MMXXVIss UNIVERSE

2026 Miss Universe Contestants Gallery


Continuing with the Roman numeral theme, the 2026 Miss Universe contestant gallery will be called MMXXVIss UNIVERSE since MMXXVI is 2026 in Roman numerals!

The official date for the finals of Miss Universe 2026 is yet to be announced but it expected to be sometime in November 2026 as it has been recently and although Puerto Rico was announced as the venue for the historic 75th anniversary of the Miss Universe pageant during the 2025 Miss Universe pageant, there has been much turmoil behind the scenes mainly involving the owners of the Miss Universe pageant so there is a possibility that Puerto Rico could bail on hosting the 2026 Miss Universe pageant so we shall see how this year unfolds. If the pageant is indeed held in Puerto Rico, it likely will be held in the Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan and it would be Puerto Rico's fourth time hosting the Miss Universe pageant succeeding 1972, 2001 and 2002. Puerto Rico also hosted the 1972 Miss USA pageant as well.
In 2022, IMG/Endeavor released ownership of the Miss Universe Organization to the JKN Global Group which is a Thai company owned by wealthy Thai trans-woman, Anne (formerly Jakkaphong/Andrew) Jakrajutatip but Anne as the former CEO of JKN Global Group and co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), was sentenced to two years in prison without suspension after being found guilty of fraud. The case involved a plastic surgeon she allegedly misled into investing 30 million baht (about $930,000 USD) in her company's corporate bonds in 2023, despite knowing JKN's financial difficulties and inability to repay the money and Anne is currently in hiding and you may have noticed that she did not make an appearance during the 2025 Miss Universe pageant as she did in the pageants for 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Anne sold almost half of her share in ownership in the Miss Universe Organization to wealthy Mexican businessman, Raul Rocha Cantu's company, Legacy Holdings in 2024 but according to federal prosecutors, Raul has been under investigation since November 2024 for alleged organized crime activity and his whereabouts are also currently unknown.

While the messiness of the ownership gets sorted out, a Thai court has appointed accounting firm Grant Thornton LLP to have temporary control of the Miss Universe Organization and its assets until new ownership is obtained. Mario Bucaro has stepped down as CEO and Ronald Day seems to be overseeing the Miss Universe Organization presently and coordinating appearances for the reigning Miss Universe, Mexico's Fatima Bosch who has had her homecoming parade in Tabasco, Mexico but whose reign has been fraught by allegations that the 2025 Miss Universe pageant was skewed in her favor.

In the meantime, national pageants are being held and contestants are being selected for the 2026 Miss Universe pageant so a new Miss Universe will be crowned hopefully in 2026 if things are sorted out. Who will be the chosen one this year?!?!



OTHER NEWS

(posted 2026 March 6)

It has been officially announced that during the week of August 20-28 of 2026, the 75th annual diamond anniversary Miss USA pageant for 2026 and the 44th Miss Teen USA pageant for 2026 will be held in a city that is very familiar to pageantry, MIAMI, FLORIDA! Miami last hosted the 1986 Miss USA pageant which was won by Texas' Christy Fichtner with a very notable 1st runner-up, Ohio's Halle Berry who would go on to be an Academy-Award-winning actress and a household name. Miami has also hosted numerous Miss Universe pageants from 1960 to 1971 then 1984 and 1985 then 1997 then 2014 (with Doral being the touted city but the pageant was held in the University of Miami campus) and 2020 was held in the city of Hollywood in Florida.
Many are anticipating a grand celebration hopefully featuring some former titleholders for the 75th anniversary but we shall see if this happens. Many appreciated how the 60th Miss USA in 2011 showcased so many former Miss USA and American Miss Universe winners but will this era of pageantry live up to the expectations?



OLDER NEWS

(posted 2026 January 11)
Another of our beloved Miss Universe titleholders has entered mortality.

Ieda Maria Vargas won Miss Universe 1963 for Brazil being that country's first of two Miss Universe winners so far.
Ieda passed at age 80 reportedly of respiratory failure in Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul on December 22, 2025 just 9 days shy of what would have been her 81st birthday on December 31. Speaking of 9, Ieda becomes the 9th Miss Universe to become an angel following: Miss Universe 1955-Sweden's Hillevi Rombin Schine in 1996, Miss Universe 1974-Spain's Amparo Munoz Quesada in 2011, Miss Universe 1967-USA's Sylvia Louise Hitchcock Carson in 2015, Miss Universe 1958-Colombia's Luz Marina Zuluaga in 2015, Miss Universe 1960-USA's Linda Bement in 2018, Miss Universe 1995-USA's Chelsi Smith in 2018, Miss Universe 1970-Puerto Rico's Marisol Malaret Contreras in 2023 and Miss Universe 1962-Argentina's Norma Nolan in 2025. The news was confirmed on social media with Ieda's daughter Fernanda praising her mother for fighting like a warrior. Ieda was predeceased by her husband, Jose Carlos Athanazio who passed away in 2009. Ieda previously suffered a stroke at age 55 which affected her speech and memory. The body of Ieda Maria Vargas was buried on December 23, 2025 at the Rio Grande do Sul Legislative Assembly, in Porto Alegre. Family, friends and fans arrived at the Julius Hall of Castiles to pay their last respects.
Rest in Peace, Miss Universe 1963-Ieda Maria Brutto Vargas of Brazil (December 31, 1944 - December 22, 2025)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________



