AUSTRALIA – Kristen Wright. The Land Down Under is back after skipping the last edition, and this biomedical science student advanced in the Head to Head Challenge and Talent Fast Track. Signs are hinting at a fruitful return.

BANGLADESH – Shammi Islam Nila. Well, of course, this country’s back, given how the host pageant’s happening just “next door”. She’s a cute candidate with zero Fast Track nods at the moment. But her stocks might just increase if Fan Vote comes into play.

CAMBODIA – Srey Pich Teng. This 18-year-old has the cutest voice among the roster, but her neighbors are visibly more seasoned.  

CHINA, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF – Ke Xu Xin. It took two dethroned titleholders for this performing arts graduate to earn her shot. Yet, those fortunes seem to be hampered by her lack of Fast Track placements. Then again, Miss World knows better than to ignore her country. Plus, she is indeed striking.

INDIA – Sini Shetty. Even without her Head to Head, Talent, and Top Model nods, this accounting graduate is already an obvious shoo-in. She’s proven to be an exemplary host so far and was Asia’s winner for Best Designer Dress. Much as a hometown win feels like a stretch, she can at least replicate what Rani Jeyraj achieved in the last Indian staging. At the minimum, she can land Top Eight, or even more, if she manages to topple her continent.

INDONESIA – Audrey Vanessa Susilo. From the country with the longest ongoing placement streak comes this well-rounded artist. Just like Botswana, she qualified for every single Fast Track event held thus far, making her the Southeast Asian-most-likely at this point. Major highlights include her Talent 2^nd Runner-Up placement and her Beauty with a Purpose Top 10 citation. Safe to say, the stronghold’s poised to remain.

IRAQ – Balsam Hussein. For one thing, it’s nice to see this country back for a second consecutive edition. This TV presenter is striking, but is so far overshadowed.

JAPAN – Kana Yamaguchi. Her charming predecessor, Tamaki Hoshi, was the closest we had to a shock exclusion in the previous edition, ending her run in 2021 before the contest could even resume in 2022. This TV presenter is just as charming and eloquent. But with no Fast Track showings, vindication is far from assured.  

KAZAKHSTAN – Tomicris Kakimova. Bear in mind, this contest was the first to reward the world’s largest landlocked country. Much as this runway coach has her merits, the running tally might stall for now.

KOREA – Lijin Kim. This country has been known to score surprise placements from time to time, but that trend’s been stalled since 2017. This Pilates instructor has the looks and charisma to fight for a slot. Her Sports placement might also help.

LEBANON – Yasmina Zaytoun. As her country’s Miss Universe representative in Khun Anne’s maiden batch, this TV host failed to end the drought. In contrast, she made the Top 40 here with ease with her moving Head to Head Challenge victory, which also didn’t stop her from placing in Top Model. Regardless of how she fares from here on in, she can already celebrate her improved showing.

MACAU – Li Mengli. With Hong Kong opting out this year, this literature graduatetakes one for the Chinese SARs. She’s a striking professional model who hasn’t earned much traction. Also take note: the contest isn’t held in China.  

MALAYSIA – Wenanita Angang. This data scientist from Kota Kinabalu had a strong start as a Head-to-Head Challenge Top 25 finalist. Nothing followed thereafter, but she might still be in for a chance, nonetheless. Miss World tends to be relatively generous to this country, which has been placing since 2018.

MONGOLIA – Bolor Bat-Erdene. More often than not, Talent is usually this country’s “ticket” in. But with Tunisia earning that pass, this Sydney-educated dancer will now have to rely on sheer merit. Fan Vote might also give her an edge, but not if the ASEAN contingent can help it.

MYANMAR – Yoon Theint Theint Nway. Well, the country has scored breakthroughs here and there, but the drought stretches on here. This economics student has competitive edge, but we know who the usual ASEAN suspects are.

NEPAL – Priyanka Rani Joshi. The home of Mt. Everest has truly come a long way, from perpetual also-ran in the late 90s to constant contender in this era. This journalism graduate might as well add to the tally, with her Head-to-Head, Sports, and now, Beauty with a Purpose Fast Track placements. She even has the bearings to make the second cut, if lucky.

NEW ZEALAND – Navjot Kaur. Props to Middle Earth for fielding a lady of Sikh descent. This former police officer figured in the Sports Fast Track, and may earn a shot, should her interviews compel enough.

PHILIPPINES – Gwendolyne Fourniol. The last Fil-French to compete in this pageant was also named Gwendoline, but with an I. This ERDA ambassador might struggle to replicate Ms. Ruais’ eventual finish, or for that matter, even Ms. Young’s. Nevertheless, she’s been figuring strongly with placements in Head to Head, Top Model, but most notably, in Sports. See, since the Fast Tracks were introduced, no Filipina has ever made the cut in the Sports Fast Track – until today. She can now relish being the first.

SINGAPORE – Oh Wei Qi. To be fair, the Lion City’s track pageant record vastly improved over the years and this art teacher is pretty, but overshadowed.

SRI LANKA – Kavindi Nethmini. Some may find this business analyst more competitive than her Top 40-placing predecessor, Sade Greenwood. But with no Fast Track placements to her name, a back-to-back placement feels less certain.

THAILAND – Tharina Botes. Obviously, it took this veteran tapping into her Thai side to gain the edge she needed. This half-South African commerce student placed in the Head-to-Head Challenge and can possibly gain more traction.

TURKEY – Nursena Say. It’s curious that they still opted for the country’s shelved English name. What’s exciting, though, is that this stunning architect is making waves both as the Top Model Fast Track 1^st Runner-Up and as a Beauty with a Purpose finalist. Since Azra Akin’s victory in 2002, no Turkish woman has made the first cut. Maybe it’s high time they’re put back in the running.

VIETNAM – Huynh Nguyen Mai Phuong. This TV host’s early highlight was selling t-shirts in her Head-to-Head Challenge. Though she hasn’t placed in subsequent Fast Tracks, her effervescence can still help her power through. Why end the streak now?