The most beautiful women in the world: All candidates for Miss Universe 2023

On January 14, the 71st edition of Miss Universe is held in New Orleans, USA. The contest brings together the most beautiful women in the world; a representative for each participating country. Meet the candidates and decide who you'd root for!

The candidate from Albania is a professional pianist and student of Pharmacy. Kokomani is also an advocate for mental health and one day she hopes her work will help provide universal health care.

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Swelia is proud to be the first in her family to graduate from university, earn a master's degree and be fluent in a third language. She is the director and co-founder of Better Tomorrow Africa, an association that aims to improve people's lives through education.

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Barbara Cabrera has her own fashion brand and dreams of expanding her fame throughout Latin America. She also works with the Margarita Barrientos Foundation, an organization that provides food for those in need.

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This candidate works vigorously to achieve excellence as a musician and philanthropist. She uses her partcipation in Miss Universe to advocate for gender equality.

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Kiara Arends holds a Bachelor's Degree in Law with a specialization in the business and tax areas. During the pandemic, she founded 'BUMP,' an organization that helps women with sustainable resources.

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Monique Riley is a self-defense coach. She teaches women skills to establish healthy physical and emotional boundaries. She also holds a BA in Creative Industries with a focus on fashion and acting.

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This candidate is a pianist and taekwondo fighter. She dreams of the day when Arab women are more represented in international media, including Disney movies, Hollywood shows and on the Miss Universe stage.

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Chayenne Van Aarle is a singer, actress and presenter. She also holds a degree in Public Relations and specializes in organizing weddings. She used to be a flight attendant and is proud to have had the opportunity to see different parts of the world.

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Ashley Lightburn is a professor of mathematics at the University of Belize and a banker. She also volunteers in secondary schools and extracurricular programs.

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Miss Bhutan makes the country's debut in the contest. The candidate is a member and advocate of the LGBTQIAP+ community and determined to make changes and break stereotypes.

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Maria Camila Sanabria has a degree in Business Administration and a Master's in Marketing and Business Management. She believes that education is the engine that generates growth in everyone's lives.

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Mia Mamede speaks five languages and has a degree in Journalism from New York University. The candidate has worked as a volunteer teacher for children in a socially vulnerable community since 2011.

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Passionate about athletics, Claxton saw the sport as an opportunity to be more focused and resilient. She studies English and wants to become a lawyer. She also works as a receptionist and junior secretary at a law firm.

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Kristina Plamenova holds a Law degree and is currently studying Software Engineering. She advocates action on climate change and is the ambassador for a campaign against air pollution.

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Hang is her country's first biracial Miss Universe participant. She graduated in Accounting and Finance, and works as a director in a multinational company. Hang is fluent in three languages: French, English and Khmer.

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Affectionately known as Jelly, this candidate is passionate about children. She organizes 'Hope Day,' a program that helps students get access to school supplies.

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Amelia Tu is pursuing a BA in Biology as well as a BA in Business at the University of California. She founded the company 'Organic Code,' developing a collection of eco-friendly skincare products and a line of sustainable clothing.

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For 17 years, Chloe has been playing basketball both as a hobby and professionally. She works with the Cayman Islands National Trust, a non-governmental organization created to preserve the region's history and biodiversity.

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Sofia Depassier was born and raised in Chile, where she lived until she was 10. Her family moved to the United States, where she suffered discrimination for not knowing the local language. This experience prompted her to create the 'Universo Sem Fronteiras' project, whose objective is to help children and young people who need guidance after moving to a new country.

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Sichen Jiang graduated from Cambridge University in Real Estate Finance and the University of Manchester in Accounting and Finance. During the pandemic, she was a volunteer in the fight against COVID-19.

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María Fernanda Aristizabál has a degree in Journalism and works as a motivational speaker, model, and influencer. On the internet, she shares her philosophy of life supporting vulnerable communities in Colombia.

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The candidate from Costa Rica is a civil engineer and passionate about languages. She is dedicated to studying the sign language of her country.

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The Croatian beauty queen is studying Economics and Management while dreaming of being a successful realtor and managing her own business. Mental health and care for abandoned animals are also very important causes for her.

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Gabriela Dos Santos currently works as a life coach. In 2019, she founded 'Light4change,' an organization whose aim is to allow young people to find purpose and accept themselves with complete authenticity.

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Sára Mikulenková works as a teacher, but she also has a cosmetic certificate which allows her to help other women feel more confident. Her dream is to have a beauty salon some day.

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Martínez holds a BA in Psychology from the City College of New York. She is an advocate of public policies that promote women. The Dominican Miss dreams of being the first ambassador of her country to the United Nations.

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González shines as a model in Ecuador and does social work in her own project, 'Diamond Youth,' in collaboration with the Germinar Foundation.

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Alejandra Guajardo Sada has a degree in International Relations and founded a CBD oil company with her father. They also support low-income families suffering from health problems.

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Alba Isabel Obama Moliko is 21 years old and a law student. In addition to being a model, she works as an official for the PDGE, the democratic party of Equatorial Guinea.

