Miss Universe 2022 - Meet the candidates (France to Panama)
Miss Universe 2022, the 71st edition, will be crowned on January 14th, in New Orleans Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Meet the candidates, with some exclusive data, opinions, and information. This is Group 2, from France to Panama.
FRANCE - Floriane Bascou
As a child of a very sporty family, Floraine has been active since the age of three practicing gym, swimming, traditional dance, basketball, and track and field. She hails from Martinique, is 20 years old and placed 2nd in Miss France 2022.
Debut: 1952
Best placement: 2 winners (1953 and 2016)
Last placement: 2021 (top 10)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 14th
GB comment: France has been doing consistently well in Miss Universe. We are sure that Floriane has been properly prepared to well represent her country.
GERMANY - Soraya Kohlmann
Soraya Kohlmann is a 24-year-old business owner, Pilates trainer, and model. She has a love for animals and the environment and has been a vegetarian since the age of two years old and a vegan since the age of twelve.
Debut: 1952
Best placement: winner (1961)
Last placement: 2002
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 18th
GB comment: It´s incredible to think that, once a pageant major power, Germany got only one placement since 1989, and she was a woman born, raised and prepared in Venezuela (2002). On the other hand, Germany has just won the Miss International title, in Japan, so perhaps Soraya may take advantage of these good winds. She´s beautiful and polished, let´s see how she will perform.
GHANA - Engracia Mofuman
Engracia Afua K. Mofuman is a professional model and a French, English, Spanish, and Portuguese translator. She grew up in Ghana as well as a number of other African countries which spurred an appreciation for various cultures. This led her to pursue a master’s degree in International Relations.
Debut: 1991
Best placement: top 10 (1999)
Last placement: 2019 (top 20)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 81st
GB comment: Fierce is the word that comes to mind when we look at Engracia. She wrote on her Instagram account: “2022 was a year that broke me to make me”. She recognizes the changes this title brought to her life and we absolutely love her unique look and attitude. We hope to see Ghana doing well.
GREAT BRITAIN - Noky Simbani
Noky Simbani earned a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from one of the leading institutions in Great Britain. Having worked as an engineer, she is now a qualified chartered banker and currently works on marketing-leading projects to support business growth.
Debut: 1952
Best placement: 2nd (1964)
Last placement: 2021
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 16th
GB comment: Lovely Noky comes highly recommended by beauty pageants expert and writer Sally-Ann Fawcett. She is beautiful, and bright and Great Britain has been doing well in Miss U, with its representatives placing 4 times in the last 5 editions of the pageant!
GREECE - Korina Emmanouilidou
Korina Emmanouilidou is passionate about modeling and has been working as a model since the age of 16. She then realized her second greatest love of make-up and is studying to get her diploma as an esthetician and make-up artist from the London Make-up Institute.
Debut: 1952
Best placement: winner (1964)
Last placement: 2005 (top 15)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 22nd
GB comment: Pageants have lost interest in Greece, which is a pity. The last time Greece made the semi-finals in Miss U was in a distant 2005. We love Korina´s outstanding national costume and hope to see her shinning on stage!
GUATEMALA - Ivana Batchelor
Ivana Batchelor is a third-year communications student who is proud of her Guatemalan culture. She encourages people to reconnect with their lineage through their music, food, and textiles. She’s passionate about the importance of mental health and works with youth in many public schools to help with suicide prevention in her country. Having battled depression and suicidal thoughts herself, she sees the great need for public figures to speak out about these problems and to be a role model for these important topics. Ivana competed in Miss Grand International 2020, in Thailand, and ranked 3rd.
Debut: 1955
Best placement: Top 10 (1984, 2010)
Last placement: 2010 (top 10)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 72nd
GB comment: The first time we saw Ivana in Thailand, waiting to have her official photo taken, we were mesmerized by her beauty and aura. The woman has conquered 3rd place in a Grand Slam pageant (Miss Grand International) for good reasons, and now more mature and confident, we believe she´s ready to take the Universe by storm! It was amazing to see all the support she´s been getting from Guatemalans and we trust she can go very far, perhaps even repeating a top 5 placement and fighting for the crown. Go, Guatemala!
HAITI - Mideline Phelizor
Mideline is currently studying law with the dream to specialize in children’s rights, particularly those of orphans. Her success in modeling led her to beauty contests. By age 23, she represented Haiti in Miss Supranational and won the title of Miss Supra Model Caribbean.
Debut: 1962
Best placement: 2nd (2016)
Last placement: 2016 (2nd)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 57th
GB comment: Haiti takes to New Orleans a great life story and lots of experience from her participation in Miss Supranational.
