Critical Beauty

  Kim Thitisan Goodburn of Thailand has won the 2023 Mister International title in Crystal Design Center Ballroom, Khwaeng Khlong Chan, Bangkok on September 17, 2023. This is Thailand’s first win in the pageant’s 15-year history. The 24-year-old actor, model and entrepreneur bested 35 other contestants from around the world.  The first runner-up is William Badell of Venezuela. The second runner-up is Edward Taiye Ogunniya of Brazil. The remaining top five were Lucas Schlacter of France and Shashwat Dwivedi of India. Congratulations to Thailand!

  The first ever Miss Universe Pakistan has been crowned. Erica Robin , 24, a professional model who lives in Karachi, won the title over four other finalists. The event took place in the Maldives because pageants are not allowed in Muslim-majority Pakistan. Swipe to the last slide to watch her coronation. Once the news of Robin’s coronation was posted on social media, Pakistan’s Information Minister Murtaza Solangi said that the government had not nominated anyone to represent Pakistan at Miss Universe pageant. Solangi was responding to a journalist’s post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) who had asked as to who in the government had given permission to five women in the contest. “The government and the state of Pakistan are represented by the state and government institutions. Our government has not nominated any non-state or non-governmental person or institution for any such activity, nor can any such person or institution represent the state or government. Period,

  This interview was conducted via Zoom on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at 4:00 PM EST. Kirstin Yvonne Bangs will represent the USA at The Miss Globe 2023 in Tirana, Albania on November 17, 2023. Follow Kirstin’s journey to Albania on her Instagram account @kirstinyvonne

This interview was conducted via Zoom on Sunday, September 10, 2023 at 5:00 PM EST. Sheyla will represent Cuba in Miss International 2023 to be held in Tokyo, Japan on October 26. Follow Sheyla’s journey to Miss International on her Instagram @sheylaraveloperez

The interview was conducted via Zoom on Sunday, September 10, 2023 at 3:00 PM EST. Sofia Acosta will represent Cuba at Miss Grand International 2023 in Vietnam on October 25, 2023. Follow Sofia on her journey to MGI 2023 on her Instagram @sofiaacsta

  This interview was conducted via Zoom on Friday, September 8, 2023 at 12 noon. Heather Marie Thompson will represent the U.S. Virgin Islands at Miss Grand International 2023. Later during the chat, she is joined by her national director, Brian Javier, who is also a pageant analyst and vlogger. Heather and Brian tackle the questions surrounding Heather’s representation of the islands, among other things. Follow Heather Marie’s journey to MGI 2023 on her Instagram @officialheathermarie

  Mariana Downing, 27, a professional model and artist representing the city of Sanchez Ramirez, was crowned Miss Universe Dominican Republic 2023 and will now compete in Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador on November 18. The first runner-up is Yamilex Hernández of La Vega. The second runner-up is Eoanna Constanza of Distrito Nacional. Constanza competed in Miss Supranational 2021 where she placed fourth runner-up. Downing dated singer Marc Anthony when she was 21. Her mother is Dominican and her father is British. She answered her final question in English which is her primary language.

  This segment is an extract from the three-hour group chat with Ko Phanasa and George of the Pageant Empress that was conducted via Zoom last September 1, 2023 at 9 PM EST. On this segment, we discuss the business approach to pageantry by Miss Universe owner and JKN Global head Anne Jakrajutatip (Khun Anne) and Miss Grand International owner Nawat Itsaragrisil - this in the light of JKN Global’s failure to pay in full the $20 million fee to acquire Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.