Are you excited for the 75th Miss Universe pageant?!?!?! Is it your country's turn?!?!?!

Who will be crowned MMXXVIss UNIVERSE (a.k.a. Miss Universe 2026?)
Let's meet the contestants crowned so far!!!

Angola-Wanderleia Rodrigues

A 23-year-old hailing from Cuanza Norte, Wanderleia is passionate about sustainable domestic tourism and environmental preservation. Angola has placed four times and they won their only Miss Universe crown in 2011 thanks to Leila Luliana da Costa Vieira Lopes but this nation hasn't placed since.


Belgium-Olga Mariana Lombardo

Olga is 22 years of age and hails from Louvain. She is also a second-year master's student in pharmacy. Also perfectly bilingual, she is of Gabonese descent through her mother and her father is of Italian origin. While she admits that her entry into the competition was impulsive and spontaneous, today she feels she can contribute something to young people through this competition. The diamond capital of Europe has never claimed the crown but they have made the top 6 twice thanks to Dominique Van Eeckhoudt in 1981 and Anke van Dermeersch in 1992 but they haven't placed since 2018 so will exotic Olga finally take the coveted Miss Universe crown for the land of the Flemish??


Botswana-Dabilo (Debbie) Moses

Born on April 21, 2000, Dabilo (Debbie) Moses hails from Gaborone, Dabilo studied Broadcast Journalism and is a model, writer and poet who describes herself as Botswana's diamond. Botswana claimed its only crown and placement with its debut delegate, Mpule Kwelagobe who captured the 1999 Miss Universe crown when the pageant was hosted by Trinidad & Tobago. Will Debbie emerge as a diamond in the rough and get Botswana in the spotlight once again??


China-Weiyi Chen

A 22-year-old student at the University of the Arts London majoring in fashion marketing and content creation, Weiyi is the latest hope for the second most populated country in the world. The land of the Great Wall has never captured the Miss Universe crown but they have come close thanks to Zhuo Ling placing as 2nd runner up in 2002 and Zilin (Roseline) Luo placing as 4th runner up in 2011. China has now placed two years in a row with Na Zhao finishing in the top 12 last year so will Weiyi keep the streak going?


Guadeloupe-Chloe Deher

Guadeloupe made history last year placing among the top 12 for the first time in Miss Universe history when Ophely Mezino who was also 1st runner up at Miss World 2019 but representing France. 31-year-old Chloe obviously hopes to meet or surpass Ophely's feat so we shall see if this Terre-de-Haut native can achieve this. Chloe has a noted pageant history as she was previously Miss Guadeloupe 2013 and Guadeloupe used to compete in the Miss France pageant and she placed as 4th runner-up at Miss France 2014 to Flora Coquerel who would make top 5 at Miss Universe 2015. Does Guadeloupe think sending its tried and true delegates will get them the highly coveted Miss Universe crown? We shall see!


Guinea-Matoma Conde

Matoma is 22 years of age and hails from Conakry. This will be Guinea's third consecutive entrant in the Miss Universe pageant so let's see if Matoma can pull off that elusive first placement for her country.


Iceland-Sigriour (Sigga) Ozk Hrafnkelsdottir

Sigga Ozk is a well-known singer in her country with a significant social media following and she is hoping her stardom will translate into a Miss Universe win! The land of glaciers and lava has never claimed the Miss Universe crown but they have come close with Anna Geirsdottir finishing as 1st runner up in 1962 but they haven't placed since 2019 so let's see if this noted singer Sigga can top the Miss Universe charts!


Kazakhstan-Alina Ekaterinecheva

Kazakhstan has never placed at Miss Universe so 22-year-old Alina from Shymkent has a chance to make a name for her country. Will she achieve that elusive first placement for this land rich with accessible mineral and fossil fuel resources and can she even go all the way and capture her country's first Miss Universe crown?


