PAGEANT Circle

Miss Imo, Ugochi Ihezue, was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2023 on Sunday, September 10 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The 26-year-old visual artist and women's advocate with a master's degree in business administration will represent Nigeria at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador this November. Another winner, Zamfara's Sectra Okundaye was crowned Miss Supranational Nigeria 2023 and will next year go to Poland to compete in Miss Supranational 2024. The runner-up was the representative of Ekiti, Princess Agunbiade while Lagos, Tofe Olagoke, and Anambra, Paula Ezendu were the rest of the Top 5 finalists. Completing the Top 15 were Katsina, Cynthia Okoro, Ogun, Olashubomi Balogun, Jigawa, Perpetual Ukadike, Ebonyi, Chimamaka Immaculate Ali, Rivers, Nyekachi Douglas, Cross River, Louisa Jacob-Duke, Nasarawa, Nana Aisha Abubakar, Borno, Chinaza Miracle, Niger, Princess Harnet Eweka, and Ondo, Inem Shina. The new Miss Universe Nigeria is no stranger to pagean

The 25 beauties vying for Miss Venezuela 2023 officially presented in a glittering gala held on Saturday, September 9 in Caracas. Hosted by Henrys Silva and Nieves Soteldo, the contestants officially received their sashes during the special program broadcasted by Venevisión. Representing the 24 states and the federal district of Venezuela, they will compete for the national titles currently held by Diana Silva (Miss Universe Venezuela), Ariagny Daboín (Miss Venezuela World), and Andrea Rubio (Miss International Venezuela). The next winners, to be crowned later this year at the Centro Comercial Líder, are expected to represent Venezuela at next year's Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International editions. Meet the 25 contestants: Amazonas - Ileana Márquez Pedroza Anzoátegui - Giorgiana Rosas Apure - Raulimar Díaz Aragua - Georgette Musrie Barinas - Racha Saab Bolívar - Argiannis Luna Carabobo - Mariangela Ramírez Cojedes - Sheba Sichini Delta Amacuro - Dayana Lara Depe

An ecologist of Tongan and Scottish descent from Sydney, Helen Latukefu, was crowned Miss Earth Australia 2023 in a national competition held on Saturday, September 9 at the Tang Media Performing Arts Centre in Smithfield. The Top 5 finalists and elemental queens were Deborah Madriaga (Miss Earth Air), Kajol Chand (Miss Earth Water), Luna Ojacastro (Miss Earth Fire), and Patricia Sheeran (Miss Earth Charity). This year's Miss Earth Australia winner succeeds Sheridan Mortlock who placed in the Top 4 and clinched the Miss Earth Air title at Miss Earth 2022 last November in the Philippines. Apart from the coveted national title, Helen also went home with the Miss Millionaires Alliance and Best in Swimwear awards. The former Australian Youth Poetry Slam champion will now prepare to represent Australia at the Miss Earth 2023 pageant in Vietnam this December. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Earth Australia (@missearthaustralia) Photos: Bob Reyes, Mi

Zabelo Hlabisa bested nine other finalists to win Miss Earth South Africa 2023 in a ceremony held on Saturday, September 9 at Sandton Southern Sun in Johannesburg. The 29-year-old entrepreneur and international multi-award-winning model from Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal will now represent South Africa at Miss Earth 2023 in Vietnam this December. She succeeds last year's winner Ziphozethu Sithebe. Belinde Schreuder, Duduzile Mbobo, and Zama Mbatha were announced as the runners-up and were awarded the title Miss Air, Miss Water, and Miss Fire, respectively. Overjoyed from winning her national title, the new Miss Earth South Africa shared on social media: "Guys please tell me I'm dreaming. Am I even supposed to say something at this point? If YES, what do I say?" No stranger to pageantry, Zabelo previously held the title Miss Heritage South Africa and went on to participate in the Miss Heritage Global 2022 pageant in Limpopo where she finished as the second runner-up. Road

Mathilda Lelong was crowned Miss Nouvelle-Calédonie 2023 in a glittering competition held on Saturday, September 9 at the Le Village in Nouméa. The 24-year-old beauty holds a degree in life and earth sciences and is an advocate for animal protection. She is the daughter of former titleholder Carole Roudeillac who competed in the Miss France 1997 pageant. Camélia Hamoudi was named first runner-up while Emma Grousset and Cassandra Paryla-Mompelat were the second and third runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Nouvelle-Calédonie succeeds last year's winner Océane Le Goff and will now prepare to represent New Caledonia, a French territory in the South Pacific, at Miss France 2024 this December in Dijon. In a post on social media, Mathilda shared: "I thank again the Caledonians who supported me. A dream that was passed down from mother to daughter is coming true today thanks to you dear public," she shared on social media. "Now I will honor this title by giving the best