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Petra Hämäläinen entered the world of fashion when she was 16. She is currently finalizing her Master's thesis in Education and will dedicate herself to teaching. She is also an ambassador for an NGO that aims to raise awareness about breast cancer.

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Floriane Bascou is studying Medicine and intends to become an orthodontist in order to restore a smile to those who have lost it. The candidate is also a representative of the French Cancer Society and believes in the importance of helping and encouraging others.

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Soraya Kohlmann is an entrepreneur, pilates instructor and model. She has been a vegetarian since she was two years old and vegan since she was twelve. She believes that having a positive mindset and possessing a grateful heart is the key to having a fulfilling, successful and happy life.

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Mofuman is a professional model and translator of French, English, Spanish and Portuguese. Her teaching career propelled her to create the #PowerInThePencil project, an initiative aimed at teaching illiterate children to read and write.

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Noky Simbani has a Masters in Chemical Engineering but is currently leading marketing projects to support business growth. Outside of her work, she is an ambassador for diversity and inclusion, sharing her career journey with young people across the country.

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Korina Emmanouilidou has been working as a model since she was 16. Passionate about makeup, she studies to work as a beautician and dreams of having her own salon.

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The Guatemalan beauty queen is a student of Communication and encourages people to reconnect through the senses. She believes in the importance of mental health and works with young people in public schools.

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Mideline is a model, studies Law, and has the dream of specializing in children's rights, especially orphans. At age 23, she represented Haiti in an international beauty pageant, 'Miss Supranational,' and won the Miss Supra Caribbean model title.

Photo: Miss Universe official website

Rebeca Rodriguez works as a model to finance her studies in International Relations and Digital Marketing at Atlantis University in Miami. Currently, she is focused on winning Miss Universe and taking the title for her country.

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Miss Iceland is studying Biology and volunteering to clean up beaches. Her passions include raising awareness and fundraising for the Josh Neuman Foundation and the Grensas Support Society, an Icelandic hospital for rehabilitation following physical injuries and trauma.

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This Indian Miss believes in the power of education and was inspired by her father to fight and make education more accessible to children, especially girls. She enjoys listening to music, cooking exciting recipes, and running.

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Laksmi De Neefe Suardana is the first Balinese woman to represent Indonesia at Miss Universe. She is involved in the #LaksmiForLiteracy campaign and writes a children's book to highlight Jakarta as a UNESCO City of Literature.

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Virginia Stablum is an international model and influencer. Every year, she works with brands that support women in causes such as violence, breast cancer, and financial independence.

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Toshami Calvin is a behavioral coach and therapist who specializes in children on the autism spectrum. She champions the cause in her country and also works for the Jamaica Autism Support Association.

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Marybelen Sakamoto works as a teacher at a cooking studio. There, she teaches dishes and techniques to reduce food waste. She wants to be an ambassador for change, making the population aware of waste and teach it how smart consumption benefits personal health and the environment.

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Diana studies architecture and has a love of music that she demonstrates through piano and singing. She is also a volunteer at the Republican Volunteer League, where she serves those in need.

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Kim is passionate about art and showcases her skills as a ballet dancer and model. In 2022, she won the Best Performance Award at the International Dance Arts Competition. She was also a Platinum winner at the European Photography Awards.

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Roksana Ibrahimi studies Dentistry and works as a specialist in Human Resources for one of the largest companies in her country. She also supports 'Let's Do It Kosovo,' an organization that defends the preservation and protection of the environment.

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Botoyarova has competed in beauty pageants since she was five years old. She is a model and studies to be a designer. She also volunteers at orphanages and spends the summer months cleaning the beaches of Lake Issyk-Kul.

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This candidate believes that education can eradicate poverty. She worked hard to learn English on her own and become a teacher. Lor holds a silver medal in taekwondo.

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Kate Alexeeva is a model, businesswoman, and influencer. She plays the piano and has deep interests in art, culture, communication, international folklore, design and crafts.

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The Lebanese Yasmina Zaytoun has a master's degree in Journalism. She dedicates herself to motivational lectures and has her own program on the internet. She is passionate about her country and confident that she can project her community's identity to the world.

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Cheam Wei Yeng speaks five languages, dreams of becoming a scientist and is already studying to do so. The candidate from Malaysia is a mental health advocate and believes that the mind is as important to take care of as the body.

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Maxine Formosa Gruppetta works for a company that provides packaging for eco-friendly and vegan skin care products. She also works as a volunteer at a horse farm for children with autism, where she cleans stables, feeds horses, and grooms them.

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Alexandrine Belle-Etoile teaches art and French at a primary school. At the age of 25, she believes that success has no age and starts with talent. Passionate about visual arts, she dreams of visiting the most renowned museums in the world.

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Three words define the Mexican beauty queen: discipline, perseverance, and commitment. Irma works at the NGO La Comuna and collaborates with the National Institute of Migration in Mexico. She loves to travel.

