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The 71^st Miss Universe pageant took place on Saturday, January 14 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Embracing the New Orleans culture, all of the musical acts came from The Big Easy: Big Freedia, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Amanda Shaw, Tank and the Bangas, and Yolanda Adams. Jeannie Mai Jenkins and Olivia Culpo hosted the annual pageant, along with backstage commentators Catriona Gray and Zuri Hall.
This was the first edition of the Miss Universe pageant under the new ownership of Khun Anne Jakrajutatip and JKN Global Group. With new ownership, it is only fitting that a new Miss Universe crown be created: the Mouawad “Force for Good” crown. The crown is not the only change that unraveled itself at the pageant. Continue reading to get a recap and my review of the Miss Universe 2022 pageant.

*Segments/Production/Entertainment (1-5): 1 = Horrible; 2 = Not Good; 3 = Okay; 4 = Good; 5 = Amazing

*Results (1-5): 1 = Strongly Disagree; 2 = Disagree; 3 = Neutral; 4 = Agree; 5 = Strongly Agree

DISCLAIMER: This post is not meant to bring any contestant down or discredit their placement or win. These are strictly my opinions regarding each of their performances at the final pageant and where I would have placed them if I was judging. All the contestants worked extremely hard to get to where they are, and that should be noted and celebrated above all else.

Opening Number:

From Bourbon Street to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Mardi Gras was taking over The Big Easy. Music, feathers, beads, you name it… The 71^st Miss Universe competition fully embraced the culture of its host city.

A beloved part of the opening number was brought back this year: the contestants introducing themselves live on stage. I am very glad the organization brought this back because it is more exciting to see all of the contestants speak on stage instead of only showing them walking.

I can’t get into the rest of the pageant without acknowledging the crowd. They were INSANE! They were so loud that at times, the volume on the microphones needed to be turned up. The crowd was the real MVP of the 71^st Miss Universe pageant.

For grading, I am going to be nit-picky and point out that the energy of the performers during the contestant introductions did go down. I feel that there could have been some sort of liveliness from the performers between switching out the groups at the microphones so the audience’s attention did not waver.

Score: 4

Top 16 Results:

Top 16: Puerto Rico, Haiti, Australia, Dominican Republic, Laos*, South Africa, Portugal, Canada, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, India, Venezuela, Spain, USA, and Colombia

* Fan Vote

Where the heck were Miss Mexico, Jamaica, Thailand, and Philippines? These ladies were considered shoo-ins for the finals. I am guessing it is either from not having a great interview or simply because there were not enough spots that would have allowed them to move forward in the competition. When you have such a strong batch of contestants, it would have been fairer to have a Top 20 or Top 21 where more girls that earned a rightful place in the finals would get a spot in the finals with the addition of the fan vote. This is not to say that the fan vote winner wouldn’t have made it in on her own merits. I am just saying that top-tier level talent was left out of the Top 16, where one more of these talents would have been able to place if there had not been a fan vote.

Either way, there was top-tier talent left out of the Top 16 that I believe should have been there.

Score: 2

Swimsuit:

The swimsuit round, featuring Tank and the Bangas, showed off the Top 16 in their customized LIVA Capes. Each contestant customized their cape to display anything that was important or meaningful to them. Everything from body positivity to environmental issues to unity was on display on the runway. My favorite LIVA Cape was designed by Miss USA. The cape was dyed a red-orange color to signify a rising phoenix, with a beautiful addition of what appeared to be feathers and tulle, something you would find on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The cape also displayed the phrase that her father always tells her, “If not now, then when?”

Favorites: Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, South Africa, T&T, Curaçao, Venezuela, USA, and Colombia
They were all radiant when they stepped on stage. However, the one that shone the brightest to me was…

Score: 4
It would have been a 5 if the stage had more of a runway because this is the segment where the contestants get to show off their runway skills. The music was also not my favorite.

Between the swimsuit and evening gown segments, the new owner of the Miss Universe Organization, Khun Anne Jakrajutatip, made an appearance. Khun Anne talked about her story of being sexually harassed by her teachers when she was young and how she did not surrender to the pain. Instead, she embraced her differences and turned the pain into power. Continuing on, she explained that Miss Universe is a platform that elevates women to feel “strong enough, good enough, and qualified enough, and (for women to) never be objectified again.”

