A few side notes, before we begin: As far as my pageant fandom is concerned, May 12 has always been momentous. While my tradition technically began on May 21, 1994, many memorable subsequent editions fell on the former. Two of them, in fact, happen to mark landmark anniversaries this year, both winners of which coincidentally wore red: Miss Universe 1995 in Namibia won by the late, great Chelsi Smith (30th) and Miss Universe 2000 in Cyprus, won by India’s Lara Dutta (25th).

I will spare you the nitty-gritty of why this has become a personal tradition. That’s tantamount to writing my biography at this point. But, if there’s one tidbit more I’d like to share, I do like taking note of the best performers of each year, even if I don’t always get to write about it. Or, when I do, I don’t always publish it. This time, I’m making the exception once more.  

After much heavy pondering, I’ve finally factored in Miss Grand International. I will share my reasons when this year’s edition kicks off in October. With the field now wider, many strong performers were bound to be left out. So, if I mirrored this countdown with the recent Miss Universe head count (125), the following would have made the list:

Luana Cavalcante (Brazil/Universe)
Daniela Toloza (Colombia/Universe)
Victoria Velasquez Vincent (New Zealand/Universe)
Khadija Omar (Somalia/Universe)
Selina McCloskey (Australia/International)
Juanita Urrea (Colombia/International)
Valeria Villanueva (Mexico/International)
Belinda Schreuder (South Africa/International)
Amylia Deng (South Sudan/International)
Shreeya Bokhoree (Mauritius/Earth)
Irha Mel Alfeche (Philippines/Earth)
Akisha Albert (Curaçao/Grand International)
Giulia Zanoni (El Salvador/Grand International)
Tokyo Gonzalo (Guatemala/Grand International)
Malin Chara-anan (Thailand/Grand International)
Estefania Ibarra (Bolivia/Supranational)
Myo Sandar Win (Myanmar/Supranational)
Angelika Jurkowianiec (Poland/Supranational)
Lydie Vu (Vietnam/Supranational)
Jaime Vandenberg (Canada/World)
Clemence Botino (France/World)
Rebecca Arnone (Italy/World)
Ada Eme (Nigeria/World)
Sophia Hrivňáková (Slovakia/World)
Nokutenda Marumbwa (Zimbabwe/World) 

And, without further ado, here are my 100 favorites from 2024: 

#100 – Yuki Sonoda (Japan/Supranational). It took a 2017 global pageant for this half-Pinay to find her niche in Philippine showbiz. So, seeing her in one again feels full circle, especially when she eased through the first cut with her adoptive kababayan.

#99 –  Rashida Schmidt (Aruba/Supranational). In what proved to be a great Supra-year for the Dutch Caribbean, this Environmental Science graduate marked both the One Happy Island’s return after nine years and its first ever placement in that pageant. 

#98 – Oceana Lin-Kurie (Taiwan/International). It’s rare to see the ROC make the cut these days, but not as rare as seeing it compete under that name. So, kudos to this half-Canadian actress for pulling off both.

#97 – Alathea Ambrosio (Philippines/Supranational). Her early SupraChat elimination didn’t bode well at first. So, imagine the jubilation when she went all the way to bag the Miss Supranational Asia title – a feat interestingly mirrored by her fellow Bulaceña in Miss Universe four months later.

#96- Logina Salah (Egypt/Universe). We’ve been wondering who would finally earn the Land of the Pharaohs its Miss Universe breakthrough. Enter this 34-year-old mom, who broke barriers as the first contestant with visible vitiligo and it was a historic first on several counts. 

#95 – Mara Topic (Ecuador/Universe). This MGI alumna tugged heartstrings when she revealed her struggle with Hashimoto’s disease. That explains the wigs she wore throughout and why her making the cut felt like a crowning moment in itself.

#94 – Shuntell Ezomo (Nigeria/Earth). With placements in five out of six major pageants last year (and three entries in this list), there’s no shrinking the Giant of Africa. This biochemist, in particular, put her country back in Miss Earth contention after pausing its streak in 2023. 

#93 – Jasmine Jorgensen (Cabo Verde/Earth). Nothing’s stopping this island nation from being Africa’s emerging new threat. This business major scored the country’s Miss Earth breakthrough and went as far as Top Eight, a feat almost mirrored by her Miss International compatriot four days later. 

#92 – Amy Viranya Berry (United Kingdom/Grand International). Count on MGI to occasionally cull its delegates from the Miss Grand Thailand pool (remember “Ireland” from 2019?). This half-Brit from Buriram went from mere Top 20 in nationals to out-performing the that pageant’s winner on the global stage. And she didn’t even need to use props. 

#91 – Nathaly Terrones (Peru/Supranational). For the fifth straight year, this doctor kept her country’s Supra-streak solid. She could also pass as the sister of Janick Maceta, the legend who started that succession. 

#90 – Grace Gavigan (Wales/Earth). We’ve yet to see the UK make the second cut in Miss Earth, but we can rest easy knowing all its constituent countries have now placed at least once.This law student secured a breakthrough for Castle Capital, and doesn’t she look a bit like Yasmine Bleeth?

#89 – Perpetual Ukadike (Nigeria/International). Despite Africa’s fallow showings inMiss International, Nigeria’s presence was always, well, Perpetual. Props to her for finally securing her country’s first placement via Fan Vote and, more importantly, finishing as far as 10th. 

#88 – April Tobie (Honduras/International). This Central American country may struggle in other pageants, but Miss International seems to be its turf (along with MGI). This Bay Islands beauty went from Miss Universe 2017 also-ran to winning Miss Fitness and placing one spot shy of the Top Eight. 

#87-  Sharon Capo (Paraguay/Grand International). We’ve yet to see another Nadia Ferreira grace the global stage, but this doctor kept her South American country in the radar with her MGI Top 20 placement. 

#86 – Tania Estrada (Mexico/Grand International). The second edition of Miss Charm sure took forever, so this TV presenter forfeited her slot and ended up in MGI’s Top 20 instead. Here’s hoping Krishnah Gravidez benefits from that same move, as she’s now shining in Miss World.

#85- Ewa Jakuviec (Poland/International). With many of her worthy predecessors left in the cold, it’s hard to predict how Poland would fare in Miss International these days. So, it’s nice to see this Miss Earth 2023 also-ran granted a shot. With her Top Eight finish, she’s more than vindicated.

#84 – Davin Prasath (Cambodia/Universe). Her Voices of Change citation in Miss Universe gave enough inkling that a breakthrough beckoned. True enough, this mom bagged her her country’s first placement in the original Big Three. 

#83 – Huynh Nguyên Mai Phương (Vietnam/World). Apart from winning the Multimedia fast track, her amusing highlight was selling shirts in the Head-to-Head Challenge. It was enough to keep her country’s streak running, if not finally make the winners’ circle. 

#82 – Maria Angelica Valero (Colombia/Grand International). 2024 wasn’t very fruitful for this powerhouse at the big leagues, even though they did win Miss Globe. So, at least they can thank this MGI Top 20 placer for keeping them on the map. Hopefully, they bounce back this year.

#81 – Noura El-Jasmi (United Arab Emirates/Earth). After several false fits and starts, the UAE finally saw pageant action. This aviation student made the cut for the Middle Eastern superpower and, arguably, could have easily finished further. Now, if only her Miss Universe counterpart experienced the same fortunes. She was just as strong.