The announcement that beauty pageant followers all over the world were patiently waiting for, was finally made this week. The eagerly anticipated 2020 MISS UNIVERSE will be crowned on the evening of Sunday May 16, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, grand ballroom in Hollywood, Florida.

The pageant was postponed due to covid 19, from it’s regular December date. Some 60-plus delegates from all over the world have been on a serious hold, awaiting the new date as they prepare for the 69th annual competition. The Miss Universe competition will undergo some major changes including strict covid 19 rules and precautions like, multiple testings, mandatory mask wearing and social distancing will be enforced. The venue’s capacity is 7000 seats, but for the pageant, only a small percentage of those seats will be made available, and as expected, ticket prices will be very high.

Several of the usual out of venue activities for the contestants will not be taking place, including the numerous photo shoots usually facilitated by the contestants. Even some of the lead-up interviews are being done via zoom. Unfortunately, the new Miss Universe will have a very short reign of only seven months, because the Miss Universe Organization is already planning to get back on schedule with a December pageant to crown “Miss Universe 2021.” This has left all of the national and international pageant directors scrambling to stage pageants and crown their new Queens to be ready for a December Miss Universe competition. Some countries have even opted to send their first runner-up winners from their last pageants to the Miss Universe in December because apart from still being in the covid 19 pandemic worldwide, it was very difficult to get their reigning titleholders ready for the upcoming competition.  

Meanwhile, the current “Miss Universe” titleholder, Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa, will end her reign as the longest-reigning Miss Universe in the pageant’s history. Several of her prize trips and appearances had to be canceled due to covid 19. Zozi (as she’s familiarly called) said that although her schedule was disrupted by the covid pandemic, being “Miss Universe” has opened so many doors for her, that she would not have been able to enter any other way. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to connect virtually with people all over the world and elevate the causes I care about,” said Zozi. It is reported that she’s already lined up a year’s work of modeling assignments and public appearances in her home country of South Africa.

Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization said in a statement: “We have spent months planning and preparing safety precautions to develop this edition of Miss Universe, one that will be memorable, special and totally innovative. I look forward to seeing this work come to fruition and crowning a new “Miss Universe” in May.” The three hour spectacular will be broadcast live on Fox – 5, NY Television and Telemundo (Latin TV) to over 130 countries across the globe. The telecast will include all of the International Queens in an Introductory segment, Question and Answer segment, swimsuit, evening gowns and final answer competitions, culminating with the crowning of a new “Miss Universe” by the reigning Queen Zozobini Tunzi. The all-important Preliminary Competition will take place at the Hard Rock venue on Thursday May 13.

Ironically, even with the pandemic, this year’s “Miss Universe” delegates are made up of some of the strongest cadres of young ladies competing for the coveted crown and title. Pageant websites and blogs have been making predictions over the past months. Fan favorites are already rising into the spotlight with numerous social media hits. Keep your eyes on these `Winner Worthy’ global favorites – MIQUEAL-SYMONE WILLIAMS (Miss Jamaica) a 23-year-old beauty with a sharp mind and equally killer body, all spiced with an amazing outgoing personality. This college graduate and International fashion model can easily win the “Miss Universe 2021” title. 

ALDINE CASTELLINO (Miss India) is 22 years-old and a rare beauty with lots of stage presence, personality and potential to capture the judges nod. MARIA THATTIL (Miss Australia) 28, is a firm favorite for the crown, truly a combination of brains and beauty. CLEMENCE BOTINO (Miss France) is a lively Caribbean beauty from the French island of Guadeloupe, she can easily pull a victory for France. CHANTAL WIERTZ (Miss Curacao) is a 22 year old Caribbean island stunner who is poised and ready for victory in Hollywood, Florida. NOVA STEPHENS (Miss Canada) has the poise and communication skills that a Miss Universe is made of. A community leader and spokesperson for the underserved, Nova was born in Sudan and came to Canada at 5 years-old. She has excelled in her role of leadership among the youth in Canada,

Other beauties in the spotlight who are qualified and hungry for the win are AYU MOULIDA (Miss Indonesia) 23, NGUYEN TRAN KHANH VAN (Miss Vietnam) 26, AMAMDA OBDAM (Miss Thailand) 29, JANICK MACETA (Miss Peru) 26, probably the contestant with the best body. KIMBERLY JIMINEZ (Miss Dominican Republic) 24, CARMEN JARAMILLO (Miss Panama) 26, HILLARY ANN WILLIAMS (Miss Barbados) 25, AMDREA MEZA (Miss Mexico) 26 and ALINA SANKO (Miss Russia) 22.