The 65th Miss Universe pageant will be held in Manila, Philippines for the first time since 1994 this coming January 30, 2017.
To mark the auspicious occasion, the pageant’s organizers have organized an epic reunion of Miss Universe queens.
Former title holders Jennifer Hawkins (2004), Riyo Mori (2007), Dayana Mendoza (2008), Leila Lopes (2011), Olivia Culpo (2012) and Gabriela Isler (2013) will all be flying to Manila along with some of the most gorgeous Miss Universe queens who are now moms. Read on to get to know them a bit better.
Dayanara Torres
Crowned Miss Universe in 1993, Dayanara Torres from Puerto Rico won the hearts of Filipinos the moment she arrived in 1994 to pass on the crown. She went on to live in the country for five years, starring in over ten films and TV shows.
“I love my years here. I was so young when I finished my pageant and I was so eager to do a lot of things. I was just so thankful and grateful that I was in the Philippines, a country which embraced me completely and opened their hearts, their arms, their homes. Just amazingly beautiful memories,” the 42-year-old mom-of-two told ABS-CBN news. She will be part of the pageant’s esteemed panel of judges.
Photos: Dayanara PR Instagram
She moved back to Puerto Rico in 1998 and in 2005 and appeared in the popular American soap Opera, The Young and The Restless. She married singer Marc Anthony in 2000. They had two kids before separating in 2002.
Sushmita Sen
Crowned in Manila in 1994, Sushmita Sen brought pride to her home country by being the first Miss Universe from India. She went on to become an actress and a model. In 2000, she became a single mom when she adopted a daughter, who she named Renée.
Ten years later, she adopted another little girl, Alisah. She is currently in Manila to be part of the 65th Miss Universe’s prestigious panel of judges.
Get to know more of the Miss Universe moms who will be in Manila!
Lupita Jones
Miss Universe 1991 Lupita Jones hails from Mexico; she was the first Mexican to ever win the crown. Aside from being a beauty queen, Lupita is also an actress and a director. Unlike Sushmita and Dayanara, Lupita won’t be judging the upcoming Miss Universe 2016 pageant, but she will simply be in Manila to support Miss Universe Mexico, Kristal Silva.
“I cannot take part of the judging. I’m [only] here to support my girl, Viva Miss Mexico,” she told ABS-CBN news.
She has one son with former partner, Simón Charaf.
photos: Instagram and Pinterest
Natalie Glebova
This beauty from Canada was crowned in 2005. Like Lupita, she will also be flying to Manila to simply watch the pageant in support of her favorite candidates which, she revealed on Facebook, includes Binibining Pilipinas Universe Maxine Medina.
She will be arriving with her fiance Dean Kelly and their adorable daughter Maya.
photos: Pinterest and Natalie Glebova Instagram
Porntip Bui Simon
This Thai beauty still has that winning smile that snagged her the crown in 1988. She married Indiana Pacers owner Herbert Simon in 2002; they have a son and a daughter. The devoted mom also cares for her deceased sister’s three kids.
Long after her reign ended, the timeless beauty continued her charitable works, most popular of which are the Angels Wings Foundation and the Bui Simon Thai Endowed Scholarship Fund.
photos: Wikipedia and Pinterest
READ: Maxine Medina’s mom: “Win or lose, you’ll always be my Miss Universe”
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