Miss Universe Lebanon Maya Aboul Hosn and Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee are among the top favourites ahead of the global finale in November.
Miss Universe recently shared the Top 10 list of its fan vote, which also included France's Diane Leyre, Myanmar's Amara Bo, Thailand's Anntonia Porsild and Mexico's Melissa Flores.
Online voting is now open via the Miss Universe app, with the contestant earning the most votes getting an automatic placement in the semi-finals. The next Miss Universe is set to be crowned on November 18 in El Salvador.
Hosn, 25, a radio and television personality, was crowned Miss Universe Lebanon last month at a competition in Beirut. She is only the third Arab contestant at the global competition along with Miss Universe Egypt Mohra Tantawy and Miss Universe Bahrain Lujane Yacoub.
Lebanon has won the Miss Universe crown once when Georgina Rizk made history by becoming the first woman from the Arab world to win the title in 1971.
Miss Universe Philippines's Dee, meanwhile, comes from a beauty pageant-obsessed country, which has won the title four times.
An actress and model, Dee, 28, represented the City of Makati at the national contest in May. She is the daughter of actress and producer Melanie Marquez, who won the Miss International crown in 1979. As a pageant promoter, Marquez has also trained many beauty queens who've gone to represent on the Philippines on the international stage.
Dee has also represented the Philippines at a global pageant, having won Miss World Philippines in 2019. She finished in the top 12 at the Miss World competition, held in London, where Jamaica's Toni-Ann Singh was crowned winner that year.
Reigning Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel from the USA will crown her successor at the November event in El Salvador, which will begin with a number of preliminary rounds spread over a number of weeks.
Here are the Top 10 Miss Universe contestants with the most fan votes in alphabetically order:
- Albania: Endi Demneri
- Chile: Celeste Viel
- France: Diane Leyre
- Lebanon: Maya Abou El Hosn
- Mexico: Melissa Flores
- Myanmar: Amara Bo
- Nicaragua: Sheynnis Palacios
- Philippines: Michelle Dee
- Puerto Rico: Karla Acevedo
- Thailand: Anntonia Porsild
-
Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel celebrates after winning the 71st Miss Universe competition at the New Orleans Ernest N Morial Convention Centre in Louisiana. AFP -
Gabriel on stage after being crowned Miss Universe at the 71st Miss Universe pageant, in New Orleans. AP -
Gabriel, back to camera, is hugged by other contestants after being crowned Miss Universe. AP -
Gabriel celebrates after her win. Reuters -
From left, Miss Venezuela Amanda Dudamel, Miss USA Gabriel and Miss Dominican Republic Andreina Martinez hold hands before the final verdict during the 71st Miss Universe competition in Louisiana. AFP -
Gabriel reacts after being picked among the final three contestants in the final round. AP -
The final five contestants, from left, Miss Dominican Republic Martinez, Miss Curacao Gabriela Dos Santos, Miss Puerto Rico Ashley Carino, Miss USA Gabriel and Miss Venezuela Dudamel. AP -
Thai businesswoman and owner of Miss Universe pageant Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip speaks during the 71st Miss Universe competition. AFP -
Contestants take part in the final round. AFP -
Gabriel on stage. Reuters -
Miss Trinidad and Tobago Tya Jane Ramey. Reuters -
Miss Spain Alicia Faubel. Reuters -
Miss Australia Monique Riley. AFP -
Miss Canada Amelia Tu. Reuters -
Miss Haiti Mideline Phelizor. Reuters -
Jakrajutatip, left, as owner of the Miss Universe Organisation, presents the ImpactWayv Challenge Award to Miss Thailand Anna Sueangam-iam. AP -
Miss Colombia Maria Fernanda Aristizabal reacts after being selected as the last of the 16 finalists. AP -
Jeannie Mai Jenkins and Olivia Culpo host the competition. Getty Images -
Miss Seychelles Gabriella Gonthier walks through the crowd with fellow contestants for the start of the final round. AP
