PAGEANT Circle

After a 10-year hiatus, Botswana is all set to return to the Miss Universe stage with newly crowned Miss Universe Botswana 2024 Thanolo Keutlwile. The 28-year-old medical doctor and international model won her title during the national competition on Saturday, September 21 at the Gaborone International Conference Centre (GICC). Botswana's last participation at Miss Universe was in 2013 with Tsaone Macheng. The country has won the international pageant once during its debut in 1999 courtesy of Mpule Kwelagobe. The new Miss Universe Botswana will now represent the "Gem of Africa" at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. "I am overflowing with gratitude; truly, life brings me joy and ease. Thank you God," Thanolo shared online. "I am beyond grateful for the chance to represent my country and help reshape its narrative. As a nation, we are capable," she added. "The love and support I've received from all of you has been incredibl...

Liliam Ashby Barrera has been officially appointed Miss International Panama 2024 and will represent her country at Miss International 2024 in Tokyo, Japan this November. The 24-year-old medical student was crowned by her predecessor Linette Clement who placed in the Top 15 at last year's Miss International competition. Reigning Miss International Andrea Rubio from Venezuela graced the special coronation ceremony held Monday, September 23 in Panama City. The new Miss International Panama was the first runner-up at Miss Universe Panama 2024. She represented Panama Centro during the national pageant last month. Panama won the Miss International crown once with Lía Victoria Borrero González in 1998. She was the first Panamanian representative in history to win a major international beauty pageant. Road to the 62nd Miss International: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Liliam Ashby Barrera (@liliamashby) Photos: Dario Moreno, Rafael Neuman

Arlette Rujel was crowned Miss Grand Peru 2024 in a national competition held on Saturday, September 21 at the Plaza Miguel Grau Seminario in Punchana, Loreto. The 25-year-old fashion model and events host from Callao will represent Peru at Miss Grand International 2024 in Cambodia and Thailand this October. Niva Antezana of Lima was named first runner-up while Alexandra Parcon of Lima Centro and Andrea Torres of Loreto were the second, and third runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Grand Peru succeeds Luciana Fuster, last year's winner who was crowned Miss Grand International 2023 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. No stranger to pageantry, Arlette joined Miss Peru 2020 and made the Top 5. Last year, she went to Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia to compete for Reina Hispanoamericana 2022 and became the first Peruvian woman to win the international title. Road to the 12th Miss Grand International: View this post on Instagram A post shared by @missgrand.p...

Rhea Singha was crowned Miss Universe India 2024 on Sunday, September 22 at the Zee Studios in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The 19-year-old beauty from Ahmedabad, Gujarat bested 50 other competitors to win the national title. She received her crown from Indian actress and former Miss Universe India Urvashi Rautela. Pranjal Priya was named first runner-up while Chhavi Verg, Sushmita Roy, and Ruopfuzhano Whiso were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. This year's glittering national competition was the first edition under the Glamanand Group, with the new national director Nikhil Anand. The new Miss Universe India will now prepare to represent the "land of diversity" at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. Road to the 73rd Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe India (@missuniverseindiaorg) Photos: VJ Suraj / Miss Universe India

Charlotte Lucille Chia beat 14 other finalists to win Miss Universe Singapore 2024 on Sunday, September 22 at The Clifford Pier at The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore. The 26-year-old public relations account executive will now prepare to represent Singapore at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. Adelene Stanley and Olivia Dewi Cinta Higgins were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. This year's Miss Universe Singapore pageant was held under the directorship of former Miss Universe Malaysia Elaine Daly. Recently crowned Miss Universe Malaysia 2024 Sandra Lim and Miss Universe Indonesia 2024 Clara Shafira Krebs were special guests at the event. No stranger to pageantry, the new Miss Universe Singapore is a former Miss Singapore International titleholder who competed in Miss International 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. Last year, she went to Antalya, Turkey to participate in the Global Model of the World 2023 competition and took home the international title. ...

