Miss Universe 2016 was the 65th Miss Universe pageant, held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines, on January 30, 2017. This was the second time that the pageant skipped a year, after Miss Universe 2014 was held in January 2015.
The winner, Iris Mittenaere of France was crowned by Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines. It was France's first win in sixty-three years, and its second overall win.
Contestants from eighty-six countries and territories competed in the pageant. Steve Harvey was the host, and plus-sized model Ashley Graham was the backstage host. American entertainers Flo Rida and Boyz II Men were the acts.
Background
Location and date It was announced November 3, 2016, that the Philippines would host the pageant, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on January 30, 2017. The collaboration agreement to that effect was signed on November 16.
Host and performers On November 3, 2016, the Miss Universe Organization confirmed that Steve Harvey would host the pageant, continuing his five-year contract with Miss Universe. On December 15, 2016, plus-sized model Ashley Graham confirmed that she would be the backstage host. On January 19, 2017, rapper Flo Rida was announced as a guest performer.
Selection of participants Contestants from eighty-six countries and territories were selected to compete in the pageant. Eight of these delegates were appointees to their titles after being a runner-up of their national pageant or an audition process or other internal selection, while four were selected to replace the original dethroned winner.
Stephanie Geldhof, the first runner-up of Miss Belgium 2016, was appointed to represent Belgium after the original winner, Lenty Frans, decided to compete at Miss World 2016 due to conflicting schedules with Miss Belgium 2017. Jenny Kim, the first runner-up of Miss World Korea 2015, was appointed by the Miss Universe Korea Organization after the Miss Korea organization lost the franchise. Kushboo Ramnawaj was appointed by the Miss Estrella Mauritius Organization after the Miss Mauritius organization relinquished the franchise. Yuliana Korolkova, the first runner-up of Miss Russia 2016, was appointed as Miss Universe Russia 2016 after Yana Dobrovolskaya, Miss Russia 2016, decided to compete at Miss World 2016 due to the conflicting schedules of the two pageants.
Paula Schneider, Miss Bolivia 2015, was to represent Bolivia, but resigned for personal reasons. Antonella Moscatelli, Miss Bolivia 2016, was appointed instead. Regina Valter, Miss Universe Kazakhstan 2015, was to compete in Miss Universe 2016 after her withdrawal in 2015. However, Valter was disqualified after getting married. Darina Kulsitova, Miss Universe Kazakhstan 2016, replaced her. Brenda Jiménez, first runner-up of Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2016, was crowned the new Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2016, after Kristhielee Caride, the original winner, was dethroned due to her behaviour. Đặng Thị Lệ Hằng, the second runner-up of Miss Universe Vietnam 2015, was appointed as the representative of Vietnam to Miss Universe after Ngô Trà My, the first runner-up, refused to compete and got married.
The 2016 edition saw the debut of Sierra Leone and the returns of Barbados, Belize, Guam, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malta, Namibia, Romania, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, and the United States Virgin Islands. Malta last competed in 2001, Barbados and Belize last competed in 2007, Iceland last competed in 2009, US Virgin Islands last competed in 2011, Namibia and Romania last competed in 2013, while the others last competed in 2014. El Salvador, Gabon, Ghana, Greece, Ireland, Lebanon, Montenegro, and Serbia withdrew. Adela Zoranic of Montenegro and Bojana Bojanic of Serbia withdrew from the competition for unknown reasons. El Salvador, Gabon, Ghana, Greece, Ireland, and Lebanon withdrew after their respective organizations failed to hold a national competition or appoint a delegate.
Results
Placements Placement Contestant Miss Universe 2016 – Iris Mittenaere 1st Runner-Up – Raquel Pélissier 2nd Runner-Up – Andrea Tovar Top 6 – Mary Esther Were – Maxine Medina – Chalita Suansane § Top 9 – Siera Bearchell – Kristal Silva – Deshauna Barber Top 13 – Raissa Santana – Kezia Warouw – Keity Drennan – Valeria Piazza § – Voted in the Top 13 by viewers
Special awards Major awards Awards Contestant Miss Congeniality – Jenny Kim Miss Photogenic – Lindita Idrizi Best National Costume – Htet Htet Htun Fan Vote Winner - Chalita Suansane
Minor/Sponsor awards Awards Contestant Flawless of the Universe – Mariam Habach Miss Phoenix Miss Phoenix Smile – Kezia Warouw Hiyas ng Phoenix – Maxine Medina
Pageant
Format The Miss Universe Organization introduced several specific changes to the format for this edition. The number of semifinalists was reduced to thirteen— the lowest since 2002. The results of the preliminary competition— which consisted of the swimsuit and evening gown competition, and the closed-door interview, determined the twelve semifinalists. Internet voting returned, with fans being able to vote for another delegate to advance into the semifinals, making the number of semifinalists thirteen. The thirteen semifinalists participated in the swimsuit competition, with nine advancing in the competition for the evening gown competition. Six finalists advanced to participate in the question and answer portion, while three finalists advanced to participate in the final question and the final walk.
