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Eighty-four contestants confidently walked the stage wearing their Jacqueline Aguilera swimsuits, personalized capes, and Jojo Bragais shoes during the 71st Miss Universe preliminary competition on Wednesday, January 11 in New Orleans. Based on their preliminary swimsuit presentations, meet our favorites: TOP 5 (in alphabetical order) Aruba - Kiara Arends Dominican Republic - Andreína Martínez Puerto Rico - Ashley Cariño USA - R'Bonney Gabriel Venezuela - Amanda Dudamel Top 10 - Australia, Mexico, Philippines, Portugal, Vietnam Photos: Benjamin Askinas / Miss Universe Organization RELATED POSTS: 71st Miss Universe preliminary and costume competition standouts 71st Miss Universe: Here's where to watch final telecast and livestream 71st Miss Universe final telecast performers announced 71st Miss Universe: Meet the hosts, where to watch the final show

The 71st Miss Universe preliminary and national costume competition took place on Wednesday, January 11 at the New Orleans Ernest E. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Hosted by WDSU News Channel 6 anchor Randi Rousseau and Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu, the event featured 84 of the world's most ambitious and beautifully confident women competing for coveted spots in the semifinals. The contestants paraded in their Portia and Scarlett dresses, swimsuits and evening gowns to impress an all-women selection committee consisting of sports broadcaster, TV host, and activist Emily Austin; author, model, TV host, producer, and Miss Universe 1998 Wendy Fitzwilliam; Emmy-award winning journalist, TV and radio host, and author Myrka Dellanos; model, mom, women's advocate, and co-founder of Vyral Media PR Mara Martin; Senior Vice-President and Board Member of ImpactWayv Kathleen Ventrella; and actress, model, and Miss USA 2015 Olivia Jordan. During the preliminar

The Miss Universe Organization has announced the special guest performers for the 71st Miss Universe final telecast. Don't miss watching the spectacular show this coming Saturday, January 14 live from the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. The pageant starts at 7 p.m. CST (local time) on The Roku Channel, Telemundo, and different national channels and streaming platforms across the world. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe (@missuniverse) Big Freedia - rapper and performer known for his work in the New Orleans genre of hip-hop called bounce music. Big Sam's Funky Nation - a New Orleans band known for their boisterous blend of funk, jazz, rock, hip-hop, and a whole lot of Southern charm. Amanda Shaw - a fiddler, singer, songwriter, producer, and actress from Mandeville, Louisiana. Tank and the Bangas - a Grammy-nominated musical group based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They have released t

Choosing the semifinalists from 84 equally beautiful and empowered women is no easy task and the Miss Universe Organization has appointed a selection committee to do the job. They will determine who will make it to the next rounds of the competition and eventually the 71st Miss Universe winner based on what MUO is looking for. Two former Miss Universe titleholders will be part of the committee — Miss Universe 1998 Wendy Fitzwilliam from Trinidad and Tobago and Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete from Mexico. They will also be joined in the preliminary by former Miss USA and Miss Universe 2015 second runner-up Olivia Jordan of Oklahoma. Meet the selection committee: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe (@missuniverse) Big Freedia - American rapper and performer Myrka Dellanos - American television and radio host, journalist, author and socialite Ximena Navarrete - Miss Universe 2010 from Mexico Sweta Patel - Vice President of Growth Marketi

Eighty-four of the most beautifully confident and empowered women in the universe are in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, competing in the 71st Miss Universe edition. They have been in the host city for over a week now and making the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent their countries and territories on the prestigious global stage. The preliminary competition and final telecast are fast approaching and in less than a week, we will find out who will become the next Miss Universe. Based entirely on their official headshots posted at missuniverse.com and official app, meet our Top 12 favorites: TOP 12 (in alphabetical order) Albania - Deta Kokomani Angola - Swelia Da Silva Antonio Armenia - Kristina Ayanian Colombia - María Fernanda Aristizábal Indonesia - Laksmi De Neefe Suardana Jamaica - Toshami Calvin Kosovo - Roksana Ibrahimi Peru - Alessia Rovegno Philippines - Celeste Cortesi Spain - Alicia Faubel Venezuela - Amanda Dudamel Vietnam - Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Châu Special