Sofia Labus triumphed over 26 other competitors to be crowned Miss Universe Ireland 2024 on Friday, September 20 at the Fairways Hotel in Dundalk. The 21-year-old social justice advocate and entrepreneur from Montenotti in Cork already joined last year and finished second runner-up. She succeeds last year's winner from County Kildare, Aishah Akorede, and will now prepare to represent Ireland at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. Caoimhe Kenny from County Donegal and Annie O'Dea from Galway were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Universe Ireland was born in Ireland to immigrant parents from Serbia. She holds a Level 5 qualification in psychology and social studies and is pursuing criminology at University College Cork (UCC). As part of the first-born generation of Irish-Serbs, Sofia champions educational opportunities for immigrants. She aims to work in immigration, leveraging her degree to fight for the rights and education o...

Pernambucana Luana Cavalcante was crowned Miss Universe Brazil 2024 in a national competition held on Thursday, September 19 at Teatro Gamaro in São Paulo. The 25-year-old model and actress from the state of Pernambuco will represent Brazil at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. Gabriele Marinho of Alagoas and Maria Fabiana Mata of Rio de Janeiro were proclaimed the first and second runners-up, respectively. Eduarda Dallagnol of Rio Grande do Sul, Tatiana Gonçalves of Minas Gerais, Taynara Gargantini of Paraná, and Letícia Galvão of Espírito Santo completed the Top 7 finalists. The new Miss Universe Brazil was crowned by the reigning Miss Universe from Nicaragua, Sheynnis Palacios, who graced the event as a special guest. She received her sash from former titleholder and Miss Universe 2020 first runner-up Julia Gama. "There are no words to describe the emotion I have to be able to say that I am the first Pernambucana and mother to become Miss Universe Brazi...

For the first time in history, Somalia will have a representative at Miss Universe with newly appointed Miss Universe Somalia 2024 Khadija Omar. The 23-year-old beauty made history as the first-ever Miss Universe Somalia and the first hijabi woman to participate in the prestigious international pageant. Khadija was born in the Hagadera refugee camp in Kenya and emigrated to Canada in 2010. In March 2022, she made the Top 13 among 97 contestants at the 70th Miss World competition which was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She will now prepare to represent Somalia at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. "The universe always rewards the efforts you put in. When one door closes, another opens to even greater possibilities. Keep pushing forward, your moment is coming," she wrote online. Road to the 73rd Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Khadija Omar (@khadija.omarr) Photos: Miss Universe Somalia / Instagram

Clara Shafira Krebs was crowned Miss Universe Indonesia 2024 during the national final held on Thursday, September 19 in Jakarta. The 22-year-old edged out 13 other finalists to win the competition and will now prepare to represent Indonesia at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico this November. Fiza Javaid Khan and Nadia Tjoa were the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Maria Ardelia Purwaningrum, Cinta Iole Amidjaja, and Moriska completed the Top 6 finalists. The new Miss Universe Indonesia holds a degree in international business management. She is of German and Indonesian descent and is passionate about art, modeling, acting, and business. Road to the 73rd Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zetrix Miss Universe Indonesia 🇮🇩 (@missuniverseindonesia2024) Photos: Miss Universe Indonesia / Instagram

Choi Soon-hwa recently created a buzz in the pageant community when she appeared as the oldest contestant vying for Miss Universe Korea 2024. The 81-year-old senior model who walked her first runway in her 70s made history as she competes alongside more than 30 others in the upcoming national competition. If she wins this year's Miss Universe Korea, she will be the oldest Korean representative and contestant in the 73-year history of the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Korea 2024 final will be held on September 30 and the winner will head to Mexico for Miss Universe 2024 this November. Age restrictions were recently removed by the organizers to align with the new rules of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) that any woman, regardless of marital status, from age 18 can compete. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 미스유니버스코리아 (@missuniversekor) Photos: Choi Soon-hwa, Miss Universe Korea / Instagram