Here are the 15 most outstanding candidates of the week. What do you think of them? Leave us a comment!
Miss Thailand
Suchata “Opal” Chuangsri (pictured) has been crowned Miss Universe Thailand in a grand finale held at The Mall Lifestore Bangkapi. The event began with a spectacular opening show featuring all 40 contestants.
Opal previously competed in Miss Universe Thailand 2022, where she placed as the third runner-up. She was later promoted to second runner-up when the first runner-up relinquished her title.
Born on March 20, 2003, in Phuket, where her parents own the Homeplace Hotel in the old town, Opal is trilingual, speaking Thai, English, and Chinese.
She graduated from Triam Udom Suksa School with a focus on Chinese language and is currently pursuing a degree in Political Science with a major in International Relations at Thammasat University
Photo by: https://www.instagram.com/missuniverse.in.th/
Miss Venezuela
Ileana Márquez, a 27-year-old mother and teacher, has made history in the Miss Venezuela pageant. Representing the state of Amazonas, Márquez not only won the Miss Venezuela 2023 crown but also became the first mother to achieve this title, a significant milestone in a pageant known for its stringent selection criteria.
Trained as a higher technician in Early Childhood Education, Márquez stands out not only for her beauty but also for her passion for teaching. During the competition, she expressed her love for both preschool education and modeling, highlighting her desire to “inspire, transform realities, and change the world.”
Photo by: https://www.instagram.com/missuniverse.in.th
Miss USA
Alma Cooper M.S. ’25, a Knight-Hennessy scholar and future data scientist, has recently earned a new accolade: Miss USA. Balancing her studies on food insecurity with her dazzling stage presence, Cooper demonstrates that intelligence and beauty can truly coexist.
As Cooper moves onto the Miss Universe stage in the next few months, she hopes to inspire many young women around the world to believe in themselves. By taking a chance on herself, Cooper said that she lives by the motto, “The greatest things in life lie on the other side of fear.”
Photo by: https://www.instagram.com/alma.cooper/?hl=es
Miss Philippines
Chelsea Manalo, a Filipino American, made history by becoming the first Black woman to win the title of Miss Universe Philippines on Wednesday.
With a Filipino mother and an African American father, the 24-year-old’s victory has been widely celebrated on social media for challenging traditional beauty standards in the country.
Representing Bulacan, a province north of Manila, Manalo triumphed over 52 other contestants from across the Philippines and abroad. The pageant took place at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Photo by: https://www.instagram.com/alma.cooper/?hl=es
Miss Chile
The young Chilean is a model, composer, and professional singer who has studied at the Escuela Moderna de Música y Canto, the Alicia Puccio Academy, and the Conservatory of Music at Universidad Mayor. Her releases include original tracks such as “Inevitable,” “Alter Ego,” “Ya No Quiero Verte,” and “Hay Peligro,” with over 2,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
Known as Emi D, she gained popularity after participating in the TVN show “Rojo: El color del talento” in its 2019 edition. During the competition, she impressed with performances of Andrea Bocelli’s “Por ti volaré,” Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” and Laura Pausini’s “Víveme.” There, she showcased her broad vocal range and ultimately won as the best singer of the program.
Photo by: https://www.instagram.com/misschileuniverso/?hl=es
Miss SouthAfrica
Mia le Roux is the first deaf woman to be crowned Miss South Africa.
In her acceptance speech, she said she hoped her victory would help those who felt excluded from society to achieve their “wildest dreams”.
Photo by: https://www.instagram.com/mialerouxx/
Miss Puerto Rico
Colón stands out not only for her beauty and vibrant personality but also for being the first Puerto Rican mother to win the crown. Jennifer is a mother of three, and according to her Instagram profile, she describes herself as a single mother. Regarding her personal life, it is known that Jennifer got married in September 2010. Regarding her professional credentials, Colón is a medical aesthetician and iridologist (specializing in iris studies) and is the founder of Healing Hands, a company dedicated to “providing free aesthetic services to people who have experienced severe trauma, helping them to shine and heal emotionally.” According to the website El Nuevo Día, she also has professional studies in chemistry and architecture.
Photo by: https://www.instagram.com/jennifercolonpr/?hl=es
Miss Dominican Republic
Santos is a 24-year-old who competed in the pageant for the second time. She is studying Law and has dreamed of becoming a model since she was young, starting down that path at the age of 14. Additionally, she mentioned that her family plays a significant role in her growth, being, according to her testimony, her main support during her preparation. For her, being Miss RD Universo will serve as a bridge to demonstrate that women “can overcome anything.”
Photo by: https://www.instagram.com/miss_republica_dominicana_2024/?hl=es
Miss Curazao
Kimberly de Boer has been crowned Miss Universe Curaçao. The 18-year-old beauty queen won the title after competing against eight other contestants, succeeding Kim Rossen, the winner from the previous year.
Upon receiving the crown, de Boer expressed her excitement and readiness to inspire others: “I am extremely excited and honored to see my dream come true. This amazing journey has been filled with challenges, personal growth, and incredible support from all of you. I am truly grateful for the encouragement and love that have brought me to this point.”
Photo by: https://www.instagram.com/missuniversecuracao_official/?hl=es
Miss Colombia
Daniela Toloza Rocha, a wardrobe designer with expertise in executive management and public relations, won the pageant after sharing her physical transformation journey. At 30 years old, Toloza posted a video documenting her significant weight loss, reflecting her dedication to “loving who I am today.” The video highlights her previous struggle with severe overweight.
Photo by: https://www.instagram.com/missuniversecolombiaorg/?hl=es
Miss Argentina
Magalí Benejam, a 29-year-old from Córdoba, won the top prize and will travel to Mexico on September 28th to represent the country in the competition for the international crown. She hails from the city of Villa María in Córdoba, known as the birthplace of folklore. In addition to her modeling work, Benejam is also studying coaching and astrology.
Photo by: https://www.instagram.com/missuniversoar/?hl=es
Miss Canada
Ashley Callingbull, the 34-year-old is no newcomer to the entertainment industry: she is a presenter and also a leading actress in the series “Blackstone” (APTN TV), which specifically portrays the drama of Indigenous communities in the country. Her striking figure has also graced editorials and covers such as that of Sports Illustrated magazine. Miss Canada said, “When one of us wins, we all win. That representation is very much needed, and finally, we are being seen and heard in such a mainstream space and in a place where no one ever told me I belonged before. So this means a lot to me.”
Photo by: https://www.instagram.com/ashleycallingbull/?hl=es
Miss Panama
Italy Mora is 19 years old and has been working as a professional model from a young age. Today, she is the face of major advertising campaigns in the region.
She is passionate about sports, having developed significant skills in soccer and boxing. Additionally, she describes herself as a visionary and a fighter, with a deep love for her country, its traditions, and customs.
Photo by: https://telemetro.com
Miss Guatemala
Andrea Radford. Almost a month after Andrea Radford was crowned the new Miss Universe Guatemala, the 29-year-old woman announced the exciting news of her pregnancy, leading her to pass the crown to Ana Gabriela Villanueva, a 22-year-old and first runner-up in the national pageant.
Ana Gabriela hails from Santa Cruz Naranjo, Santa Rosa. The young woman, daughter of a Mexican father and a Guatemalan mother, is pursuing a degree in Legal and Social Sciences.
Photo by: https://hola.com
Miss Paraguay
Claudia Naomi Méndez, an Argentine who is now a Paraguayan citizen, returns to the pageant from her residence in the United Arab Emirates. The 32-year-old Miss will represent Paraguay after having previously competed as the Argentine candidate in other beauty contests.
Photo by: https://hola.com