# Miss Universe 2016

Miss Universe 2016 was the 65th Miss Universe pageant, held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines on January 30, 2017. This was the second time that the pageant skipped a year, after Miss Universe 2014 was held in January 2015.
The winner, Iris Mittenaere of France was crowned by Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines. It was France's first win in sixty-three years, and its second overall win.
Contestants from eighty-six countries and territories competed in the pageant. Steve Harvey was the host, and plus-sized model Ashley Graham was the backstage host. American entertainers Flo Rida and Boyz II Men were the acts.

## Background
### Location and date

It was announced November 3, 2016, that the Philippines would host the pageant, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on January 30, 2017. The collaboration agreement to that effect was signed on November 16.

### Host and performers

On November 3, 2016, the Miss Universe Organization confirmed that Steve Harvey would host the pageant, continuing his five-year contract with Miss Universe. On December 15, 2016, plus-sized model Ashley Graham confirmed that she would be the backstage host. On January 19, 2017, rapper Flo Rida was announced as a guest performer.

### Selection of participants

Contestants from eighty-six countries and territories were selected to compete in the pageant. Eight of these delegates were appointees to their titles after being a runner-up of their national pageant or an audition process or other internal selection, while four were selected to replace the original dethroned winner.
Stephanie Geldhof, the first runner-up of Miss Belgium 2016, was appointed to represent Belgium after the original winner, Lenty Frans, decided to compete at Miss World 2016 due to conflicting schedules with Miss Belgium 2017. Jenny Kim, the first runner-up of Miss World Korea 2015, was appointed by the Miss Universe Korea Organization after the Miss Korea organization lost the franchise. Kushboo Ramnawaj was appointed by the Miss Estrella Mauritius Organization after the Miss Mauritius organization relinquished the franchise. Yuliana Korolkova, the first runner-up of Miss Russia 2016, was appointed as Miss Universe Russia 2016 after Yana Dobrovolskaya, Miss Russia 2016, decided to compete at Miss World 2016 due to the conflicting schedules of the two pageants.
Paula Schneider, Miss Bolivia 2015, was to represent Bolivia, but resigned for personal reasons. Antonella Moscatelli, Miss Bolivia 2016, was appointed instead. Regina Valter, Miss Universe Kazakhstan 2015, was to compete in Miss Universe 2016 after her withdrawal in 2015. However, Valter was disqualified after getting married. Darina Kulsitova, Miss Universe Kazakhstan 2016, replaced her. Brenda Jiménez, first runner-up of Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2016, was crowned the new Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2016, after Kristhielee Caride, the original winner, was dethroned due to her behaviour. Đặng Thị Lệ Hằng, the second runner-up of Miss Universe Vietnam 2015, was appointed as the representative of Vietnam to Miss Universe after Ngô Trà My, the first runner-up, refused to compete and got married.
The 2016 edition saw the debut of Sierra Leone and the returns of Barbados, Belize, Guam, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malta, Namibia, Romania, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, and the United States Virgin Islands. Malta last competed in 2001, Barbados and Belize last competed in 2007, Iceland last competed in 2009, US Virgin Islands last competed in 2011, Namibia and Romania last competed in 2013, while the others last competed in 2014. El Salvador, Gabon, Ghana, Greece, Ireland, Lebanon, Montenegro, and Serbia withdrew. Adela Zoranic of Montenegro and Bojana Bojanic of Serbia withdrew from the competition due to unknown reasons. El Salvador, Gabon, Ghana, Greece, Ireland, and Lebanon withdrew after their respective organizations failed to hold a national competition or appoint a delegate.