Melanie Renaud bested 17 other competitors to be crowned Miss International Canada 2023 on Saturday, September 9 at the Capitol Theatre in Windsor, Ontario. The 26-year-old digital journalism and communications graduate of the University of Windsor will now prepare to represent Canada in the upcoming Miss International 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. Jessica Bailey and Aslihan Morali were the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Anmol Dosanjh, Arsh Thind, Kim Do, Maria Jose Acosta, and Svetlana Mamaeva were the rest of the Top 8 finalists. Last year's winner who placed in the Top 8 at Miss International 2022, Madison Kvaltin, was recently crowned Miss Universe Canada and will soon compete in El Salvador for Miss Universe 2023. The new Miss International Canada was the second runner-up at Miss Universe Canada 2023 where she also bagged the Queenly Spokesmodel and Miss Photogenic awards. Melanie is a marketing strategist, model, stylist, writer, mentor, and philanthropist. As a Gl

Over two weeks after winning the coveted Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023, Karla Guilfú Acevedo has returned to her hometown Patillas. The 24-year-old beauty originally from Esmeralda del Sur, was overjoyed to receive a heartwarming welcome upon her return on Saturday following her successful stint in the national competition. Karla is set to represent Puerto Rico in the upcoming 72nd Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2023) in El Salvador this November. Known for her incredible first runner-up finish at Miss Supranational 2021, the psychology graduate student is expected to do very well at Miss Universe and hopefully bring home the sixth crown for Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico's past Miss Universe winners were Zuleyka Rivera (2006), Denise Quiñones (2001), Dayanara Torres (1993), Deborah Carthy (1985), and the late Marisol Malaret (1970). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Puerto Rico (@muniversepr) Photos: Jalimar Febo, Brandon Cruz / Wapa.TV RELAT

Eleonora Kachalovskaya was crowned Miss Belarus 2023 (Miss World Belarus) in a national competition held on Friday, September 8 at the Minsk Sports Palace. The 23-year-old model bested 23 other competitors to win the national title. She succeeds Daria Goncharevich and is now expected to represent Belarus at the 72nd Miss World (Miss World 2024) pageant. Ksenia Vlasyuk and Milana Yakimovich were the first and second runners-up, respectively. Rounding out the Top 10 were Elizabeth Kazak, Daria Nizhnikov, Diana Tsareva, Christina Ivanova, Alina Gerasimenko, Martha Mireiko, and Nadezhda Tolstikova. Meet the new Miss Belarus: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Elia | Элеонора Качаловская (@_kachalovskaya_elia) Photos: Miss Belarus, Eleonora Kachalovskaya / Instagram

Paula Susanna Joukanen edged out nine other finalists to win Miss Suomi 2023 (Miss Universe Finland 2023) on Saturday, September 9 at Aino Areena in Järvenpää. The 22-year-old law student at the University of Helsinki who also works as a legal trainee at a construction consulting firm will now prepare to represent Finland at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador this November. "I applied for the Miss Suomi competition because I want to show the world that the age-old cliche 'beauty and brains' is quite possible," said the new Miss Universe Finland. "You can be groomed and impressive on the outside without taking away your academic intelligence or athleticism," she added. Serina Suvila, 23, from Turku, and Maisa Alatalo, 21, from Tampere, were the first and second runners-up, respectively. Reigning Miss International Jasmin Selberg of Germany graced the glittering gala as a special guest. Last year's winner, Petra Hämäläinen, who was recently appointed as Mis

Jane Dipika Garrett bested over 20 other competitors to win Miss Universe Nepal 2023 on Saturday, September 9 at the Godavari Sunrise Convention Center. The 22-year-old nurse and business developer from Kathmandu made history as she became the first-ever plus-size beauty to win the national title. She is advocating for mental health, body positivity, and hormonal health for women in Nepal. "As a woman who is curvy and who does not meet certain beauty standards, I'm here to represent women who are curvy, who struggle with weight gain, who struggle with hormonal issues — I believe that there is not only one type of beauty standard but every single woman is beautiful just as she is," said the new Miss Universe Nepal. Garima Ghimire was named first runner-up while Buddhisara Sunar, Shitashma Pokharel, and Abhilasha Lamsal were announced as the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Rounding out the Top 10 semifinalists were Alista Subedi, Sanskriti Chhetri Karki,