The 71st Miss Universe contestants have been very busy with their pre-pageant events and activities ahead of the preliminary, national costume, and final competitions. Brennan's, a famous New Orleans restaurant located in the heart of the French Quarter, hosted the contestants a special dinner where they enjoyed delicious and authentic Creole cuisine. In addition to touring, filming, and rehearsing for the big show, a welcome press conference was held for the 84 contestants on Monday, January 9 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. Present were Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Jerry Reyes (President of the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority Board of Commissioners) Kelly Schulz (Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Relations at New Orleans & Company), Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart, and outgoing queen Harnaaz Sandhu. The contestants were also taken to a welcome reception at Gallier Hall, a historic building on St. Charles Avenue.

Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel went to social media to share a photo with her fellow Miss Universe contestant from Ukraine and wrote "I stand with Ukraine" along with their countries' flag emojis in the caption. The beauty queens, who are now in New Orleans competing in the 71st Miss Universe pageant, posed for a photo while combining their hands to form a heart-shaped gesture. R'Bonney expressed: "I am mesmerized by the strength and beauty of my Universe sister [Viktoria Apanasenko]. I had a few moments to sit and talk with her about protecting human rights. I support her resiliency and am inspired by her heart." Miss Universe Ukraine first shared the same photo on her page and said, "Yesterday we did interview together about war in Ukraine, about human rights, about future, about our countries." "I’m so grateful USA for supporting Ukraine, and all people who help Ukrainians in this difficult time overcome evil and fight against it," she

Miss Universe Curacao Gabriëla Dos Santos has finally been able to return to the 71st Miss Universe competition following her ordeal with COVID-19 infection. The 20-year-old certified life coach had to be put under quarantine when she tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after her arrival in New Orleans for the international pageant. Despite not knowing if she will be able to make it back to the competition, the beauty queen remained optimistic amid her unfortunate situation. She said: "These moments of difficulty should motivate us to become even stronger. It is challenging, but I chose to look at the silver lining and accept that life is full of unexpected twists and turns." "No matter what comes our way, we must never give up on ourselves or our dreams. I feel empowered knowing that I'm stronger than any challenge and ready to conquer anything," she added. Gabriëla was allowed to join her fellow contestants and continue her fight for her Miss Universe dream a

The 71st Miss Universe preliminary competition will be held on Wednesday, January 11 from 7 p.m. CST at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in Louisiana, USA. Following the crucial part of the pageant where the contestants will parade in their opening dresses, evening gowns, and swimsuits in front of the judges, the national costume competition will take place at 9 p.m. CST. Their preliminary scores will help determine who will make it to the semifinals which will be announced during the final show on Saturday, January 14 from 7 p.m. CST at the same venue. Don't miss the extravaganza of beauty, confidence, elegance, and poise as the contestants make an impression on the selection committee and afterward showcase their rich cultures and traditions through their national costumes. Both important events will be streamed live across the world on the official YouTube channel of the Miss Universe pageant (@OfficialMissUniverse) and on Lazada App in the Philippines.

The 71st Miss Universe experience in New Orleans, Louisiana will never be complete without the contestants taking part in the Mardi Gras celebration. Joined by reigning Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu of India, the selected contestants were wearing their national costumes, and others in their Portia and Scarlett opening dresses as they participated in the Krewe of Joan of Arc parade. Apart from its music, food, unique dialects, architecture, and vibrant nightlight, the city is also famous for its annual celebrations and festivals, most notably Mardi Gras. The French name Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday and the first parade is recorded to have taken place in 1837. Don't miss the contestants further showcase their national costumes during the 71st Miss Universe Costume Show on Wednesday, January 11 live from the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Photos: Miss Universe RELATED POSTS: 71st Miss Universe: Here's where to watch preliminary and national costume competition 71st