We all can say that it's already pageant season whenever we see leaderboards and hot picks from several pages or portals comes out. This years edition of Miss Universe promises to be the most spectacular and "unique" according to MUO president herself, Paula Shugart. The Philippines will play host to this year's competition on January 30th, 2017. The Philippines already hosted the pageant twice, in 1974 and 1994. Of which Spain and India won the title respectively. Who do you think will win this year's crown? Here is the Pageant Journal Pre-Arrival hot picks. Everything was based on photos, some videos of their pasarelas and interviews viewed online, and not to mention their sash factors and supporters. In no particular order:
Australia Bidding to host 2017 and 2018 edition, without a doubt, Miss Universe Australia 2016 will be on the semis.
Caris Tiivel hails from the Western Australian city, Perth. Caris’ talent and passions lie in the arts, where she has been recognized for over five years. Whether she is creating something on canvas or making something to model down a runway, she is always inventing new ways to express herself. Caris works closely with children who are in need through fundraising, functions, and mentorship programming. By competing at Miss Universe, she wants the world to know what and who she stands for.
Considered to be the beauty torn bearer of the Caribbean , Shannon Harris is proud to be the first title holder of Barbados in over nine years. As one of the few Barbadians to ever receive a major modeling contract, Harris has learned that hard work truly pays off. When she isn’t on the runway, you can catch Harris lounging in sweatpants or yoga pants. Shannon is an avid reader, especially when it comes to self-improvement books. Harris also has worked with several charities in Barbados, including "I Am A Girl"’ that works with high school girls to empower them to know that their voice matters. If she were to win the title of Miss Universe, Harris would want to use her voice to encourage young girls that loving yourself and being true to yourself is the best thing you can do.
Boom!! Raissa Santana is a basketball playing, cooking enthusiast who graduated college with a Marketing degree. Santana is so proud to be representing Brazil as the first black woman crowned in 30 years. Santa has volunteered with the elderly and hopes to get involved with charities and organizations that focuses on child adoption. With her charm and attitude, she hopes to have the judges eyes locked on her during the Miss Universe Competition.
Her CV says it al why she should be Miss Universe. Siera Bearchell is a law student, entrepreneur, runner, and golfer. After finishing her second year of law school, and running her first marathon, Bearchell earned the right to represent Canada at Miss Universe. Most people enter the world of pageants with potential stardom in mind, but Bearchell began competing for a completely different reason. After her family lost their home to a fire, she was inspired by the help they received from Red Cross. Seeing pageants as potential opportunities to commit herself to charity and community, she set her sights on becoming Miss Teen Saskatchewan and has risen to the heights of Miss Universe Canada. Siera plans to use her law degree for business endeavours and to help the most vulnerable communities throughout the globe. Bearchell is so fortunate to have the opportunity to volunteer for more than seven charities, and if she takes home the Miss Universe crown, she would like to focus on working with young women on their self-worth, self-esteem and confidence.
Not really my cup of tea, but with the last year's fiasco, she will surely be a hit this year. Full of creativity, Andrea Tovar, graduated college with an Industrial Design and Photo Production degree. Tovar is described as beautiful, funny and a risk taker by some of her friends. On top of being a great friend, she also enjoys being an active volleyball player. Her confidence allows her to be goofy and she isn’t afraid to randomly get up and start dancing. If crowned Miss Universe, Tovar wants her generation to be properly educated on the environment. One of her dreams is to create an innovative foundation that uses raw materials from the Pacific region to transform Colombian products.
I love her from day 1 that she was crowned Miss France. 23 year old Iris Mittenaere was born North of France in a town called Lille. Mittenaere has kept herself busy the last 5 years by pursuing her degree in Dental Surgery. Besides dental school, Mittenaere has always been fond of extreme sports, travelling the world and cooking new French dishes. Fresh, funny and caring is how she would best describe herself. She enjoys making others happy, especially when volunteering at Bienvenue-Tongasoa and Les Bonnes Fées. Mittenaere is honored to be representing France in the upcoming Miss Universe competition. If she takes home the crown, she hopes to advocate for dental and oral hygiene.
This towering beauty will surely not be ignored. 'Keke', formally known as Kezia Roslin Cikita Warouw, is a humble yet wise girl who wants to inspire many young women around the world. Keke got her degree in Informatics Engineering and later became employed and held the position Head of Accounting and Finance. On top of juggling her school work and her career, she began volunteering for Smile Train Indonesia. In the future, she hopes to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS for young children and women. Rarely tall for an Indonesian woman, Keke is ready to use height and her past experiences as an advantage in the upcoming Miss Universe Competition.
Don't under estimate her capacity, this girl will surely deliver. Zoey Ivory, 23 years old, is a professional model and dancer who studied at the University of Education and Institute for Performing Arts. Ivory has studied many types of dance styles, and continues to express herself through movement. Ivory is known for having an artistic side, she has a passion for music, art and photography. While growing up she realized that reading and writing doesn't come naturally for others. Therefore, if crowned, she would love to continue to help children learn by tutoring and reading stories to them.