HONDURAS - Rebeca Rodríguez
Rebeca Rodriguez is an independent woman who works as a model to finance her college education. She is currently pursuing dual bachelor’s degrees in international business and digital marketing from Atlantis University in Miami.
Debut: 1954
Best placement: Top 15 (1955)
Last placement: 1955 (top 15)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 96th
GB comment: Get this: the last time a Miss Honduras placed in Miss Universe was in 1955!! 67 years ago… In 1998 Dania Prince was expected to place, failed to do so, and went on to be crowned Miss Earth in 2003. Rebeca has her countrymen dreaming again, as she´s perfectly capable of becoming and quarter or even a semi-finalist. Fingers crossed for Honduras!!
ICELAND - Hrafnhildur Haraldsdóttir
Hrafnhildur (pronounced raap-hildur) Haraldsdóttir is currently a third year biology student at the Commercial College of Iceland. She was born and raised in Reykjavik but has family in the Westfjords. She has always loved the outdoors and the Icelandic countryside.
Debut: 1956
Best placement: 2nd (1962)
Last placement: 2019
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 50th
GB comment: In recent years Iceland has been sending strong and well-prepared candidates to Miss Universe and Miss Supranational, resulting in good results, like a top 10 placement in 2019, who was also elected Miss Grand Slam by Global Beauties. You may have some difficulty pronouncing Hrafnhildur´s name, but it´s easy to agree that she is absolutely striking! Iceland is in the fight for a Top 20 slot.
INDIA - Divita Rai
A creative at heart with a passion for learning, Divita Rai emphasizes the importance of never placing limits on what’s possible in your life. This belief led her to graduate from India’s top architecture program, assist in the set design for a film, and pursue a career in modeling in India’s fashion capital of Mumbai.
Debut: 1952
Best placement: 2 winners (2000 and 2021)
Last placement: 2021 (winner)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 9th
GB comment: A back-to-back victory in any major pageant is always a huge challenge. Nonetheless, we can say that India is once again very well represented by Daviti, who on top of being beautiful, has excellent communication skills. She´s been growing on our experts´ list of favorites by the minute.
INDONESIA - Laksmi De-Neefe Suardana
Laksmi De Neefe Suardana is the first Balinese woman to represent Indonesia at Miss Universe. From Ubud to the Universe, she is inspired to share her beloved Indonesia with the world. She is dedicated to assisting disadvantaged communities across Indonesia with literacy programs.
Debut: 1974
Best placement: Top 10 (2019)
Last placement: 2021 (top 10)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 51st
GB comment: Laksmi has perhaps the most beautiful name in the competition. In addition, she has a lovely personality, something you simply expect from Balinese! Laksmi may not be a huge favorite for the crown, which is not a bad thing: with less pressure on her shoulders, we believe she could be ready to pull a great surprise!
ITALY - Virginia Stablum
Virginia Stablum is a full-time influencer and international model. She’s worked with some of the most prestigious agencies in the United States and Europe including; Elite Miami in Miami, Fashion Model in Milano, and MGM in Hamburg. Since a young age, she has loved languages, and studies in international schools learning English, German, and Spanish. During high school she also studied for a full year in England which taught her independence and an appreciation for other cultures.
Debut: 1952
Best placement: 2nd (1960 and 1986)
Last placement: 2014 (top 16)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 26th
GB comment: Italy is THE BOMB! A successful international model who masters the runways and takes the most amazing photos, Virginia will be dressed by no one else than Roberto Cavali in the evening gown competition! If she´s able to find the beauty queen within the model, we could be looking at the next Miss Universe and Italy´s first Grand Slam winner!
JAMAICA - Toshami Calvin
Born in Jamaica, Calvin migrated to the USA while pursuing her secondary education, ultimately earning her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences at the University of Central Florida. After losing her father at age 14, she made a commitment in honor of his memory to complete her studies, earn a degree, and make him proud.
Debut: 1961
Best placement: 2nd (2010)
Last placement: 2020 (top 10)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 33rd
GB comment: Jamaica has one of the faces of the competition and is expected to perform well in all areas of the competition. In the last decade, this Caribbean nation was very close to capturing the Miss Universe crown on three occasions. Jamaican women have been crowned Miss World 4 times but is yet to conquer the Miss Universe title. Has this time finally arrived?
JAPAN - Marybelen Sakamoto
Marybelen Sakamoto was born in Tokyo, and grew up within two different cultures. Her father is Peruvian and her mother is Japanese. Since her parents encountered many foreign cultures in their lines of work, she had a chance to interact with multinational people in her childhood. Marybelen is currently working as a teacher in a major nationwide cooking studio in Japan. Students are men and women of all ages, from kids to elders.
