizabeth Laker. Originally from Arona in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Luna was raised in Premià de Mar in Barcelona. She is pursuing a degree in journalism at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). Last night's national pageant also culminated with the coronation of Miss Supranational Spain 2026 Nelly Maryniuk of Palencia. The 20-year-old beauty of Ukrainian descent will go to Miss Supranational 2026. Anabel Merillas of Segovia and Maira Díaz of Valencia were named the first and second runners-up, respectively while Paula Gómez of Barcelona and Montse Dominguez Porras of Málaga rounded out the Top 6 finalists. Road to the 16th Miss Sup...
Read more

Emma Heyst to represent Denmark at the 72nd Miss World

Image
Reigning Miss Denmark Emma Heyst has been officially announced by the Miss Denmark Organization as Miss World Denmark 2025. The 22-year-old was crowned Miss Denmark 2024 in September last year in Copenhagen. She will now prepare to represent Denmark at Miss World 2025 in India this coming May. According to the national pageant organization, Emma is future sociology student, philanthropist, model and sports enthusiast who has been involved in humanitarian work for years. Inspired by her own mother, she is deeply committed to her work with the organization Lykkeliga, which provides an inclusive and safe community for children with developmental disabilities. The 72nd Miss World competition will be held on May 31 in the city of Hyderabad in Telangana, India. Meet the new Miss World Denmark: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Denmark Organization (@missdanmark.dk) Photos: Miss Denmark / Instagram
Read more

Miss Supranational Brazil 2025 is Eduarda Braum of Espírito Santo

Image
Eduarda Braum was crowned Miss Supranational Brazil 2025 on Friday, April 4 at Hotel Sibara in Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina. The 25-year-old model and influencer, representing Espírito Santo, will represent Brazil at Miss Supranational 2025 in Poland this June. Maria Gasparotto of Guanabara and Cassia Adriane of Pará were announced the first and second runners-up, respectively. Completing the Top 6 finalists were Lorena Ohana of Pernambuco, Maiara Porto of Rio de Janeiro, and Maressa Sales Vieira of Paraná. The new Miss Supranational Brazil succeeds Isadora Murta, last year's titleholder who placed third runner-up at Miss Supranational 2024. Road to the 16th Miss Supranational: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Concurso Nacional de Beleza (@missbrasiloficial) Photos: Ricardo J. Siviero / Miss Brasil CNB
Read more

Filipino-German Anna Valencia Lakrini crowned Miss Supranational Germany 2025

Image
Former Binibining Pilipinas Globe titleholder Anna Valencia Lakrini was crowned Miss Supranational Germany 2025 at the recently held Queens of Germany 2025 pageant in Berlin. The 27-year-old Filipino-German, born in Stuttgart, will now prepare to represent Germany at Miss Supranational 2025 in Poland this June. No stranger to pageantry, Anna was previously crowned Binibining Pilipinas Globe (The Miss Globe Philippines) at Binibining Pilipinas 2023 while representing the province of Bataan. She was sent to compete in behalf of the Philippines at The Miss Globe 2023 pageant in Albania and finished as second runner-up. "I am deeply honored to wear the Miss Supranational Germany crown, not just for myself, but for the cultures that raised me, the values that shaped me, and the people who never let me give up," she shared online. "With this crown, I honor where I come from and all the dreams that brought me here," she added. Road to the 16th Miss Supranational: V...
Read more

Sóldís Vala Ívarsdóttir to represent Iceland at Miss Earth 2025

Image
Former Miss Universe Iceland Sóldís Vala Ívarsdóttir was officially proclaimed Miss Earth Iceland 2025 during the recently held Ungfrú Ísland 2025 (Miss Iceland) pageant in Reykjavík. The 19-year-old beauty received the crown from her predecessor Hrafnhildur Haraldsdóttir who made the Top 4 at the Miss Earth 2024 pageant in the Philippines. She was previously crowned Ungfrú Ísland 2024 (Miss Iceland/Miss Universe Iceland 2024) and went to Miss Universe 2024 last November in Mexico. The new Miss Earth Iceland, who practiced gymnastics for 10 years before moving on to soccer, will now prepare to represent her country at Miss Earth 2025. In a recent post on social media, Sóldís shared photos from her crowning moment with the caption, "I am so proud to announce that i will be representing Iceland at [Miss Earth] later this year." Road to the 25th Miss Earth: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Earth Iceland 2025 (@soldisivarss) Pho...
Read more