Selection committee Cynthia Bailey – model, television personality and actress Mickey Boardman – editorial director and advice columnist for Paper magazine Francine LeFrak – activist and founder of Same Sky and support foundation for people living with HIV Leila Lopes – Miss Universe 2011 from Angola Sushmita Sen – Miss Universe 1994 from India Dayanara Torres – Miss Universe 1993 from Puerto Rico
Contestants Eighty-six contestants competed for the title. Country/Territory Contestant Age Hometown Albania 20 Elbasan AngolaLuísa Baptista21Cuando Cubango ArgentinaEstefanía Bernal21Buenos Aires ArubaCharlene Leslie24Oranjestad AustraliaCaris Tiivel23Perth AustriaDajana Dzinic21Vienna Bahamas Cherell Williamson24Nassau BarbadosShannon Harris22Bridgetown BelgiumStephanie Geldhof19Aalst BelizeRebecca Rath23Dangriga BoliviaAntonella Moscatelli21Santa Cruz BrazilRaissa Santana21Umuarama British Virgin IslandsErika Creque22Road Town BulgariaViolina Ancheva21Sofia CanadaSiera Bearchell23Moose Jaw Cayman IslandsMonyque Brooks25West Bay ChileCatalina Cáceres26Santiago ChinaLi Zhenying21Shanghai ColombiaAndrea Tovar23Quibdó Costa RicaCarolina Rodríguez27Alajuela CroatiaBarbara Filipović19Zagreb CuraçaoChanelle de Lau21Willemstad Czech RepublicAndrea Bezděková21Prague DenmarkChristina Mikkelsen24Copenhagen Dominican RepublicRosalba García24Maimón EcuadorConnie Jiménez21Ventanas FinlandShirly Karvinen24Helsinki FranceIris Mittenaere23Lille GeorgiaNuka Karalashvili25Tbilisi GermanyJohanna Acs24Eschweiler Great BritainJaime-Lee Faulkner27Sheffield GuamMuñeka Taisipic19Yona GuatemalaVirginia Argueta22Jutiapa Guyana Soyini Fraser26Georgetown HaitiRaquel Pélissier25Port-au-Prince HondurasSirey Moran26El Progreso Hungary Veronika Bodizs24Budapest IcelandHildur María Leifsdóttir24Kópavogur IndiaRoshmitha Harimurthy22Bengaluru IndonesiaKezia Warouw25Manado IsraelYam Kaspers Anshel19Herzliya ItalySophia Sergio24Naples JamaicaIsabel Dalley20Montego Bay JapanSari Nakazawa23Shiga KazakhstanDarina Kulsitova19Semey KenyaMary Esther Were27 Nairobi KosovoCamila Barraza23Pristina MalaysiaKiran Jassal20Subang Jaya MaltaMartha Fenech27St. Julian's Mauritius Kushboo Ramnawaj26Rivière Du Poste MexicoKristal Silva25Ciudad Victoria MyanmarHtet Htet Htun24Yangon NamibiaLizelle Esterhuizen20Windhoek NetherlandsZoey Ivory23Almere New ZealandTania Dawson24Auckland NicaraguaMarina Jacoby21Matagalpa NigeriaUnoaku Anyadike22Lagos NorwayChristina Waage21Nes Panama Keity Drennan26Panama City ParaguayAndrea Melgarejo22Villarrica PeruValeria Piazza26Lima PhilippinesMaxine Medina26Quezon City PolandIzabella Krzan21Olsztyn PortugalFlávia Brito23Vilamoura Puerto RicoBrenda Jiménez22Aguadilla RomaniaTeodora Dan27Bucharest RussiaYuliana Korolkova22Orsk Sierra LeoneHawa Kamara26Freetown SingaporeCheryl Chou20Singapore SlovakiaZuzana Kollárová25Bratislava SloveniaLucija Potočnik25Maribor South AfricaNtandoyenkosi Kunene24Mkhondo South KoreaJenny Kim23Seoul SpainNoelia Freire24Ciudad Real Sri LankaJayathi De Silva26Colombo SwedenIda Ovmar21Luleå SwitzerlandDijana Cvijetić23Gossau Tanzania Jihan Dimack 20Dar es Salaam Thailand Chalita Suansane22Samut Prakan Turkey Tansu Sila Çakir21Istanbul Ukraine Alena Spodynyuk19Kyiv United StatesDeshauna Barber27Washington, D.C. United States Virgin IslandsCarolyn Carter27Saint Croix UruguayMagdalena Cohendet22Artigas VenezuelaMariam Habach21El Tocuyo VietnamLệ Hằng Đặng23Đà Nẵng
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