When Khun Anne first came out, I didn’t know if I would like this portion of the show. I sighed, thinking that this would just be a boring speech that I would want to skip through. However, to my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Khun Anne’s energy is unmatched, and her wisdom and courage were evident throughout her appearance.

Transformational Leadership Award (ImpactWayv Award): Miss Thailand

Khun Anne announced the Transformational Leadership Award, also known as the ImpactWayv Award. The Miss Universe delegates used the ImpactWayv platform to share their charity work. The public voted for whom they believe should be given the $10,000 prize, which would go toward their charitable work. The winner of the Transformational Leadership Award was Miss Thailand, Anna Sueangam-iam. Anna’s charity work involved giving children access to education and healthy lunches, as well as working to combat violence against women.

Speaking of Anna, I have to showcase her beautiful upcycled gown made out of pop-tabs. Anna’s childhood was the source of inspiration behind her gown, as her parents were garbage collectors. Anna was bullied growing up by her peers, who called her “Miss Garbage.” Fast forward to adulthood, and Anna showcased that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” to millions around the world, who were in awe of her upcycled gown. This will forever be an iconic gown in pageantry.

Evening Gown:

Every gown in this year’s Miss Universe pageant was adorned with stones and crystals. Another commonality with the gowns is that the majority of them were silver. While I love silver and diamonds just as much as the next person, one has to be careful when selecting a silver gown for a pageant because there are more than likely going to be a sea of silver gowns. To stand out from the pack wearing a silver gown, you are going to have to have an eye-catching design or a stage presence that is unmatched. This not only draws the audience’s eyes to you but also the judges’.

Favorites: Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, South Africa, Portugal, Curaçao, Venezuela, USA, and Colombia

There were many beautiful gowns that graced the Miss Universe stage. I particularly liked the gowns of Miss Portugal, Miss USA, and Miss Colombia. However, the contestant who I believe had the best gown was…

Overall, this was not my favorite evening gown in Miss Universe history. I didn’t care for the choreography that the girls performed during the opening of the segment, as well as the music. Yes, it did fit with the New Orleans theme. However, it just didn’t do it for me.

Score: 3

Top 5 Results:

Top 5: Venezuela, USA, Puerto Rico, Curaçao, and Dominican Republic

Result Score: 4
I would say it is a strong 4. I agree with the Top 5, but at the same time, South Africa killed it. I could have made the argument for South Africa being in the Top 5. If there were a Top 6 and South Africa took the sixth spot, my score would have been a 5.

Q&A:

Venezuela’s Question: “Tell me about a time when you felt shame and turned that feeling into fuel.”
Answer: “I actually have a press conference which is called The Forbidden Dream, which talks about that repeated dream that I had when I wanted to become a fashion designer because I felt shame about it. I didn’t feel it was possible for me to sustain my life. But I pursue it and I demonstrated myself which was the most important thing that following our dreams, our passions we are able to leave an impact stamp in every single action we take.”

USA’s Question: “Miss Universe recently made an inclusive change: allowing mothers and married women to compete this year. What is another change you would like to see, and why?”
Answer: “I would like to see an age increase because I am 28 years old, and that is the oldest age to compete, and I think it is a beautiful thing. My favorite quote is, “If not now, then when?” Because at the moment, I believe age does not define us. It’s not tomorrow, it’s not yesterday, but it’s now. The time is now that you can go after what you want.”

Puerto Rico’s Question: “If you were crowned Miss Universe, how would you represent all of this year’s delegates through your reign?”
Answer: “I would represent all of these fierce delegates because I am a mirror of what a woman is. I believe in the dream and power we all hold to make our dreams a reality. That is why I am standing here today. I know what it’s like to not believe in your dream, but I also know what it’s like to find a voice. We are the voice of tomorrow so let your voice echo in the chamber of time because this is the power that we have, and I will represent the women like that.”

