The Beautiful Black women representing Black Beauty at 2021 Miss universe Pageant
Despite much of the backlash and the political back and forth that surrounded the host country of the 2021 Miss universe pageant. The beauty competition that brings in over eighty beauty queens from around the world is set to kick off this weekend in Eilat,Israel.
Here are some of the African and African Diaspora beauty queens among the Miss Universe hopefuls that will be showcasing black girl magic at the beauty pageant.
Miss Universe Kenya
Roshanara Ebrahim is a 28 year old international runway model and a graduate of law at the university of Nairobi. She is also a mindful meditation coach who is passionate about protecting nature.
Miss Universe Cameroun
Michèle-Ange Minkata is a 25 year old entrepreneur and public relations and communications expert who hopes to pursue a career in diplomacy. She is very passionate about creative arts and has also worked with a number of NGOs to raise awareness about children suffering from sickle cell anemia and other diseases in her country. Minkata is a passionate supporter of issues relating to women’s empowerment and is also a talented musician.
Miss Universe Equatorial Guinea
Martina Mituy Avomo is a 19 year old student who works as a caregiver at a nursing home for the elderly.
Miss universe Aruba
27 year old Thessaly Zimmerman is a digital marketing consultant. She is a mental health advocate and does a lot of philanthropic work in that area. Zimmerman also speaks four languages and is an avid traveler. She is also a former athlete who has represented her country at international tennis competitions
Miss Universe Bahamas
Chantel O’brian is a 27 year old entrepreneur and model. She is a daughter of hatian immigrants who is passionate about education of underprivileged kids in her country. O’brian is also a youth leader with the Bahamas youth, sports and culture ministry. She has been awarded a fellow associate by the royal commonwealth society for her work with the youth of Bahamas on education and mentorship.
Miss Universe Belgium
Born in Ethiopia, Kedist Deltour is a 24 year old Miss Universe hopeful. When she first arrived in Belgium, she decided she would represent Belgium at the competition after seeing that the previous Miss Belgium contestant had an African heritage just like her.
Miss universe British Virgin Islands
Xaria Penn is an 18 year old student and model. She is an advocate for mental health issues and hopes to bring awareness to issues of adolescence dealing with mental health struggles. Penn also hopes to pursue a career in psychology
Miss universe Haiti
Pascale Belony is a 25 year old nurse and health education specialist. She is the youngest member of the board of directors of a non profit where she advocated for women’s access to good health and education. Belony enjoys reading and photography and hopes to work with the United Nations to create policies around women’s health in the future.
Miss universe USA
Ellie Smith is a 24 year old journalist and a graduate of the University of Kentucky. She was also the vice president of her school’s National Association of black journalists. She is an on-air reporter with WHAS-TV in Louisville, Kentucky.
Miss universe panama
27 year old Brenda Smith was born to a Mexican mother and a Panamanian father . Her experience with racism and discrimination motivated her to dedicate her career towards advocating for social justice. She also taking pride in her mixed identity. Smith is an activist, on-air host and United Nations human rights fellow. She has been recognized as part of the most influential people of African descent and loves to travel
Miss Universe Ghana
Silvia Naa Morkor Commodore is a 27 year old model and student from Accra. She is a talented dancer who hopes to build a dance school in her community, to empower the youth. Naa Morkor is also a wedding and events planner.
Miss Universe Mauritius
26 year old Anne Murielle Ravina is a change agent who has been featured on CNN as one of the most inspirational young African women. She has worked on many projects that aim to empower women and influence positive change among young people.
Miss Universe Morocco
22 year old Kawtar Benhalima will be representing morocco. this is a historic return to the competition for Morocco for the first time in over forty years. She seeks to represent the diversity of Moroccan culture through the intersectionality of modern and traditionalist values. Benhalima is also a philanthropist and entrepreneur.
Miss Universe South Africa
Lalela Mswane is a 22 year old model and ballerina from Kwazulu-natal. She is also a graduate of law and is a proud Zulu woman. During her reign, She wants to make a difference by addressing South Africa’s unemployment issues.
Miss Universe Nigeria
28 year old Maristella Okpala is a flight attendant with Emirates airlines. She been able to travel to over forty countries. Okpala is an advocate for childhood education in low income communities . She has worked with many organizations to provide school materials for children and promote proper waste management to encourage environmental consciousness.
Miss Universe Namibia
Chelsi Shikongo is a 24 year old international model . She is also a stand up comedian with her own comedy brand named Namibian Girl humor. Shikongo hopes to start a foundation that acts as a food bank and soup kitchen for low income families and the homeless.
Despite covid travel restrictions due to the Omicron variant, the Miss Universe organization is set to move forward with the competition. They are also working with Isreali officials to get contestants safely into the country according to a statement by the Organization.
Be sure to tune in to the Miss Universe pageant and watch these beautiful black women strut their stuff this weekend. Andrea Meza of Mexico, the reigning Miss Universe, will be crowning the new Miss Universe 2021 to become her successor. The new winner will reign in the coming year.
The Miss Universe pageant airs live around the world on December 12 at 7p.m ET
