#20) Hannah Arnold (Philippines/INTERNATIONAL). In a Miss International edition that ignored virtually all of Asia, this Fil-Aussie took one for the team in the Top 15. In that respect, she remained a frontrunner. And it was still well worth her two-year wait.

#19) Daphné Nivelles (Belgium/EARTH). It took 19 years for Europe’s “capital” to place in Miss Earth, and another year to have a shot at the crown. While that didn’t transpire, this furmom still took the Miss Exclusive franchise to new heights by making the Top Eight. See, perseverance does count.

#18) Ndavi Nokeri (South Africa/UNIVERSE). In light of recent license shake-ups in the Rainbow Nation, it looks like she won’t be joining other pageants after all. Not yet at least, and definitely not under the current organization. Nonetheless, her Miss Universe stint made a mark as is. She kept the streak running with her incredible presentations and rhetoric.

#17) Adinda Creisheila (Indonesia/SUPRANATIONAL). Thank goodness the uproar from last year’s Top Five shutout is now water under the bridge, because the radiant successor did earn her due. It was the olive branch everyone needed, and that 3^rd Runner-Up finish was more than justified.

#16) Nadeen Ayoub (Palestine/EARTH). To see this State competing at all is already a huge surprise. But to send shockwaves with a more-than-qualified contender? That’s one for the books. This humanitarian blew the Okada audience away with her classic Arab beauty and boundless knowledge. She’ll likely shine in other fields soon. Take it all in, Palestine. You just gained an icon.

#15) Andrea Aguilera (Colombia/EARTH). Just eight months after becoming the first Colombian Miss World finalist since 2009, she flew to Manila aiming for a different milestone – to be her country’s first Miss Earth. But in a year packed with fierce contenders, her final Q & A buckle proved to be costly. In the end, she had to settle with earning her country’s fourth Element in  seven years. Is this Miss Earth’s modern answer to the Miss Universe 1992-1994 runner-up streak? It sure looks like it. But hopefully, that victory won’t take 20 years.

#14) Praewwanich Ruangthong (Thailand/SUPRANATIONAL). She fell short of a sandwich victory by a hair. Still, it’s an enormous leap for this local pageant veteran to earn a shot on the global stage and secure a stellar placement in the process. And knowing how fandom works in her country, she’ll probably enticed to join again. It sure worked for her 2019 predecessor.

#13) Nguyen Huynh Kim Duyen (Vietnam/SUPRANATIONAL).  Aside from ending her journey one round too soon in Israel, she’s remembered as the one who loves everybody (“I love you, my Miss Universe sisters!” So, yes, she truly deserved this second shot, and to finally showcase her chirpiness in the final round. That redemption would turn out to be more than welcome, given how her Miss Universe successor would fare.

#12) Jasmin Selberg (Germany/MISS INTERNATIONAL 2022). Given her Supranational shutout months before, she arrived in Japan with moderate, if not minimal, fanfare. At best, she was pegged to surpass her previous finish and nothing more. Then came the Final Eight, where she exuded sincerity and quiet confidence in her responses. That sealed the deal and expectations were exceeded. More than being the first German major titleholder after 33 years, she’s also first to win since the reunification.  

#11) Stephany Amado (Cabo Verde/INTERNATIONAL). Much as sentiments have improved over time, Miss International is still the last pageant to expect African winners. Bear in mind, there haven’t been any, although they have come noticeably close recently. Still, bold move for this Portuguese speaking archipelago to mark its debut. This striking model was impossible to miss, and even more so, ignore. Much as her 1st Runner-Up finish still indicates resistance, she scored a record high for her country. And it happened here, of all pageants. Hopefully, we’ll soon witness the continent reign supreme here.