The city has been abuzz ever since the announcement that the Miss Universe competition would be holding its 2019 edition here in Atlanta at Tyler Perry Studios. Since the delegates began their journey last Saturday, Nov. 30, you may have spotted them in various places around the city.
If you follow any of their social media channels, you will see the ladies have been having a blast exploring the city, forging longlasting friendships, experiencing local restaurants, and taking part in a plethora of philanthropic efforts around town.
Below we’ve highlighted a few choice events, links to photo albums, and how fans can get involved by voting for their favorite Miss Universe delegate!
Registration and Fittings
During registration and fittings the first two days, delegates had their hair done by a stylist from Farouk Systems, the Makers of CHI & Biosilk; had their makeup done by OP Cosmetics artists; and selected their G-Sonsie Swimwear, Sherri Hill opening number dress and Chinese Laundry shoes to wear during the preliminary and final competitions. You can find more photos HERE
Toys for Tots
Miss Universe Canada, Miss Universe Ukraine, Miss Universe Italy, Miss Universe Uruguay, and Miss Universe Mexico donated toys to Toys for Tots while visiting the Cirque du Soliel Tent in Atlanta. The delegates brought a toy unique to their home country and visited with the Cirque du Soliel performers and those attending the show. Click HERE for photos.
Meals on Wheels
Several Miss Universe delegates visited with Meals on Wheels Atlanta where they prepared nourishing meals before delivering them to low-income senior citizens within Fulton County and packaged pecans for Purposeful Pecans. Click HERE for photos.
Smile Train
Delegates supported Smile Train, a nonprofit that trains doctors to perform cleft lip and palate surgeries at no cost to patients, and provides support for the families affected by clefts. During the event, the delegates heard from Smile Train representatives and decorated mirrors for patients alongside reigning Miss Universe Catriona Gray. Click HERE for photos.
Best Buddies
All 90 Miss Universe delegates and reigning Miss Universe Catriona Gray joined Best Buddies International for dinner at Bucca di Beppo. The delegates spent time with the Atlanta Buddies and prepared pizzas throughout the evening. Click HERE for photos.
FAN VOTING
We’re happy to tell you about the MISS UNIVERSE® 2019 Global Vote for both the Preliminary and National Costume Competitions! The contestant who receives the highest number of votes for the Preliminary Competition will advance to the top 20 during the final MISS UNIVERSE® competition.
Fans across the world are now able to cast 1 free vote for their favorite contestant for the Preliminary Competition. Additional votes are available for purchase and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to MUO charitable partners.
With that being said, we’re excited to share with you a handful of the amazing delegates competing for the Miss Universe crown. Don’t forget to cast your vote!
MISS UNIVERSE NIGERIA
Olutosin Araromi is a first-generation Nigerian-American college graduate of Montclair State University who holds a bachelor’s degree in health and human services with a minor in psychology. Olutosin currently works as a model, presenter, and public speaker with the hopes of getting into motivational speaking in the near future. She is an avid woman empowerment advocate and has been featured on numerous woman empowerment platforms as a panelist. Before being selected to represent Nigeria at the 2019 Miss Universe pageant, Olutosin experienced a life-changing situation. Both she and her mother were involved in a fatal vehicle accident by a reckless driver which left her mother to sadly pass on. She is now using her platform to not only advocate for women and youth empowerment, but also bring awareness to pedestrian safety in Lagos, Nigeria.
MISS UNIVERSE PANAMA
Mehr Eliezer is a first-generation immigrant who was born in New Delhi, India but was raised in the Philippines and Panama. She is the first nationalized Panamanian to ever participate and win the Miss Universe Panama pageant. Mehr has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in International Affairs with minors in economics and history. She is an intern at the Americas regional office of the United Nations Office for Project Services. She works very closely with different social issues present in high-risk communities all around Panama including prostitution, homelessness, drug addiction, and at-risk youth. She is an advocate for gender equality and has been a strong ally of the LGBTQ+ community since her early teenage years. Mehr is also an ambassador for PROBIDSIDA a Panamanian organization that works to reduce the amount of HIV and AIDS cases in Panama. She created a workshop focused on teaching school children around Panama the values of tolerance and respect, challenging them to follow their dreams (Eliezer serves as a mentor for any personal or professional help they might need).
