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Miss Universe 2024 hosts (from left) Catriona Gray, Mario Lopez and Olivia Culpo. Image: Facebook/Miss Universe
This year’s edition of the Miss Universe pageant will be held in Mexico, the fifth time that the country will be hosting the global tilt. The final competition will be staged at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City on Nov. 16 (Nov. 17) in Manila.
The 2024 pageant has also amassed its biggest haul of delegates at 125. The international competition never breached the 100-mark before, with its former record set at 94 in 2018, the year Catriona Gray received the crown.
And with such a large pool of formidable ladies, the first cut will also see an increase in the number of qualifiers, with 30 ladies moving on to the next round of competition. Among them is the fan vote winner.
The semifinalists will then compete in the swimsuit competition, which will determine the 12 delegates who will then proceed to the evening gown segment. Afterwards, the field will be further narrowed down to just five ladies, who will take part in the question-and-answer portion.
One winner will be crowned Miss Universe, while the remaining four finalists will be her runners-up. Also, the pageant will proclaim four continental queens this year.
But with the changes also come things that are familiar. Hollywood actor and presenter Mario Lopez will reunite with 2012 Miss Universe Olivia Culpo to host the ceremonies. They first paired up in the 69th edition held in Florida in May 2021.
Also returning is the tandem of “Access Hollywood” correspondent Zuri Hall and 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray as backstage correspondents. “Blurred Lines” singer Robin Thicke will provide musical entertainment.
Latin music star Emilio Estefan returns for another judging stint, where he will be joined in the panel by notable global names, such as 1978 Miss Universe Margaret Gardiner from South Africa and Dubai-based international fashion designer Michael Cinco.
Chelsea Manalo is eyeing a fifth victory for the Philippines this year, after Gloria Diaz in 1969, Margie Moran in 1973, Pia Wurtzbach in 2015, and Gray.