Its that time of year where Beauty and Confidence dominates the world stage at the Miss Universe Pageant. I of course think that all the contestants are phenomenal and beautiful but those melanated queens are the ones I would like to show a little extra love and support towards. The main reason being that they are sometimes the underdog, their beauty is not always appreciated and I can relate the most to these particular ladies. Here are the ladies who will be giving us Black Girl Magic at the Miss Universe Pageant this year.
ALBANIA
Lindita Idrizi
Competing came easy for Lindita Idrizi as she has competed and won the three titles of Miss Elbasan, Miss Europe Continental and Miss Universe Albania. Not only does she enjoy her time in the spotlight, but she also likes taking time out for herself to play the flute. Idrizi’s main priority is finishing up her degree at AAB College, Pristina, Kosovo where she studies Social Science. Idrizi likes to pass the message on to ‘live in the moment’ and to take in every opportunity given. Idrizi is looking forward to meeting the women from all over the world, and hopes to take home her 4th crown this January.
ANGOLA
Luisa Batista
Luisa Batista is a native of Kuando Kubango currently attending UPRA where she studies Psychology. On top of school, she volunteered for the National Institute of the Fight Against Cancer. In Batista’s spare time, you can catch her reading, going to the movies, dancing, or playing handball. If she were to become Miss Universe, she would love to continue to help raise awareness for Cancer.
BAHAMAS
Cherell Williamson
Entrepreneur, Cherell Williamson, is a gifted makeup artist, face painter and jewelry designer. She is from Nassau and has spent 8 of her young academic years competitively swimming. During her final year of high school, she had the privilege of participating in The National Art Enrichment Program where her creative talents blossomed under the tutelage of industry experts. After finding her passion, Williamson opened her first business while pursuing further training at a cosmetics school with local professionals. It is no surprise that her attraction to fashion, beauty and art would eventually lead her to a modeling career. She has walked the runway of many hometown and international stages. With a busy schedule, Williamson finds time to work with her mother at their Bahamian Boutique and also train hearing impaired young ladies on the art of jewelry making. It is through this giving program that has pushed her to open the Hearing Impaired Native Craft Center. If crowned Miss Universe, Williamson would advocate alongside with the AIDS foundation to raise awareness and diminish the discrimination people with HIV/AIDS face.
BRAZIL
Raissa Santana
Raissa Santana is a basketball playing, cooking enthusiast who graduated college with a Marketing degree. Santana is so proud to be representing Brazil as the first black woman crowned in 30 years. Santa has volunteered with the elderly and hopes to get involved with charities and organizations that focuses on child adoption. With her charm and attitude, she hopes to have the judges eyes locked on her during the Miss Universe Competition.
BRITISH ViRGIN ISLANDS
Erika Creque
A ball of fun as described by her friends, Erika Renae Creque is an absolute daredevil. Her bucket list consists of bungee jumping and skydiving. Being a Caribbean girl at heart, Creque has a great love for the environment and participates in various non profit organizations such as Association of Reef Keepers, Caribbean Youth Environmental Network, GreenVI and Greencrete VI. She enjoyed helping people so much that she decided she wanted to be a firefighter. Creque has training in basic life support skills, first aid and has completed basic EMT training. She wishes to complete the full course in order to qualify as an EMT. Her true life goal is to become a Civil Engineer and plans to pursue a degree in that field. Creque is prepared to rock her free spirit and hardcore lifestyle on the Miss Universe stage.
CAYMEN ISLANDS
Monyque Brooks
A love for Caymanian arts, culture and heritage has heavily influenced Monyque Brooks life. Brooks is set on leaving her footprint in the arts industry through participation in major programs, festivals, and dance. Brooks has a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management, and currently puts that to great use working at the Department of Tourism. For her, becoming the next Miss Universe is not only a lifelong dream but also a mission to inspire and induce change. Brooks vows to stay dedicated to her cause, Dance through the Heart, while continuously demonstrating her zeal and commitment to ‘Caymankind’.
CURAÇAO
Chanelle de Lau
Chanelle de Lau isn’t all business, though studying International Business and Management at school. In her spare time, you can catch Chanelle cooking and creating exciting new dishes for family and friends. For relaxation, Chanelle enjoys dancing as a form of showing her self-expression and also to relax. In her final year of highschool, Chanelle devastatingly lost her father to cancer. Now, as an advocate for Cancer research, Chanelle is working with many people and organizations around the world to use her voice to advocate for cancer awareness and prevention. If crowned Miss Universe she can reach more people all over the world and encourage a healthy lifestyle.
GUYANA
Soyini Fraser
Soyini Fraser hails from the “Garden City” Georgetown, the Capital of Guyana. This stunning beauty is a media personality, an executive producer of her own television series and a professionally trained dancer and actress. Soyini is an aspiring Christian Child Psychologist, and has been closely working with elderly and children, who are less fortunate, by empowering them through mentorship. Soyini is recognized as a Special Ambassador by the Guyana Tourism Authority and plans to share the warmth of her Guyanese people with her sisters at Miss Universe!