Debut: 1952
Best placement: 2 winners (1959 and 2007)
Last placement: 2021 (top 16)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 13rd
GB comment: It´s always interesting to see a multi-cultural Miss Japan, in this case with Peruvian roots, competing in Miss Universe. Her unique look and great personality may help her to overcome the odds and achieve something great in New Orleans.
KOSOVO - Roksana Ibrahimi
Roksana Ibrahimi is passionate about many things, one of which includes dental hygiene as she is currently studying to get her Bachelor’s Degree in Dentistry at Alma Mater College.
Debut: 2008
Best placement: 3rd (2009)
Last placement: 2012 (top 16)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 61st
GB comment: Kosovo has the beauty to impress the judges, there´s no doubt there. If she can also tell a great story and impress the judges holding the mic, Diana could put Kosovo back in the quarter-finals of Miss Universe after a whole decade.
KYRGYZSTAN - Altynai Botoyarova
Altynai Botoyarova’s name translates from Kyrgyz as "Golden Moon.” Botoyarova has been competing in various beauty pageants since she was five years old with her first win as “Mini Miss Fashion 2010.”
Debut: 2018
Best placement: unplaced
Last placement: never placed
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 153rd
GB comment: With Altynai, Kyrgyzstan returns to Miss Universe for the first time since its debut, in 2018. She is very cute.
LAOS - Payengxa Lor
Payengxa Lor is the first Hmong woman to win Miss Universe Laos, therefore making her the first Hmong woman to compete in the MISS UNIVERSE competition. Lor worked hard to teach herself English in order to become an English teacher.
Debut: 2017
Best placement: unplaced
Last placement: never placed
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 131st
GB comment: Laos is another nation that has started sending candidates to Miss Universe recently. Can Payengxa become the first woman from her country to place here?
LEBANON - Yasmina Zaytoun
Yasmina is devoted to motivational speaking and began her own social media show “With Yasmina Show” in 2020. She is currently working towards her Master’s in Journalism at Notre Dame University, Lebanon.
Debut: 1955
Best placement: winner (1971)
Last placement: 1973 (top 12)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 49th
GB comment: It´s hard to understand why Lebanonese beauties have been historically so overlooked by the MUO. After winning the title in 1971 and placing again in 1973 (top 12), it´s been a 49-year-long drought! Yasmina is quite beautiful and we love her energy. Let´s see how she will perform in the preliminaries.
MALAYSIA - Lesley Cheam
Cheam Wei Yeng, who goes by Lesley, speaks five languages including English, Mandarin, and Malay. She dreams of becoming a scientist one day and currently takes classes with doctors.
Debut: 1962
Best placement: Top 15 (1970)
Last placement: 1970 (top 15)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 95th
GB comment: Malaysia is another country that is not very popular in Miss Universe: only one Malaysian woman managed to place in Miss Universe, back in a distant 1970. The very bright Lesley certainly hopes to change that.
MALTA - Maxine Formosa
Maxine Formosa Gruppetta is a 22-year-old who hails from the village of St Julians. She is half Maltese from her mother’s side and half British from her father’s side. She currently works at a company that provides packaging for eco-friendly and vegan skincare, make-up, and fragrance products.
Debut: 1968
Best placement: unplaced
Last placement: never placed
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 103rd
GB comment: We love Miss Malta and how about this original and beautifully made national costume, representing the Maltese Lira? Malta started participating in Miss U back in 1968, and so far, no Miss Universe Malta has been to advance to the next round of competition. Maxine is naturally beautiful and has a great personality. We hope she can pull it!
MAURITIUS - Alexandrine Belle-Étoile
Alexandrine Belle-Etoile holds a degree in Fine Arts and currently teaches the Arts and French in a private primary school. She competed in Miss Supranational 2022, standing out as a favorite for the crown and placing in the Top 12, a historical result for Mauritius.
Debut: 1975
Best placement: unplaced
Last placement: never placed
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 105th
GB comment: Mauritius is not photogenic. She looks a hundred times better in person than she does in photos. In Miss Supranational, she delivered it. Depending on how she performs in the preliminary, Alexandrine could make history for Mauritius again!
MEXICO - Irma Miranda
Valenzuela works with a nonprofit called La Comuna and collaborates with the National Institute of Migration in Mexico. She wants to create consciousness around humanity, empathy, and respect to others wherein human rights must be upheld regardless of religion, nationality, race, or economic status.