## Results
### Placements

| Placement | Contestant |
| Miss Universe 2016 | France – Iris Mittenaere |
| 1st runner-up | Haiti – Raquel Pélissier |
| 2nd runner-up | Colombia – Andrea Tovar |
| Top 6 | Kenya – Mary Esther Were  Philippines – Maxine Medina  Thailand – Chalita Suansane § |
| Top 9 | Canada – Siera Bearchell  Mexico – Kristal Silva  United States – Deshauna Barber |
| Top 13 | Brazil – Raissa Santana  Indonesia – Kezia Warouw  Panama – Keity Drennan  Peru – Valeria Piazza |
§ – Voted in the Top 13 by viewers

### Special awards
#### Major awards

| Awards | Contestant |
| Miss Congeniality | South Korea – Jenny Kim |
| Miss Photogenic | Albania – Lindita Idrizi |
| Best National Costume | Myanmar – Htet Htet Htun |
| Fan Vote Winner | Thailand - Chalita Suansane |

#### Minor/Sponsor awards

| Awards | Contestant |
| Flawless of the Universe | Venezuela – Mariam Habach |
| Miss Phoenix | Venezuela – Mariam Habach |
| Miss Phoenix Smile | Indonesia – Kezia Warouw |
| Hiyas ng Phoenix | Philippines – Maxine Medina |

## Pageant
### Format

The Miss Universe Organization introduced several specific changes to the format for this edition. The number of semifinalists was reduced to thirteen— the lowest since 2002. The results of the preliminary competition— which consisted of the swimsuit and evening gown competition, and the closed-door interview, determined the twelve semifinalists. Internet voting returned, with fans being able to vote for another delegate to advance into the semifinals, making the number of semifinalists thirteen. The thirteen semifinalists participated in the swimsuit competition, with nine advancing in the competition for the evening gown competition. Six finalists advanced to participate in the question and answer portion, while three finalists advanced to participate in the final question and the final walk.

### Selection committee

* Cynthia Bailey – model, television personality and actress
* Mickey Boardman – editorial director and advice columnist for Paper magazine
* Francine LeFrak – activist and founder of Same Sky and support foundation for people living with HIV
* Leila Lopes – Miss Universe 2011 from Angola
* Sushmita Sen – Miss Universe 1994 from India
* Dayanara Torres – Miss Universe 1993 from Puerto Rico

