Miss Universe pageant to see biggest haul in 73rd edition

The Miss Universe pageant will have 120 countries participating in its 73rd edition this year, shared the international competition’s owner, Anne Jakrajutatip, on social media when she posted a group of national directors who signed up for this year’s contest.

“Our National Directors group 2 from the total of 120 countries around the world! Congratulations! [hands clapping emoji],” she posted on Facebook on Friday, April 19.

Jakrajutatip, whose Thai-based conglomerate JKN Global Group now shares ownership of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) with Mexican firm Legacy Holding, is currently with reigning queen Sheynnis Palacios in China for the titleholder’s Asian tour. They have recently visited Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.

The Miss Universe pageant’s biggest haul saw 94 candidates competing in 2018 in Thailand, when Catriona Gray became the fourth winner from the Philippines. The annual roster has hovered around the 80s mark, and has never crossed over a hundred participants.

Rival Miss World pageant has always been the major international competition that has consistently seen more than 100 participants every year, and it appears that the Miss Universe competition is gearing for the same annual haul.

Even before Palacios and Jakrajutaip embarked on the pageant’s Asian tour, the MUO has already announced changes in the organization after the surprise resignation of long-time president Paula Shugart, whose departure she announced during the 72nd Miss Universe pageant held in El Salvador in November last year.

Osmel Sousa, the Venezuelan queenmaker who propelled his country to international pageant supremacy with multiple victories in major global competitions, revealed on social media what his specific role in MUO will be.

“For all those who asked what my position was going to be at @missuniverse, I send you greetings from #Mexico,” he posted on his Instagram account (@zardebelleza), showing a photo of him beside a portrait hanging on the wall, bearing his name and the title “President Advisor.”

MUO has established an office in Mexico after Legacy Holding struck a deal with JKN Global group to acquire half ownership of the international pageant organization. Sousa will hold office in the North American country, where he is also believed to be involved in the national contest.

Under Sousa’s tenure as president of the Miss Venezuela pageant from 1981 to 2018, he was able to produce six of the seven Miss Universe winners from the South American country. He also saw his country record the first, and so far only, back-to-back victories in the global tilt in 2008 and 2009.

He was also responsible for fielding five of the six Miss World winners from Venezuela, eight of the nine Venezuelan Miss International titleholders, and the two Miss Earth queens from the global pageant powerhouse.

Sousa is joining California-based Filipino entrepreneur Olivia Quido-Co in the MUO, after she was appointed as Vice President for Global Partnerships in January. She had also earlier assumed the presidency of Miss Universe Skincare and Spa, a subsidiary of the international organization.

Palacios will relinquish her title to her successor at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant, to be held in Mexico later this year. The Philippines’ 2024 representative will be chosen on May 22 in ceremonies that will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The country currently has four winners in the international tilt.