  Melissa Flores, 25, representing the state of Michoacán, was crowned Mexicana Universal 2023 (Miss Universe Mexico 2023) on Saturday, September 2 at the Convention and Exhibition Center of Aguascalientes. She will now represent Mexico in Miss Universe 2023 to be held in El Salvador on November 18. The “Suplente” (“replacement”) is Andrea Farril of Guerrero who will take over the title should Flores is unable to fulfill her duties. Completing the top six were: Mariana Logue of Estado de Mexico, Maria José de la Torre of Jalisco, Fernanda Mejía of Nayarit, and Melody Murguía of the United States. The other winners include: Mexicana Universal Internacional 2023 - Valeria Villanueva of Colima will compete in Miss International 2024 whose date and venue have not been confirmed. Mexicana Universal Hispanoamerica 2023 - Carolina Perez of Sinaloa will compete in Reina Hispanoamericana 2023 in Bolivia in January 2024. Mexicana Universal Charm 2023 - Tania Estrada of Chihuahua will compete in

Camila Avella, 27, a married woman with a young child representing the department of Casanare, has been crowned Miss Universe Colombia 2023 on September 2 and will now represent her country in Miss Universe 2023 to be held in El Salvador on November 18. She becomes the second married contestant to compete in Miss Universe after Michelle Cohn of Guatemala. The first runner-up is Adriana Luma of Norte de Santander and the second runner-up is Lina Hurtado of Buenaventura.

In this group chat, we react on the finals of Miss Universe Thailand 2023 held on August 20, 2023 at MCC Hall, The Mall Lifestore Ngamwongwan, Nonthaburi, Thailand. We also discuss the financial crisis currently afflicting JKN Global which purchased Miss Universe for $20 million but has so far only paid $4.5 million, this prompting a rumor that JKN Global may be broke. My guests include Ko Phanasa of KP1 Worldwide (follow her on Instagram @kophanasa) and George of Pageant Empress (follow him on Instagram @pageantempress)  

  This brief interview was conducted via Zoom on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 6:00 PM EST. Antonio Rivadeneira, who judged Miss Universe Canada 2023 pageant, joins in 25 minutes into the chat.

BROKE? Last October, JKN Global owner and CEO Anne Jakrajutatip (Khun Anne) purchased the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) for US$20 million. However, she hasn’t paid in full. So far, she has only paid $4.5 million, and if she doesn’t come up with the remaining $15.5 million, she risks declaring bankruptcy and that the Miss Universe 2023 edition in El Salvador in November may have to be cancelled. JKN must settle the outstanding debt including capital and interest, for its JKN239A debentures by September 1st, but JKN has proposed to extend the payment which will be negotiated during a loan shareholder meeting scheduled for September 29 Meanwhile, JKN’s default on debt repayment has severely impacted JKN’s liquidity and has caused significant losses to investors. The latest Thai stock market graph shows JKN Global’s stocks taking a nosedive. When JKN Global took over MUO, there was much media fanfare celebrating the acquisition and pageant fans heralding a new era in pageantry. However,

  Seriously, it’s time for more countries to crown a national queen whose sole purpose is to serve her country and not to compete internationally (which should only be an option if the winner wishes to do so). Just like Miss France and Miss South Africa. Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Supranational, Miss Earth, etc. - all these pageants cannot survive without representatives from various nations, but a Miss France or a Miss South Africa can subsist with the support and admiration of her people. There’s more dignity in being a “Miss Philippines” than being a “Miss (brand of pageant) Philippines.” Reposted from  @the_missphilippines The Miss Universe Philippines shows its support for The Miss Philippines. Not your usual pageant: • No Swimsuit Competition • Red Carpet moment like Cannes for the formal wear segment • Ted Talks-type speeches • An emphasis on how you will promote the Philippines to the world. The Miss Philippines is reinventing pageantry to come up with

  Karla Guilfú, 26, representing the municipality of Patillas, has been crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023 just moments ago in San Juan. She will now compete in Miss Universe 2023 pageant to be held in El Salvador on November 18. Xarimar Acevedo of Rio Grande is 1st runner-up, while Kiara Escudero of Toa Baja is 2nd runner-up. Guilfú had competed in Miss Supranational 2021 where she placed 1st runner-up.

