BELGIUM – Kedist Deltour. Three years since her Miss Universe stint, her tragic back story continues to tug heartstrings. While her exclusion in Israel remains a heartbreaker, there’s a heavy chance this Ethiopian immigrant will finally, and rightfully, earn her due (and besides there are 24 more slots this time). Apart from looking more stunning than ever, she placed in both the Head to Head Challenge and Top Model Fast Tracks.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – Andela Gajić. The first time India hosted this pageant, this country made its debut. This 18-year-old student missed the opening ceremonies but thankfully arrived on time for the Fast Tracks. She’s a gorgeous ingenue, but her late arrival may have hampered her chances.

BULGARIA – Ivana Subeva. Another delegatewas slated to compete, so it’s surprising to see this high school student in her stead. She’s the youngest in the lot at 16. While bubbly and beautiful, she’s overshadowed by her more seasoned “sisters”.

CROATIA – Lucija Begić. This Adriatic coast country’s been struggling to make a mark as of late. Now it has this student to thank for ending the dry spell. She’s now in the Top 40 after winning Sports.

CZECH REPUBLIC – Krystyna Pyszková. In the years leading to the pageant,this law and business student topped numerous fan lists and somehow managed to swing by Manila along the way. No doubt, she looks every inch a crown contender and that’s something her early lack of Fast Track placements can’t invalidate. Well, thankfully, she did finally pick up steam. She advanced in the Top Model Challenge, albeit edged by her Slovakian neighbor on regional level, and won Europe’s Best Designer Dress Award. And then came the cherry on top, when she earned a Beauty with a Purpose Top 10 placement for putting up a school in Tanzania. That pretty much seals the deal at this point. So what if she looks archetypically similar to last year’s winner?

DENMARK – Johanne Grundt Hansen. Scandinavia doesn’t have as much stronghold as it once had, but here’s a potential surprise. This Chinese studies major has a lovely face and was shortlisted in the Sports Fast Track.  

ENGLAND – Jessica Gagen. Not that it should be a big deal, but she really is the first. And it’s curious why it took us this long to see a redhead joining under Team UK – and excelling, at that. The milestones don’t end there, though. As a degree-holder in rocket science, she advocates for STEM education for young women and is about to realize her dream to work for NASA. For now, she’s set to soar here first. She’s now in the Top 40 by way of the Head to Head Challenge.  

ESTONIA – Adriana Mass. It’s been25 years since Karin Lassmae earned this Baltic State its first placement, but a follow-through still feels unlikely. At least, this aspiring psychiatrist advanced in the Talent Fast Track.

FINLAND – Adelaide Botty van den Bruele. If her name and accent hardly sound Finnish, that’s because she’s half-French and was, at some point, US-based. She might not restore her country’s heyday yet, but at least she figured in the Talent Fast Track.

FRANCE – Clemence Botino. For obvious reasons, her participation was the most eagerly-awaited, given her Top 10 placement in Miss Universe 2021. Naturally, fans root for her to surpass that feat, even if her progress isn’t the most reassuring thus far. It remains to be seen how far she’ll go with just her Top Model placement. Then again, you know who else had only one Fast Track placement? Karolina Bielawska.

GERMANY – Aleksandra Modić. This student was the last delegate to be appointed, compared to the vast majority who had to wait for two years tops. She holds up nicely, for someone will the least preparation, but the lack of Fast Track placements doesn’t bode well.   

GIBRALTAR – Faith Torres. Yes, this UK territory’s 2009 victory and 2013 placement are still largely considered jaw-droppers, but this biomedical assistant could use more buzz. She’s an underrated stunner who also figured in the Talent Fast Track.

GREECE – Samantha Misovic. The first time India hosted the pageant, her country won – a fact she cleverly mentioned in her introduction. Much as she might struggle to replicate that feat, she at least qualified for Sports.  

HUNGARY – Boglárka Hacsi. By December, it will be a decade since the country garnered its best placement in a major pageant. That’s Edina Kulscar, who finished 1^st Runner-Up to Rolene Strauss. This entrepreneur is not expected to mirror that placement, but at least she figured in Sports and Talent.