Kyrgyzstan-Medina Ermekova

Medina previously represented her nation at the 2025 Miss Grand International pageant going unplaced. She is an International Master of Sports in Rhythmic Gymnastics and a bronze medalist at the Aesthetic Gymnastics World Championship and she hails from the city of Bishkek. Kyrgyzstan has never placed in Miss Universe history so she has a chance to get her country's first placement.


Niger-Zoulahatou Amadou

A 24-year-old from Maradi, Zoulahatou will be Niger's debut candidate at Miss Universe. She was originally supposed to compete last year but was unable to get a visa for Thailand in time so her participation has been delayed to 2026. Will Zoulahatou make a name for her country this year?

Paraguay-Gretha Milagros Estigarribia Matiauda

The land of the Guarani also known as the land of water where the river gives birth to the sea sends us Gretha this year. She is 25 years of age and describes herself as an economist, an international model and an entrepreneur. She has even released a single entitled "Bonita". Gretha has extensive experience in pageantry placing as 4th runner up in the 2022 Miss United Continents pageant as well as representing Paraguay in the 2023 Miss Earth pageant going unplaced but will her experience pay off at Miss Universe? Paraguay has never won the crown but they did place as 1st runner up in 2021 thanks to Nadia Ferreira who married singer Marc Anthony and the two share one son and Nadia is currently expecting their daughter. Paraguay has twice placed as 3rd runner up also thanks to Yanina Gonzalez in 2004 and Lourdes Arevalos in 2006 and Lourdes is the new director for Miss Universe Paraguay. Could Gretha greet the audience as the new Miss Universe???

Peru-Luren Marquez

The land of the Incan empire and Machu Picchu and host country of the 1982 Miss Universe pageant has appointed a very achieved delegate with Luren who has already worked as a television presenter for networks including Univision and Telemundo. Luren holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Lima and a bachelor's degree in communication, with a specialization in Digital Marketing, from Florida International University. Thoroughly experienced in pageantry, Luren even won the title of Miss Teen International in 2018 for Peru and was even 1st runner up to Miss Peru 2024, Tatiana Calmell del Solar who made top 12 at Miss Universe but Peru has had to wait the longest for repeat win for all the countries that have won Miss Universe as they have not won since Gladys Zender claimed the crown back in 1957. Will Luren finally get that second win for Peru???

Philippines-Beatrice (Bea) Rebecca Millan-Windorski

The tropical haven of Asia sends us a very experienced delegate this year. Bea Millan-Windorski is American, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is descended from maternal grandparents who immigrated to the U.S. from La Union in the Philippines. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received bachelor's degrees in History and International Relations. She is also a talented ballet dancer and cello player having attended the Milwaukee Ballet School and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Bea previously represented the USA at the 2024 Miss Earth pageant earning the Miss Earth-Water (3rd place) title in a pageant won by Australia's Jessica Lane but will her experience pay off and could Bea be the Philippines 5th Miss Universe?? This pageant obsessed nation has captured the crown 4 times thanks to Gloria Diaz (1969), Margarita Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015) and Catriona Gray (2018) so will Queen Bea buzz her way to bee-come queen of the hive and convert the nectar into the sweetest honey of all by winning the Miss Universe crown???


Suriname-Eunike Lioe

Eunike is the first mother to represent her country at the Miss Universe pageant and she also works as an operations assistant. Suriname has only placed once which was way back in 1958 when Gertrud Gummels made the top 15. Will Eunike make a name for Suriname??


Venezuela-Clara Federica Vegas Goetz

The legacy candidate we've all been waiting for!!! Clara Vegas Goetz is the daughter of Miss Venezuela 1990, Andreina Goetz who finished in 7th place at Miss Universe 1990 and now Andreina and Clara have become the first mother-daughter duo to reign as Miss Venezuela and represent their nation at Miss Universe. With the recent capture of Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela is in the world spotlight and will this fuel a potential win for the gateway of South America??? Other than having large oil reserves, Venezuela is extremely well-known for performing extremely well in international pageantry claiming 7 Miss Universe crowns. Venezuela has placed in 16 of the last 19 Miss Universe pageants missing the semifinals only in 2010, 2016 and 2020 and last winning the crown in 2013 and placing among the top 3 last year. We have now entered the longest gap without a win for Venezuela since it claimed its first Miss Universe crown in 1979 with Maritza Sayalero so will this bubbly blonde, Clara use her beauty and charisma to capture Venezuela's long-awaited 8th Miss Universe crown???





Keep checking back regularly and pick your favorites for the 2026 Miss Universe title otherwise known as...
MMXXVIss UNIVERSE!



 BACK TO FRONT PAGE