Curaçao’s Question: “If you had the opportunity to speak with the leader of your country, what would you want to discuss?”
Answer: “I think there is a lot to be discussed, and I believe that Curaçao is a multi-cultural country. And I believe that we should embrace all different cultures and also discuss the fact that I feel like sometimes people feel excluded and we should not discriminate or have any sort of bullying in the country.”

Dominican Republic’s Question: “What is the most significant obstacle that women face in your country, and what should be done about it?”
Answer: “I believe the most significant obstacle is that women in my country face is access to education. There is a number of women and children in the Dominican Republic that cannot go to school and don’t have lack of access to go to them. And I believe we have to do something about it now. We need to make sure that kids are able to be kids, their able to play, to educate themselves; not be mothers, not be wives. It is the moment now to take action to make change in the Dominican Republic.”

Miss Venezuela and Miss USA both had good, solid answers. The contestant who stood out among the group in this round was Miss Dominican Republic. Miss Dominican Republic had the best answer! Her eloquence and conviction, mixed with a powerful answer, were a recipe for greatness.

The two ladies that I felt did not perform as well as the others were Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Curaçao.
Miss Puerto Rico’s answer felt very rehearsed, as if she were reading from a script. In addition, the way the answer was formatted makes me hesitant to say that she actually answered the question. If the question specifically asked about women’s empowerment, then she would have nailed it.
I could see where Miss Curaçao was wanting to go with her answer; it just didn’t come out in the most elegant way. I think she possibly got flustered, which is understandable because it’s Miss Universe, and that is what prevented her from answering the question to the best of her ability. Also, another moment I cannot brush over because we all saw it: the battle for the microphone between Miss Curacao and Olivia Culpo. It was awkward to watch.

Best Q&A Ranking: (1) Dominican Republic, (2) USA, (3) Venezuela, (4) Puerto Rico, (5) Curaçao

Regarding the actual questions, I was not impressed by the questions that were presented to the contestants. They were typical pageant questions, including Miss USA’s question. Given the recent Miss Universe rule change, it was not surprising that a judge had a question about what change should be next for the organization.

Score: 4
Overall, the contestants did a good job answering the questions. Yes, there were a couple of answers that were not great, but there were not any major flops. In addition to the couple answers that were not too great, I am deducting a point because I would have liked to see more challenging questions given to the contestants.

Following the Q&A round, there was a tribute to the late Cheslie Kryst, Miss USA 2021. The tribute was beautiful. It looked back on Cheslie’s life and the legacy she left behind. Her mother, April Simpkins, announced that she is partnering with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) with the creation of the Cheslie Kryst Memorial Fund for Mental Health. This fund will work to help people who are affected by numerous mental health challenges and destigmatize mental health.

Top 3 Results:

Top 3: Dominican Republic, USA, and Venezuela

Score: 5
I completely agree with the Top 3. They gave the strongest answers in the Q&A round.

Final Question:

For the final question, each of the contestants were asked the same question:

“If you win Miss Universe, how would you work to demonstrate (that) this is an empowering and progressive organization?”

Dominican Republic: “I understand that the Miss Universe Organization is looking for an ambassador. Somebody who’s able to communicate a message. I have been working for women’s rights for as long as I remember. It’s been my actual every single day. I’m here to demonstrate, doesn’t matter where you come from, your background does not define you. Your courage and determination do, and I will show that by being working every single day. Showing my leadership and determination. Thank you.”

USA: “Well, I would use it to be a transformational leader. As a very passionate designer, I’ve been sewing for 13 years. I use fashion as a force for good. In my industry, I’m cutting down on pollution through recycled materials when I make my clothing. I teach sewing classes to women that have survived from human trafficking and domestic violence, and I say that because it is so important to invest in others, invest in our community, and use your unique talent to make a difference. We all have something special, and when we plant those seeds to other people in our life, we transform them and we use that as a vehicle for change.”

Venezuela: “If I get to win Miss Universe, I will follow the legacy that many women across the Universe has showed to be part of this organization because Miss Universe has demonstrated that they choose women who inspire with their messages and transform with their actions, and that’s precisely what I would like to do. I’m a fashion designer by profession, but I’m a designer of dreams as a woman. Thank you so much.”