IRELAND – Ivanna McMahon. After sending a historic candidate, the Emerald Isle returns to its roots. Good thing its prospects remain bright with this bonny blonde. She’s a medical doctor, who also placed in both Head to Head Challenge and Talent.

ITALY – Rebecca Arnone. Come to think of it, this country’s best recent showings have been through this pageant. This year might be one of those exceptions, though, as we don’t hear much about this medical student.

MALTA – Natalia Galea. Even before this island country upped the ante, its best representatives (and placements) tend to be found here. This lawyer-actress is an underrated gem, who might benefit from both her previous Miss Supranational experience and her Talent Fast Track placement.

MOLDOVA – Diana Spotarenko. Judging from her surname, this psychology major’s clearly more of Russian descent. She’s another underrated contender hampered by her lack of Fast Track placements.  

MONTENEGRO – Andela Vukadinović. This economical science student is another largely unnoticed stunner.

NETHERLANDS – Amber Koelewijn. This kingdom may have won this pageant twice before, but its best fortunes lately are found elsewhere. At least, this beauty therapist figured in the Talent Fast Track.

NORTHERN IRELAND – Kaitlyn Clarke. It was in 2022 when Anna Leitch achieved a historic best for her constituent country. She made Top Six, thus taking one for both the UK and the Emerald Isle Team in that edition. Two years later, this primary teacher seems poised to sustain the streak. She had a strong start as a Head to Head Challenge placer, but her real highlight was finishing second in Talent.  

NORWAY – Andrea Farias. This year’s youngest Nordic contender is, unfortunately, also the least advantaged. Apart from being barely mentioned, she also hasn’t figured in any Fast Track challenge.

POLAND – Krystyna Sokołowska. This rhythmic gymnastics coach faces double the pressure, as she aims to not only replicate her Miss Earth 2019 placement, but also follow Karolina Bielawska’s footsteps. Best she can target is the former, as the latter currently feels like a stretch (but not 100% impossible).

PORTUGAL – Catarina Ferreira. This lovely project manager advanced in the Talent Fast Track, but could also use more spotlight.

ROMANIA – Ada-Maria Ileana. Chances are, that 2006 1^st Runner-Up placement won’t be followed through just yet, but at least this English teacher advanced in the Talent Fast Track.

SCOTLAND – Chelsie Allison. Gone are the days when this constituent country would lead the UK pack by default. But if this retail manager’s Top Model placement were any indication, then all hope is not lost.

SERBIA – Anja Radić. This stunner works as a PR manager for Novak Djokovic and was once taught lessons by the tennis superstar himself. Interesting anecdote aside, she hasn’t really figured much.

SLOVAKIA – Sophia Hrivnákova. Many tend to assume this country’s pageant prospects to be weaker than its Czech counterpart’s. The track record supports as much. But, in a rather surprising twist, this content creator didn’t only qualify for Top Model, she also outran heavy favorites to become Europe’s highest placer. Team Former Czechoslovakia sure is coming strong.

SLOVENIA – Vida Milivojša. Considering how this country first tested the waters in pageantry through this contest, it has yet to score a placement here. This multi-hyphenate has both the looks and credentials but hasn’t earned much buzz.

SPAIN – Paula Pérez. Compared to most fiery Spanish stunners of yore,this early frontrunner seems more reserved, especially in her Head-to-Head Challenge. But the fact remains that she qualified, same way she also qualified for the Talent Fast Track. Don’t rule out her chances just yet; she could very well be her country’s best ince 2015 winner, Mireia Lalaguna.

SWEDEN – Stina Nordlander. Lest we forget, the first two Miss World winners were from her country. She’s no slouch in the looks department herself. Though not a frontrunner, she earned mileage as a Sports Fast Track qualifier.

UKRAINE – Sofia Shamia. As her country’s first Miss World representative since the invasion, her vibrant presence alone sparks hope. Factor in her Beauty with a Purpose placement and she might be in for a chance. Really, her country could use a break right now.

 WALES – Darcey Corria. This freelance modelcame in with the most harrowing backstory, as she survived a car crash months prior. Chances are, she’ll be rewarded for her fighting spirit since she qualified in Head to Head, Sports, and Talent Fast Tracks.