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Zar Li Moe wants to be a model as well as a successful entrepreneur. She dreams of creating a foundation responsible for educating young children in rural areas so that they can achieve their goals.

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Cassia Sharpley is a paramedic but also an actress, singer, dancer, model, musician, and songwriter. She is the founder of the Honeycomb Haven Foundation Project, an organization that advocates the alleviation of poverty in Windhoek, Namibia.

Photo: Miss Universe official website

The 27-year-old Nepalese entrepreneur and freelance model recently launched her own 'Project Red.' The initiative aims to provide women in Nepal with free and sustainable menstrual underwear.

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The Dutch Oda Moody has a degree in Dance from the Lucia Marthas Institute of Performing Arts, in addition to being certified as a maternity nurse. She likes to teach dance to underprivileged children.

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Norma Huembes is an accountant and public auditor who provides free economic advice to entrepreneurs. She also helps schools take a stand against bullying and mistreatment.

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Hannah Iribhogbe is a Management student at North Lake College Dallas, Texas. She is the founder of The Montana Initiative, an organization working to feed 10 million children across Africa.

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The candidate from Norway became an electrician at the age of 16 and later found that helping people in need was her true passion. For this cause, she became a mental health and substance abuse counselor.

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The Panamanian is a psychology student who's passionate about dance and visual arts. She is currently a TV presenter and also works with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, an NGO that funds and supplies medication to over 1,650,000 people in several countries.

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For the past five years, Lia has worked in marketing and graphic design. She also gives lectures on self-acceptance in order to end body shaming.

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The Peruvian candidate believes that early childhood education is the key to a better world and dreams of opening a school. She is part of many non-profit organizations, including Bridges, Help Perú, and Estee Lauder's Breast Cancer Campaign.

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Cortesi works with Save the Children Philippines, especially focused on reducing the hunger and malnutrition crisis. She also supports MindNation, a mental health and wellness organization.

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Aleksandra Klepaczka graduated from music school at the age of 17. She also has a degree in Management Engineering. As a volunteer, her goal is to teach many people to be first responders.

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Miss Portugal used to suffer from bullying. She turned that experience into a stimulus to help people with mental health problems. In addition, she works at a local hospital, raising awareness for the betterment of women's reproductive rights.

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Ashley Cariño is studying aerospace engineering at the University of Central Florida and wants to specialize in rocket propulsion. Her ultimate goal is to work for NASA.

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A professional model since the age of 16, Anna Linnikova has her own clothing brand and is involved in charitable projects related to the protection of the environment in Russia.

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Sheris Paul studies Information Systems and is an entrepreneur in that area. She's currently developing an app that will help victims of abuse find support and resources.

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With a degree in Business Administration and a specialization in International Relations, Gabriella is an officer of international cooperation at the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy in her country.

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Carissa is a student of Finance and Economics at the National University of Singapore. She is an advocate for people with intellectual disabilities and a volunteer at MINDsville Singapore, where she engages with PWIDs in art projects to help improve their motor and emotional skills.

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Karolina Michalcikova studies Engineering, Human Resources and Management. She volunteers in organizations that take care of abandoned and mistreated dogs.

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Ndavi Nokeri graduated in Management and Investment from the University of Pretoria. She advocates equal educational opportunities for all.

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Motivated by her own experiences, Alicia Faubel is an advocate for awareness of eating disorders and studies to be a psychology assistant specializing in the subject.

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Alia Guindi teaches dance to children and wants to convey the desire for each one to be the best version of themselves.

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This Thai beauty queen grew up among Buddhist nuns in a temple in Bankok. Her modest childhood inspired her to work with non-profit organizations and help children access education.

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Cartwright got a degree in Business Administration at the age of 20. She works to promote ideas for climate change prevention.

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Tya Jané Ramey has a Bachelor in Science and is certified in Social Work and Politics. She collaborated with the Caribbean Regional Youth Council and continues as a volunteer with community organizations and NGOs.

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Aleyna Şirin is a student of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design. In the future, she wants to use her profession to help people and animals that don't have access to shelters by establishing her own foundation.

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Viktoria Apanasenko has a master's degree in Social Work and has been researching the topic of domestic violence for six years. She is also the UN Global Compact Peace Ambassador for Ukraine and a supporter of the Mental Help project. It provides professional and free psychological help to war victims in Ukraine.

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Carla Romero has a degree in Business Administration and has worked for multinationals since she was 18. Based on her personal experience, she is developing a mental health project to help other people deal with anxiety and depression disorders.

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R'Bonney is an eco-friendly fashion designer, model, and sewing instructor. She is currently the CEO of her own sustainable clothing line and gives sewing classes to women who survived human trafficking and domestic violence.

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The Venezuelan is a fashion designer and wants to raise awareness about ecologically correct industry practices and corporate social responsibility through her own brand.

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Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Châu is an ambassador for the Children of Vietnam Charitable Fund, which supports children with birth defects and illnesses. She aspires to be an entrepreneur, producer, and presenter of her own program.

Photo: Miss Universe official website