Miss Venezuela and Miss USA had the strongest performances here. Miss Dominican Republic also did well, but her performance did not stand out when compared to the liveliness that Miss USA and Miss Venezuela had when answering the question. While it is not bad to speak in a serious tone of voice and have facial expressions to match, with all three answers being good, one’s stage presence is the next thing to look at when trying to narrow down the field. Granted, every judging panel is different, but I believe this is what held Miss Dominican Republic back from winning.

When I heard Miss Venezuela’s answer, I was impressed and thought that she could win because that was a strong pageant answer. I say “pageant answer” because it doesn’t go too much into detail, but it was strong and enticing enough to where she had everyone thinking that she could be the winner with an answer like that.

On the other hand, Miss USA just gave a great overall answer. It was not your typical pageant response; it was personal and detailed how her actions directly relate to her current and future work, as well as how it is used to give back to the community. Yes, she did go a little bit over the time limit, but it honestly didn’t matter too much because she was confident, eloquent, and spoke with conviction and genuineness. Also, “we all have something special, and when we plant those seeds to other people in our life, we transform them, and we use that as a vehicle for change,” was a mic drop moment.

Looking at the contestants’ performances in BOTH the Q&A and the Final Question round, I believe the contestant who provided the best answers, and thus the best speaker, was…

Score: 5
Each of the contestants gave a great answer. The judges, as well as the audience, had to be nit-picky when trying to decide the final results.

After the Final Question round, the Final Look took place. I really liked the singer, Yolanda Adams, as well as Miss Venezuela’s dancing to the music. She was the only contestant who seemed to be enjoying herself.

Following that, Harnaaz Sandhu took her final walk as Miss Universe, wearing a black gown with a train that featured photos of India’s other Miss Universe winners, Sushmita Sen (1994) and Lara Dutta (2000).

Final Results:

2^nd Runner-up: Dominican Republic

1^st Runner-up: Venezuela

Miss Universe 2022: USA

Score: 5
Based on my evaluation of the girls’ efforts during the entire evening, Miss USA seemed to have edged out Venezuela in the Q&A and Final Question rounds.
In my opinion, this is the strongest Top 3 Miss Universe has had in a long time, even beating out the memorable Top 3 at Miss Universe 2018.

On that note, the contestant that I believe had the strongest overall performance was…

Regarding the production, while I thought the stage was unique and liked it for its uniqueness, I didn’t like that it did not have a long runway and that it was so busy to the point where the girls were not the main focus on stage. For the camera work, the shots of the girls were good, but the camera shots of the judges were horrible and cringy. The camera and TV graphics did not display the correct judge as they were being announced. This alone deserved a production score of 1. However, other elements saved the production. I absolutely loved the hosts and commentators: Jeannie, Olivia, Catriona, and Zuri. I really hope that some, if not all, are going to come back for the Miss Universe 2023 pageant in El Salvador. They not only did a good job hosting; they were very entertaining. Even though most of the music was not exactly to my liking, it did fit with the theme of the night and was entertaining. I am not going to give it an entertainment score of 5 because it is not up to par when compared to other pageants in this area.

With that, the 71^st Miss Universe pageant has come to a close, and the USA has won its 9^th Miss Universe crown.

Despite the controversy surrounding R’Bonney’s win at Miss USA, she was always a strong contestant who was destined for greatness. From Miss Houston USA to Miss Universe, R’Bonney has shown the world where determination and kindness can get you in life.
Congratulations, R’Bonney! You are and will forever be Miss Universe 2022.

Thank you all for reading the Miss Universe 2022 Recap & Review! What do you hope to see at the Miss Universe 2023 pageant? How do you feel about the 2023 host country being El Salvador? Do you like it? Do you not? Let me know!

All video and photo credit to photographers, videographers, MUO, JKN Global Group, and artists.

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Tags: Beauty and Brains, Miss Dominican Republic, Miss Universe, Miss Universe 2023, Miss USA, Miss Venezuela, Recap, Review