Debut: 1952
Best placement: 3 winners (1989, 2010, 2020)
Last placement: 2020 (winner)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 10th
GB comment: At first not a major favorite for the crown, Irma made a strong impact upon her arrival in New Orleans. She´s been growing day after day and we look forward to see her in action!
MYANMAR - Zar Li Moe
Zar Li Moe is fond of modeling, dancing, and especially singing. She wishes to be a role model as well as a successful entrepreneur. She would like to create a foundation responsible for educating young children in rural areas so that they can reach their goals.
Debut: 1959 (as Burma)
Best placement: Top 20 (2020)
Last placement: 2020 (top 20)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 101st
GB comment: Myanmar sends another good candidate to Miss Universe, capable of beating the odds and pulling a surprise. Will she do it?
NAMIBIA - Cassia Sharpley
Cassia Sharpley is a vibrant, multi-faceted young woman with 17 years of experience in the performing arts as a dancer, singer, actor, model, musician, and songwriter. Her passion also lies in the medical field as a paramedic practitioner.
Debut: 1981
Best placement: Winner (1992)
Last placement: 2003 (top 10)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 52nd
GB comment: We like Namibia´s cool personality and beauty. The African continent is definitely playing strong in 2022.
NEPAL - Sophiya Bhujel
Hailing from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is 27-year-old brave, bold, and beautiful Sophiya Bhujel. Bhujel finds all women breaking barriers to be role models, and believes in the strength of herself and other women.
Debut: 2017
Best placement: Top 10 (2018)
Last placement: 2018 (top 10)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 91st
GB comment: She´s looking good ever since she arrived in NOLA and we expect her to do well in the preliminary interview. But will it be enough?
NETHERLANDS - Ona Moody
Ona Moody is passionate about dancing, self-development, and helping others. She holds a degree in Dancing and Dance Teaching from the Lucia Marthas Institute for Performing Arts as well as a certificate to be a maternity nurse. Her father is from Zimbabwe.
Debut: 1956
Best placement: Winner (1989)
Last placement: 2014 (4th)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 25th
GB comment: Miss Netherlands has that cool vibe you can´t miss. As the professional dancer that she is, we will watch out for those great moves on stage!
NICARAGUA - Norma Huembes
Norma Huembes grew up in a family of entrepreneurs who help Nicaraguan-based businesses grow. This led her to become a public accountant and auditor who provides free economics advice to business owners. At the age of 19, she created a cost accounting system for poultry farms as a volunteer.
Debut: 1955
Best placement: Top 10 (2007)
Last placement: 2013 (top 16)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 67th
GB comment: Miss Universe Nicaragua has a beautiful smile and has prepared really well to represent Nicaragua in New Orleans. We love this shot, in which she´s already in the NOLA spirit!
NIGERIA - Hannah Iribhogbe
Hannah Iribhogbe is passionate about charity, community service, youth involvement, and women’s empowerment. She’s currently studying business management at North Lake college Dallas, Texas. She’s very passionate about children, specifically young girls, which she shows through her charity advocacy and community service.
Debut: 1964
Best placement: Top 10 (2001)
Last placement: 2019 (top 20)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 83rd
GB comment: On her first appearances in New Orleans we could see that Nigeria is not only gorgeous, but she also has lots of poise and elegance. We can´t wait to see her in the preliminary competition. Eye on Nigeria!
NORWAY - Ida Hauan
Ida Anette Hauan enjoyed a warm and healthy childhood in a small community in Norway which has become the foundation of her down-to-earth personality. Living a healthy lifestyle is very important to her, and she enjoys training, cooking her own healthy food, and connecting with beautiful Norwegian nature.
Debut: 1952
Best placement: winner (1990)
Last placement: 2005 (top 15)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 23rd
GB comment: Miss Norway, a nature lover, is naturally beautiful. We like her.
PANAMA - Solaris Barba
Solaris Barba is a psychology student who is passionate about dance and fine arts. In her work as a TV presenter for a show celebrating Panamanian traditions and customs, she works hand in hand with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a global nonprofit NGO that funds and provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 1,650,00 people in various countries in the fight against aids. She competed in Miss World 2018, having placed in the Top 12 and winning the Miss World Americas title.
Debut: 1952
Best placement: Winner (2002)
Last placement: 2021 (Top 16)
GB Miss Universe Ranking: 31st
GB comment: Miss World Americas 2018, Solaris has the experience, the poise, and the social work to fly high in this year´s edition of Miss U. We believe she has all it takes to reach the Top 10, and maybe more.