(From left) Celeste Cortesi, Harnaaz Sandhu and Catriona Gray. Image: Philippine Daily Inquirer/Armin P. Adina
MANILA, Philippines—The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) has just announced an all-female hosting team for the pageant’s 71st edition, which will also reportedly have a judging panel composed entirely of women. An official said these are intentional.
“From our two multi-hyphenate female hosts to our female producer and new female ownership, this year’s show will truly be a celebration of women, created by women,” MUP President Paula Shugart said in a statement released by the organization.
Model, content creator and 2012 Miss Universe Olivia Culpo will return to host from her debut stint in the pageant’s 69th edition in May 2021 and will be joined by Daytime Emmy winner Jeannie Mai-Jenkins. Providing backstage commentaries will be 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray and Emmy Award-winning host Zuri Hall.
For her part, MUO CEO Amy Emmerich said, “With Culpo as a successful former titleholder and Jeannie’s work in redefining what it means to be a working mother, both women are true examples of the momentum the [MUO] is building.”
In the last quarter of 2022, MUO also had its first female and non-American owner. Thai media mogul Anna Jakapong Jakrajutatip of JKN Global Group acquired full ownership of the organization, including all its three pageants Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, in October.
She also revealed in an earlier interview with Thai media that the 71st Miss Universe pageant, technically the competition’s 2022 edition, would have an all-female judging panel.
Jakrajutatip also reminded the candidates, “It’s fundamentally important for you to learn about the organization, as well as your role as the female icon who can advocate the good changes around the world.”
Eighty-five delegates from all over the world are vying for the title currently held by Harnaaz Sandhu, the third queen from India who won in December 2021.
The 2022 Miss Universe coronation night will be held at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the US on Jan. 14 (Jan. 15 in Manila). Italian-Filipino model and realtor Celeste Cortesi will attempt to give the Philippines its fifth victory in the annual competition. /ra
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