I really don't see her winning for now but she will surely crack the semis. Keity Drennan is not a stranger to pageants. Drennan is a Panamanian-American model, a former Miss International Panamá 2011 contestant and has competed in Miss Panamá 2016 where she won the title of Virreina Panamá in 2011. Now, Drennan is thrilled to represent Panama at the upcoming Miss Universe competition. After graduating high school at American College in Panama City, Drennan won the ‘Chica Chico Modelo’ contest which led her to her modeling career. She had the chance to work with Physical Modelos, represent Panama in the Ford Model’s Supermodel of the World 2008, and is now employed with Next Models in Miami. With her successful modeling background, Drennan hopes to win the title of Miss Universe. If she wins, Drennan wants to advocate for children who have autism. She believes that society today has a lot of misinformation on autism. She wants the world to know that children with autism have just as many skills, if not more, as everyone else.
With the help of her fellow countrymen which is as pageant crazy as the Philippines, I will not really mind seeing her into the semis. Htet Htet Htun is a 24 year old model who currently owns her own event management company. On top of her ownership at her company, Htun also conducts her own DJ classes for beginner students. Htun has been apart of five pageants and is proud to be finally representing her country at the upcoming Miss Universe Competition. For volunteer work, The Miss Universe Myanmar Organization has gotten her involved with Smile Train. On the side, Htun volunteers at the Future Youth Donation Group and the Friends Donation Group. If crowned, Htun would be looking forward to raising awareness for those who are suffering with HIV.
Need I say more? Back to back? in her home turf? why not! She is full of surprises, and i'm so damn sure that her trainers has lots and lots of Uhm and Ahh surprises in store. Originally from Quezon City, Philippines, Maxine Medina is a sporty Runway, TVC and Print Model at the Professional Models Association of the Philippines. Medina enjoys being creatively engaged in her work, which is why she is so successful at being a residential condominiums interior designer. Medina has visited children who had cancer at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, supported "Operation: Smile" in Sta. Ana Hospital, taught street children organized by Gawad Kalinga, and participated in relief operations to typhoon victims within the Philippines. After her actively working face to face with many children, she would love to continue to work with adolescents who have cancer if crowned Miss Universe.
People who dreams big will be blessed. She did an online post asking for financial help so she can compete on this years competition. Brave! Hawa Kamara is making history this year by being the first contestant to represent her beautiful republic of Sierra Leone during the Miss Universe competition. Kamara was born in Kono, the land of diamonds, and raised in Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital city. After graduating Methodist Girls High School, one of the most prestigious girls school in Freetown, she began traveling and competing in beauty pageants. On the weekends, Kamara spends her time volunteering by talking to young girls about the importance of education. Kamara is looking forward to meeting all of the contestants representing their country in the competition. Kamara hopes to continue to make history by taking home the crown, if she does, she hopes to advocate and raise awareness for HIV/AIDS.
I'm telling you guys, watch out for this turkish beauty. Tansu Sila Cakir surely knows how to kick you into shape for the Miss Universe Competition. While studying Nutrition, Dietetics and Psychology, Cakir also likes to keep herself moving in sports such as pilates, yoga and kickboxing. Healthy living plays a big role in Cakir’s life, she enjoys cooking organic meals and hopes to write a recipe book in the future. She would love to use her knowledge and education to help build and create more hospitals for people who have eating disorders. If crowned Miss Universe, Cakir would like to work with an organization that raises awareness to end world hunger.
Her efforts cannot be ignored. the question is, will she surpass Aniporn's feat? Chalita Suansane is a 21 year old Thailand native currently studying Microbiology at Mahasarakham University. Ever since Suansane was young, she was often curious and eager to learn new things, including a passion to explore living organisms that you cannot see by the eyes. On top of her studies, Suansane volunteers at ‘Baan Home Hug’ which is an orphanage that houses children who have inherited HIV from their parents, children who were abused, and children who have lost their family. If crowned, she would like to raise awareness and advocate for HIV/AIDS. Suansane would also like to let young women know that fulfilling your own passions, having self-respect, and being compassionate to others will make you confidently beautiful in your own way.
Of course she is Miss USA :) Deshauna Barber is the first woman actively serving in the US Army Reserve to win the title of Miss USA. After completing her Masters of Science in Computer Information Systems at the University of Maryland, Deshauna returned to live in Washington, D.C. working as an IT Analyst for the U.S. Department of Commerce. Deshauna has been spending her year as Miss USA working directly with soldiers suffering from PTSD and focusing on suicide prevention in the Armed Forces. Taking what she’s learned from the US Army, Deshauna plans to make history for the United States of America at the Miss Universe Competition.
Whether you like it or not, she will place. Perseverance, hard working and determined is how 20 year-old, Mariam Habach, would describe herself. As a student studying dentistry, she is focused on providing children with the care they need for healthy and beautiful smiles. Her passion for helping others led her to work with more than two thousand adolescents in her volunteer work as Miss Venezuela. When Habach takes time out for herself, she enjoys singing and dancing. Habach is grateful to be representing Venezuela in the upcoming competition, and hopes to advocate for HIV awareness if she take home the crown.
Bubbling up: Miss Malaysia, Miss Puerto Rico, Miss Sweden, Miss Japan
*Credit to MUO for the biographies and photos of the contestants.
Bubbling up: Miss Malaysia, Miss Puerto Rico, Miss Sweden, Miss Japan
*Credit to MUO for the biographies and photos of the contestants.