## Contestants

Eighty-six contestants competed for the title.
| Country/Territory | Contestant | Age | Hometown |
| Albania | Lindita Idrizi | 20 | Elbasan |
| Angola | Luísa Baptista | 21 | Cuando Cubango |
| Argentina | Estefanía Bernal | 21 | Buenos Aires |
| Aruba | Charlene Leslie | 24 | Oranjestad |
| Australia | Caris Tiivel | 23 | Perth |
| Austria | Dajana Dzinic | 21 | Vienna |
| Bahamas | Cherell Williamson | 24 | Nassau |
| Barbados | Shannon Harris | 22 | Bridgetown |
| Belgium | Stephanie Geldhof | 19 | Aalst |
| Belize | Rebecca Rath | 23 | Dangriga |
| Bolivia | Antonella Moscatelli | 21 | Santa Cruz |
| Brazil | Raissa Santana | 21 | Umuarama |
| British Virgin Islands | Erika Creque | 22 | Road Town |
| Bulgaria | Violina Ancheva | 21 | Sofia |
| Canada | Siera Bearchell | 23 | Moose Jaw |
| Cayman Islands | Monyque Brooks | 25 | West Bay |
| Chile | Catalina Cáceres | 26 | Santiago |
| China | Li Zhenying | 21 | Shanghai |
| Colombia | Andrea Tovar | 23 | Quibdó |
| Costa Rica | Carolina Rodríguez | 27 | Alajuela |
| Croatia | Barbara Filipović | 19 | Zagreb |
| Curaçao | Chanelle de Lau | 21 | Willemstad |
| Czech Republic | Andrea Bezděková | 21 | Prague |
| Denmark | Christina Mikkelsen | 24 | Copenhagen |
| Dominican Republic | Rosalba García | 24 | Maimón |
| Ecuador | Connie Jiménez | 21 | Ventanas |
| Finland | Shirly Karvinen | 24 | Helsinki |
| France | Iris Mittenaere | 23 | Lille |
| Georgia | Nuka Karalashvili | 25 | Tbilisi |
| Germany | Johanna Acs | 24 | Eschweiler |
| Great Britain | Jaime-Lee Faulkner | 27 | Sheffield |
| Guam | Muñeka Taisipic | 19 | Yona |
| Guatemala | Virginia Argueta | 22 | Jutiapa |
| Guyana | Soyini Fraser | 26 | Georgetown |
| Haiti | Raquel Pélissier | 25 | Port-au-Prince |
| Honduras | Sirey Moran | 26 | El Progreso |
| Hungary | Veronika Bodizs | 24 | Budapest |
| Iceland | Hildur María Leifsdóttir | 24 | Kópavogur |
| India | Roshmitha Harimurthy | 22 | Bangalore |
| Indonesia | Kezia Warouw | 25 | Manado |
| Israel | Yam Kaspers Anshel | 19 | Herzliya |
| Italy | Sophia Sergio | 24 | Naples |
| Jamaica | Isabel Dalley | 20 | Montego Bay |
| Japan | Sari Nakazawa | 23 | Shiga |
| Kazakhstan | Darina Kulsitova | 19 | Semey |
| Kenya | Mary Esther Were | 27 | Nairobi |
| Kosovo | Camila Barraza | 23 | Pristina |
| Malaysia | Kiran Jassal | 20 | Subang Jaya |
| Malta | Martha Fenech | 27 | St. Julian's |
| Mauritius | Kushboo Ramnawaj | 26 | Rivière Du Poste |
| Mexico | Kristal Silva | 25 | Ciudad Victoria |
| Myanmar | Htet Htet Htun | 24 | Yangon |
| Namibia | Lizelle Esterhuizen | 20 | Windhoek |
| Netherlands | Zoey Ivory | 23 | Almere |
| New Zealand | Tania Dawson | 24 | Auckland |
| Nicaragua | Marina Jacoby | 21 | Matagalpa |
| Nigeria | Unoaku Anyadike | 22 | Lagos |
| Norway | Christina Waage | 21 | Nes |
| Panama | Keity Drennan | 26 | Panama City |
| Paraguay | Andrea Melgarejo | 22 | Villarrica |
| Peru | Valeria Piazza | 26 | Lima |
| Philippines | Maxine Medina | 26 | Quezon City |
| Poland | Izabella Krzan | 21 | Olsztyn |
| Portugal | Flávia Brito | 23 | Vilamoura |
| Puerto Rico | Brenda Jiménez | 22 | Aguadilla |
| Romania | Teodora Dan | 27 | Bucharest |
| Russia | Yuliana Korolkova | 22 | Orsk |
| Sierra Leone | Hawa Kamara | 26 | Freetown |
| Singapore | Cheryl Chou | 20 | Singapore |
| Slovakia | Zuzana Kollárová | 25 | Bratislava |
| Slovenia | Lucija Potočnik | 25 | Maribor |
| South Africa | Ntandoyenkosi Kunene | 24 | Mkhondo |
| South Korea | Jenny Kim | 23 | Seoul |
| Spain | Noelia Freire | 24 | Ciudad Real |
| Sri Lanka | Jayathi De Silva | 26 | Colombo |
| Sweden | Ida Ovmar | 21 | Luleå |
| Switzerland | Dijana Cvijetić | 23 | Gossau |
| Tanzania | Jihan Dimachk | 20 | Dar es Salaam |
| Thailand | Chalita Suansane | 22 | Samut Prakan |
| Turkey | Tansu Sila Çakir | 21 | Istanbul |
| Ukraine | Alena Spodynyuk | 19 | Kyiv |
| United States | Deshauna Barber | 27 | Washington, D.C. |
| Uruguay | Magdalena Cohendet | 22 | Artigas |
| United States Virgin Islands | Carolyn Carter | 27 | Saint Croix |
| Venezuela | Mariam Habach | 21 | El Tocuyo |
| Vietnam | Đặng Thị Lệ Hằng | 23 | Đà Nẵng |

## Note

* ↑ Ages at the time of the pageant