The road to Puerto Rico begins now. With the 75th edition of Miss Universe approaching; the largest field in the pageant’s history. Pageanthology is releasing our first list of the cycle: 12 delegates we believe carry the strongest early cases heading into San Juan.
Before we get into the rankings, a brief word on our approach this edition. As with any major international organization, chatter and noise around the business side of pageantry exist, and this year has been no exception already. That is not what Pageanthology is here to cover. Our focus has always been, and will always be, the delegates themselves, their journeys, their platforms, and what they bring to the stage. We choose to highlight the best of the best rather than get pulled into speculation we cannot independently verify.
1. Cuba 🇨🇺 – Mia Dio
Cuba opens our first list at the summit. A nation you don’t really see peaking in pageantry, however, this girl for the first time in Pageanthology’s existence, Cuba takes the #1 position in a Miss Universe ranking. The complete package of a delegate this year and with the momentum built from last year’s Top 12 finish, Mia has it all to give her country a historic win this year in Puerto Rico.
2. Chile 🇨🇱 – Dominga López
Chile earns a strong second position on our opening list. With a country hungry to end a decades-long wait for a second Miss Universe crown, their delegate carries real weight into Puerto Rico. Consistent at Miss Universe these past few years, Dominga might be the one crack into that Top 5 and possibly the crown.
3. Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 – Jennifer Barreto
The host country enters our top three, and for good reason, a nation with a storied Miss Universe legacy, competing on home soil in front of a crowd that will be firmly behind her all night. Definitely one of the ladies under the most pressure because not only is she the host, she’s always carrying the sash of Puerto Rico which also has the longest ongoing placement streak at Miss Universe.
4. Philippines 🇵🇭 – Bea Millan-Windorski
The Philippines has one of the most passionate and consistent Miss Universe fanbases in the world, and their representative arrives as one of the most anticipated delegates of this entire cycle. Many are considering Bea as the Philippines’ best bet at the Miss Universe crown since Catriona Gray and with good reasons, previous elemental queen at Miss Earth, this year once again the Philippines’ sends a complete package.
5. Venezuela 🇻🇪 – Clara Vegas
Venezuela is a name that never disappears from a serious Miss Universe conversation. Fifth on our opening list, carrying one of the most decorated pageant legacies on the planet. As they say in Miss Universe, Venezuela is Venezuela, and Clara has it all to testify for that.
- Spain 🇪🇸 – Susana Medina
- Myanmar 🇲🇲 – May Grace Parry
- Brazil 🇧🇷 – Marcella Kozinski
- Thailand 🇹🇭 – Tharina Botes
- New Zealand 🇳🇿 – Georgia Waddington
- Uganda 🇺🇬 – Mitchelle Daka
- Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 – Melissa Núñez
This is just the beginning of Pageanthology’s coverage of Miss Universe’s landmark 75th edition.
Stay tuned as we track every development on the road to Puerto Rico.
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