(From left) Big Freedia, Amanda Shaw, Yolanda Adams. Images: Instagram/@MissUniverse
The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) is pulling all the stops for the upcoming coronation night on Jan. 14 (morning of Jan. 15 in the Philippines) as it unveiled its set of performers for the event.
American performers Big Freedia, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Amanda Shaw, Yolanda Adams, and Tank and the Bangas have been tapped by the MUO to serenade the contestants at the coronation night in New Orleans, Louisiana in the U.S., according to its official Instagram page on Wednesday, Jan. 10.
“Dun Dun Dun [musical notes emoji] MEET OUR PERFORMERS,” the MUO wrote in the caption.
Rapper and performer Big Freedia was also announced to be part of the pageant’s selection committee last Jan. 11, where Miss Universe titleholders Ximena Navarrete (2010) and Wendy Fitzwilliam (1998) are also included. U.S.-based beauty specialist Olivia Cuido, founder of O Skin Med Spa, will also be judging at the event.
The pageant held its preliminary competition on Jan. 12 where 84 candidates represented their countries at the introduction, swimsuit, evening gown, and national costume rounds.
Celeste Cortesi is vying for the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe title after Gloria Diaz (1969), Margarita Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), and Catriona Gray (2018). She recently made headlines after dazzling pageant fans in her Darna-inspired national costume at the preliminaries. EDV