HAITI
Raquel Pelissier
The multi-talented, Haiti born contestant, Raquel Pelissier, is excited to compete in the upcoming Miss Universe Competition. This 25 year old has survived the earthquake that destroyed her hometown in January 2010, which made her value her life and fight for her goals and dreams. Something that makes Pelissier extra special is that she is quadrilingual. She enjoys reading a good book and going to museums. Not only does she love learning new things on her own, she is also getting her Master’s Degree in Scientific Research in Optometry and Vision. She is working on a research project on the regeneration of the optic nerve. She hopes to become the first Miss Universe to find a cure for blindness.
JAMAICA
Isabel Dalley
Inspired by her 3 younger siblings, 19 year old Isabel Dalley hopes to demonstrate great leadership and nurturing qualities throughout her reign. Growing up with her grandparents who had many cats, dogs and koi fish, Isabel developed a deep and everlasting love for animals. While in college, after a student based assessment, her geography class led her to the Montego Marine Park. After falling in love with Montego Marine Park, she later became the Chief Ambassador. Dalley then realized her calling in life was to become a Marine Biologist. Her love for pageants happened after college when Dalley began her career in modeling, leading to photoshoots and small scale modeling jobs. If crowned, she hopes to use her platform to raise awareness for marine biology and teach her following about ways they unite to support marine life.
KENYA
Mary Esther Were
Never give up’ is a quote that 27 year old, Mary Esther Were, lives by. Mary is determined and proud to represent her country in the upcoming competition. She takes pride in Kenya’s magical destinations, from millennia-old acclaimed historical sites in Turkana to enchanting giant oak tree forests in Meru. Mary has accomplished a lot throughout the years, she wrote a novel she hopes to get published soon and she is a Marketing Administrator for CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa. Mary’s long term aspiration is to talk to adolescents about never giving up on their dreams and to guide them to explore their personal uniqueness. Hoping to take home this year’s crown, Mary would like advocate for HIV awareness, drug addiction and affordable rehabilitation.
NIGERIA
Unoaku Anyadike
Unoaku Anyadike is a young, ambitious and beautiful 22 year old, whom was born into the Anyadike family from the eastern part of Nigeria, Anambra State. Anyadike graduated with honors in Psychology from the University of Ibadan, which is the the first University in Nigeria. She is currently undergoing the National Youth Service corps ( NYSC) in her country at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), which is a mandatory service to her country. Anyadike is an advocate of Endometriosis in her country and is very passionate about children. If she were to hold the title of Miss Universe, Anyadike would hope to have her own school and help counsel youths to enable them to have a brighter future.
SIERRA LEONE
Hawa Kamara
Hawa Kamara is making history this year by being the first contestant to represent her beautiful republic of Sierra Leone during the Miss Universe competition. Kamara was born in Kono, the land of diamonds, and raised in Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital city. After graduating Methodist Girls High School, one of the most prestigious girls school in Freetown, she began traveling and competing in beauty pageants. On the weekends, Kamara spends her time volunteering by talking to young girls about the importance of education. Kamara is looking forward to meeting all of the contestants representing their country in the competition. Kamara hopes to continue to make history by taking home the crown, if she does, she hopes to advocate and raise awareness for HIV/AIDS.
SOUTH AFRICA
Ntandoyenkosi Kunene
Ntandoyenkosi Kunene is a 24 year old, Bachelor of Education Honours graduate who is currently the official ambassador for the Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day. The organization gives South African girls first-hand experience in an industry, and it allows them future career opportunities. As the late Nelson Mandela said, ‘Education is the one tool that can be used to change the world.’ Ntando believes that having an education is vital, and it empowers others to be the best person they can be. If crowned Miss Universe, Ntando would want to pass his message on to young women, hoping it will it will be one of the key factors for South Africa’s socio-economic development.
Last but not least my number one queen
MISS UNITED STATES OF AMERIA aka
MISS USA
Deshauna Barber
Deshauna Barber is the first woman actively serving in the US Army Reserve to win the title of Miss USA. After completing her Masters of Science in Computer Information Systems at the University of Maryland, Deshauna returned to live in Washington, D.C. working as an IT Analyst for the U.S. Department of Commerce. Deshauna has been spending her year as Miss USA working directly with soldiers suffering from PTSD and focusing on suicide prevention in the Armed Forces. Taking what she’s learned from the US Army, Deshauna plans to make history for the United States of America at the Miss Universe Competition.
Make sure you watch the Miss Universe competition on FOX at 7c/8 and show these queens some love and support. I’ll be rooting for our beautiful Miss USA and my fellow sister in arms Deshauna
Remember to Always Be
Fierce and Fabulous
xoxo Lela Victoria