MISS UNIVERSE KOSOVO
Fatbardha Hoxha is 21-years-old and from the beautiful city of Prizren, Kosovo. She is passionate about modeling, an art form that she is free to express herself in. She recently graduated and obtained a degree in psychology. She’s fascinated by the study of psychology, as she has always wanted to understand the people around her. She is using her platform to support the homeless population on Kosovo and supporting programs that provide shelter and food for those that are in need. She also works closely with the Association of Women Affected by Cancer and the Clean Up Kosovo initiative.
MISS UNIVERSE GUAM
Sissie Luo is a student at the University of Guam and is employed at Raymond James. In her spare time, she loves dancing, hiking, and working out. She was in the service club at school where she helped organize fundraisers for the American Cancer Society and volunteered at Relay for Life for four years. She has also served as a doctor’s assistant, where she gained firsthand experience of the medical industry, a field in which she aspires to work in after obtaining her MBA with a concentration in pharmaceutical management. She is the first full Chinese Miss Universe Guam and wants to use her title to be a role model for all multicultural children growing up in Guam’s diverse society.
MISS UNIVERSE MONGOLIA
Gunzaya Bat-Erdene hails from Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. Aside from Mongolian, the Ulaanbaatar native is fluent in English and speaks a little German. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Ikh Zasag International University in Ulaanbaatar and attended Cebu International Academy in Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines. Gunzaya is an advocate of women’s rights and for her, competing in beauty pageants is not only a challenge but also an opportunity to give women a voice. She is an ambassador of the national “Unfriend Movement”. It reached 6.6 million people through social media to protect minors from cyberbullying and crimes. “Miss Universe is a unique beauty pageant and a great platform for those who have no voice,” Gunzaya says. “It’s is a rare opportunity to represent Mongolia on an international stage and promote the country’s heritage and values to the world.”
MISS UNIVERSE IRELAND
Fionnghuala O’Reilly is a systems engineer who obtained her bachelor of science degree from George Washington University. She works remotely from Dublin as a director for NASA’s International Space Apps Challenge, the world’s largest hackathon whose mission is to bring international communities together to create innovation to help solve the world’s most challenging environmental and space themed problems. This year, she launched the #ReachForTheStars social media campaign spotlighting women and diversity in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Fionnghuala is passionate about empowering women and girls in male-dominated industries and has partnered with organizations like Girls Who Code and the United Nations founded Equals Global Partnership to bring science communication programming to their communities. Fionnghuala is a part of the NASA Datanauts program, one of NASA’s Women in Data open innovation initiatives operating within the Office of the Chief Information Officer at NASA Headquarters. As a Datanaut, she advocates for women and diversity in technology. She was named Engineers Ireland’s 2020 Engineers Week National Ambassador and was included on Washington Life Magazine’s Innovators and Disruptors Tech 25 List which names ‘the entrepreneurs leading the charge on national and global innovations.’ Fionnghuala is proud to be her country’s very first woman of color to win Miss Universe Ireland.
MISS UNIVERSE USA
Before becoming Miss USA 2019, Cheslie was a full-time attorney licensed to practice law in two states. She earned her law degree and her MBA from Wake Forest University and her bachelor’s degree from the Honors College at the University of South Carolina, cum laude. She is a former Division I athlete, competed in the heptathlon, long jump, and triple jump on her college track and field team, and overcame spinal stress fractures to sit top ten in the record books at South Carolina in the triple jump. Cheslie currently serves as a correspondent for the entertainment news outlet, ExtraTV, and also runs a fashion blog ‘White Collar Glam’ that focuses on professional attire for women. Cheslie is passionate about Dress for Success and is an Impact Ambassador to the organization. She has traveled across the United States to support a variety of local events and programs for Dress for Success.
The 2019 MISS UNIVERSE® Competition airs LIVE from Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia Sunday, Dec 8 at 7/6c on FOX. Also airing in Spanish on Telemundo. For more information regarding the delegates and competition, please visit www.missuniverse.com.
-Jon J.
Photos: Courtesy of MUO
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