Miss Universe Iceland 2025 is Helena Hafþórsdóttir O'Connor

Image
Helena Hafþórsdóttir O'Connor was crowned Ungfrú Ísland 2025 (Miss Universe Iceland) on Thursday, April 3 at Gamla Bíó in Reykjavik. The 20-year-old beauty from Viðey bested 19 other contestants to win the national title. Guðrún Eva Hauksdóttir, Kamilla Guðrún Lowen, Kristín Anna Jónasdóttir, and Dimmey Rós were the first, second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. "I’m beyond honored and grateful to be crowned Miss Universe Iceland, Ungfrú Ísland," Helena shared online. "This journey has been filled with challenges, growth, and unforgettable moments—and I want to say from the bottom of my heart: thank you," she added. No stranger to pageantry, the new Miss Universe Iceland was named last year's Miss Supranational Iceland. She went to Poland for Miss Supranational 2024 and made the Top 25. Helena succeeds last year's winner Sóldís Vala Ívarsdóttir and will now prepare to represent Iceland at Miss Universe 2025 to be held in Thailand this Novemb...
Read more

Plus-sized Sara Milliken crowned Miss Alabama for National American Miss 2024

Image
Plus-sized beauty Sara Milliken was crowned the National American Miss Alabama 2024 during the state final held on May 27 at the Renaissance Marriot in Montgomery. The 23-year-old model and mental health advocate from Atmore, Alabama is now expected to represent her home state at the National American Miss 2024 competition later this year. "This is a dream that has been 8 years in the making for me," said the new National American Miss Alabama who first joined the state pageant when she was 15 years old. After enduring bullying upon her return at the age of 16, she decided to take a break from joining for 7 years. However, this year, she mustered up the courage to give the crown another shot. "I returned to the NAM stage to prove to myself I didn't give up. I could do this. I was more than the mean things that was said to me," Sara wrote online. "I was authentically myself. I had fun. I had the most genuine smile on my face. I wasn't perfect." In r...
Read more

Miss World Nigeria 2025 is Joy Mojisola Raimi of Osun State

Image
Joy Mojisola Raimi bested over 30 other contestants to be crowned Miss World Nigeria 2025 on Friday, April 4 at the Balmoral Event Center in Lagos. The 24-year-old, representing the state of Osun, also bagged the Miss Photogenic award. She will now prepare to participate in the Miss World 2025 competition to be held in India this May. "I have always dreamt of the Miss World platform — and on the day I called my chaperone to begin this journey, I was filled with fear and doubt. But somehow, that call lit a fire in me. A fire that carried me here," Joy shared online. She also wrote, "This is not just a win — it is a call. A call to serve, to inspire, and to bring home the crown we’ve all dreamed of." No stranger to pageantry, the new Miss World Nigeria is a former Miss Intercontinental Nigeria. She participated in Miss Intercontinental 2022 in Egypt and placed second runner-up. Road to the 72nd Miss World: View this post on Instagram A post shared ...
Read more

Miss Universe Philippines 2025: Meet the contestants

Image
Miss Universe Philippines 2025, the 6th edition of the annual Miss Universe Philippines pageant will be held this May at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Sixty-nine contestants representing various municipalities, cities, and provinces of the Philippines will compete for a chance to represent the country at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand this November. The contestants were officially revealed in an official press presentation held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City last month. This year's competition will be the first edition under the directorship of former titleholder and Miss Universe 2013 third runner-up Ariella Arida. The fierce batch of contestants includes former Reina Hispanoamericana winner Teresita Ssen Marquez and Miss International Philippines Maria Ahtisa Manalo. Also vying for the crown are former Miss Philippines Earth Yllana Marie Aduana, Miss Supranational Philippines Chanel Olive Thomas, and Miss Globe Philippines Chelsea Fernandez. Who will succeed last ...
Read more

Iloilo City's Alexie Mae Brooks crowned Miss Eco International Philippines 2025

Image
Alexie Mae Brooks was officially designated as Miss Eco International Philippines 2025 in a ceremony following the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 pageant on May 22 in Pasay City. The 22-year-old national athlete from Iloilo City is now expected to represent the Philippines at Miss Eco International 2025 in Egypt on a date yet to be announced. She succeeds Cebu City's Chantal Elise Schmidt, who placed first runner-up at Miss Eco International 2024 which was held last month in Cairo. Before joining this year's Miss Universe Philippines where she was one of the heavy favorites, Alexie was crowned Miss Iloilo 2024 last January. Aside from her Top 10 finish among 53 contestants, she also went home with the Best in National Costume as well as special awards from sponsors such as Face of Avon, Miss Buscopan, Miss JellLife, and Miss Zonrox. Here's the new Miss Eco Philippines in her green Rian Fernandez gown: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alexie...
Read more