IN THIS TIER: Sensational Spaniards, Powerhouse Peruvians, and a Misunderstood Burmese

#50 – Priyanka Rani Joshi (Nepal/World). It’s amazing how this country started as perpetual underdog to placing consecutively since 2017. Unsurprisingly, it was the Beauty with a Purpose category which sealed the deal for this entrepreneur. If not for the imposed limit of three per continent then, she could have even made Top 12.  

#49 – Audrey Vanessa Susilo (Indonesia/World). This musician missed Miss World’s Top 12 by probably the thinnest of margins, but she at least contributed to her country’s active streak, currently the contest’s longest. Here’s hoping they won’t wait that long for that Blue Crown.

#48 – Susana Medina (Spain/Grand International). Clearly, MGI is currently this kingdom’s best platform, with eight placements over the past decade. So, even if this pre-pageant favorite ran out of steam, she maintained the Spanish stronghold for yet another year. 

#47 – Arlette Rujel (Peru/Grand International). Reina Hispanoamericana winners join bigger pageants more often than most think – Winwyn Marquez, for one, nearly did. And this etiquette teacher managed to parlay being that pageant’s first Peruvian winner to a show-stopping stint in MGI. She made last year’s Top 10 with ease. 

#46- Chanelle de Lau (Curaçao/Supranational). The island has been sending notable repeaters lately. Now we have Miss International 2017‘s 1st Runner-Up taking on a more sophisticated approach in her third go-round. She may have finished three notches lower, but her mettle still proved potent after all these years. 

#45 – Niva Antezana (Peru/Earth). High time Miss Earth caught up with the Inca craze. This entrepreneur scored a historic fourth placement for her country by making the Top Four. Seeing how she blazed throughout, Miss Fire can’t be more fitting.

#44 – Alba Perez (Spain/International). As in the case of Poland, it’s hard to gauge how Miss International would assess Spaniards these days. So, this Andalusian angel wasn’t really pegged to go far, until her 2nd Runner-Up finish, until she scored her country’s best since 2008. And she certainly rocks that shoulder-length cut. 

#43 – Sakra Guerrero (Venezuela/International). Representatives of reigning countries struggle in Miss International as of late, with Indonesia 2018 delegate being a welcome exception. Now, she can consider herself in good company. This microbiology professor finished three notches short of being crowned by Andrea Rubio. Consider that a record, given the trend, even if back-to-back wins remain far-fetched.  

#42 – Bea Millan-Windorski (USA/Earth). This half-Pinay from Wisconsin cited the first Fil-Am Miss Universe, R’Bonney Gabriel, as one of her inspirations and is open to following her footsteps (by moving here). Of course, she’d be very much welcome to. Her idol’s having the time of her life. 

#41 – Fiorella Medina (Puerto Rico/Supranational). The territory only missed the cut once in Miss Supranational since winning in 2018. And while this educator stalled in the Top 12, nothing’s stopping a boricua from eventually winning again. Karla Guilfu almost did.

#40 – Sonal Kukreja (India/Supranational). Thanks to this businesswoman, the powerhouse has never left the Top 12 since Miss Supranational’s resumption in 2021. Expect no less from the pageant’s sole two-time winner. Only time will tell if it can snatch a third.

#39 – Paula Perez (Spain/World). Amidst the onslaught of last minute favorites and a brutal competition format, this pre-pageant favorite still secured a Top 12 slot for Europe. It was an extraordinary feat, even if she was ultimately edged by her Czech and English adversaries.

#38 – Alina Dementjeva (Czech Republic/International). In what proved to be a stellar year for Czechia, this economics and business major scored her country’s best finish since 1995. If it weren’t another Asian vs. Latin showdown, she could have exceeded that Top Eight finish.

#37 – Maria Felix (Dominican Republic/Grand International). The country generally never left MGI’s radar, despite the dethronement of its first winner, Anea Garcia. This New York-based model gave a Top Five-worthy performance in a year more than five contenders did. So, much as she was memorable, she was ultimately crowded out.

#36 – Thae Su Nyein (Myanmar/Grand International). Say what you want about those viral outbursts, but this teen was a top-notch performer. It’s just a shame that stint had to end with that scene, because MGI’s usually where her country shines. It remains to be seen if amends will be made or if crossing over to other pageants will ever be an option. Should that day ever come, she better do some soul-searching.