  BREAKING: Three influential pageant portals release a joint statement recognizing Pradit Pradinunt, the CEO of Mister Global, as the sole and legal proprietor of Mister International. PRESS RELEASE - AUGUST 23, 2023 We, the directors of Missosology, Global Beauties, and Critical Beauty, unanimously recognize Pradit Pradinunt of Thailand as the legitimate successor to Alan Sim and thus the legitimate new owner and president of Mister International Organization founded by Sim in 2006. We unanimously reject other editions of Mister International that are not related to Pradit Pradinunt’s organization. We strongly urge national directors, contestants, media members, pageant sites, event organizers, sponsors, and pageant fans to follow and support edition. The 15th Mister International competition will be held in Bangkok, Thailand on September 17, 2023. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely, Pawee Ventura, Director of Missosology Henrique Fontes, Director of Global Beauties Rafa Delfin

Sofia Acosta and Sheyla Ravelo Perez Two Cuban beauties were crowned on the evening of August 20th at the Marriott Tampa Westshore in Tampa, Florida. Sofia Acosta, 27, was crowned Miss Grand Cuba 2023 and will compete in Miss Grand International 2023 to be held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on October 25. Sheyla Ravelo Perez, 23, was crowned Miss Cuba International 2023 and will compete in Miss International 2023 to be held in Tokyo, Japan. Five finalists competed in the inaugural pageant organized by the Miss Cuba Organization co-directed by Noemi Melendez and Lees Garcia, Miss Grand International 2014. @misscubadirector @lees.garcia Towards the end of the show, Lees made a surprise announcement by stating that all five finalists will compete internationally. First runner-up Lulu Feliu, 21, will represent Cuba in Miss Model of the World 2023 in Macau, China in November. Second runner-up Maria Karla Vilches, 20, will compete in Reina Internacional del Café 2024 in Manizales, Colombia i

  A nntonia Porsild, 26, has been crowned Miss Universe Thailand 2023 on Sunday, August 20 at MCC Hall, The Mall Lifestore Ngamwongwan, Nonthaburi, Thailand. She will now represent her country at Miss Universe 2023 pageant to be held in El Salvador on October November 18. The first runner-up is Jazzy Chewter and the second runner-up is Praveenar ("Veena") Singh, the first ever married woman to compete. It was Praveenar's third attempt to win the crown (she placed third in 2018 and second in 2020).  Anntonia was Miss Supranational 2019. If she wins Miss Universe, she will make history by becoming the first woman to have won two major pageants. Congratulations Anntonia! Bring home Thailand’s third Miss Universe crown! 😍

  Lenka Vomocil, a Czech model and beauty queen (Mrs. National Universe 2022), lives and works in Thailand. She has coached and prepared Czech queens such as Mariana Beckova (4th runner-up MGI 2022) and is currently preparing Sophia Osako, the Czech representative to MGI 2023. Lenka knows the ins and outs of MGI and she has a good idea of what MGI is looking for in a winner. This segment is part of a full-length group chat lasting over 4.5 hours that you can watch in its entirety here: https://www.youtube.com/live/CLJWWj5F...

  In this segment, my guests and I reveal our early favorites for Miss Grand International 2023 whose finals will take place in Vietnam on October 25. The panelists include Lenka Vomocil (Mrs. National Universe 2022), Runway and pageant coach Luis Lopez, and Emma and Guru of The Pageant Gurus and I. This segment is part of a full-length group chat lasting over 4.5 hours that you can watch in its entirety here: https://www.youtube.com/live/CLJWWj5F...

There are two versions of Mister International, a Thai version run by Pradit Pradinunt, and a Filipino version run by Manuel Deldio. Alan Sim, the founder of the contest, passed away in October 2022. Deldio claims that Sim had appointed him to be his successor, but he hasn’t provided proof of his claim. On the other hand, Pradinunt claims that he has all the evidence that Sim had indeed appointed him as the sole successor. The majority of national directors are following Pradinunt. This segment is part of a full-length group chat lasting over 4.5 hours that you can watch in its entirety here: https://www.youtube.com/live/CLJWWj5F...

  Miss Universe Thailand 2023 finals will take place on August 20, 2023 in Bangkok. My guests and I reveal our favorites for the crown. This segment is part of a full-length group chat lasting over 4.5 hours that you can watch in its entirety here: https://www.youtube.com/live/CLJWWj5F.. .

  This is a segment of a 4.5-hour long group chat conducted via Zoom on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at 9:00 PM EST. My guests include Lenka Vomocil (Mrs. National Universe 2022), runway coach and pageant mentor Luis Lopez, and The Pageant Gurus (Gautam and Emma). You can watch the full-length chat here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLJWWj5F97o&t=14375s

  Isabella Garcia-Manzo was crowned Miss Universe El Salvador 2023, beating the front runner Fatima Cuellar whom pageant fans believe is much prettier. Various conspiracy theories swirl around Isabella’s win, including the possibility that her father, a rich businessman, may have bought the crown for her. Our panelists featuring Lenka Vomocil (Mrs. National Universe 2022), Runway and pageant coach Luis Lopez, and Emma and Guru of The Pageant Gurus and I discuss the topic. This segment is part of a full-length group chat lasting over 4.5 hours that you can watch in its entirety here: https://www.youtube.com/live/CLJWWj5F...

Now that the Miss Universe Organization has cut off its professional ties with the Miss Universe Indonesia Organization, headed by Poppy Capella, following allegations of sexual harassment by several Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 contestants, should Puteri Indonesia Organization, which held the franchise for three decades, retake it back? Our panelists featuring Lenka Vomocil (Mrs. National Universe 2022), Runway and pageant coach Luis Lopez, and Emma and Guru of The Pageant Gurus and I discuss the topic. This segment is part of a full-length group chat lasting over 4.5 hours that you can watch in its entirety here: https://www.youtube.com/live/CLJWWj5F...  

This chat was conducted via Zoom on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at 9:00 PM. My guests include Lenka Vomocil (Mrs. National Universe 2022), runway coach and pageant mentor Luis Lopez, and The Pageant Gurus (Gotham and Emma).

  Miss SA 2022 Ndavi Nokeri has officially handed over the title to the new queen, Natasha Joubert. The  Miss SA  pageant took place at Sun Bet Arena at Time Squares Menlyn, Tshwane on Sunday 13 August, where Natasha was crowned Miss South Africa 2023. The 25-year-old model and entrepreneur was trying her luck for the second time this year as new rules to enter the pageant was introduced earlier this year. In 2020, she became the Miss SA runner-up and went on to represent South Africa at the  Miss Universe  competitions in 2021. Not only does the new Miss South Africa get a brand-new crown, she also receives prizes and sponsorships worth more than R3 million. Natasha is the first Miss SA to wear the brand-new crown ‘ Mowana, the Tree of Life ,’ designed by the dynamic duo behind Nungu Diamonds, Ursula Pule, and her husband, Kealeboga Pule. The Top 7 Miss SA finalists who were competing for the crown are Anke Rothmann, Bryoni Govender, Homba Mazaleni, Jordan van der Vyver, Melissa Nayim

  Poppy Capella is the director and CEO of Miss Universe Indonesia Organization Six contestants of a Miss Universe   Indonesia   pageant have filed complaints with police accusing organisers of sexual harassment after they were allegedly ordered to strip topless for 'body checks'. Police confirmed contestants had filed a report that would be investigated. The contestants of the Indonesian beauty pageant, held in the capital Jakarta from July 29 to August 3, said the organisers asked five of them to strip to their underwear for physical examinations in a room with more than 20 people, including men. Five contestants were then photographed topless, said their lawyer, Mellisa Anggraeni, adding there was no need for such checks. Six contestants had filed complaints, she said. One of the complainants told a press conference, broadcast by news channel Kompas TV, that she had been asked to pose inappropriately, including by opening her legs. 'I felt like I was being peeked on, I w

  Michelle Cohn , a 28-year-old model, entrepreneur, radio announcer and TV host representing Guatemala City, has been crowned Miss Universe Guatemala 2023 during a gala event last night. She will now represent her country in Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador on November 18. Cohn makes history by being the first married woman to win the national title and the first married woman to compete in Miss Universe since this pageant revived a rule allowing married women earlier this year. it is important to note that Miss Universe accepted married women with children from 1952 to 1956 until the rules changed. Cohn has two young children and is married to businessman Andrés Matheu. Cohn had competed in Reina Mundial del Banano 2013 where she placed fourth runner-up, followed by a non-placement in Miss Grand International 2013. Later, she competed in Miss America Latina del Mundo 2013 where she was originally third runner-up but was promoted to second runner-up when the winner was dethroned and