The grand finale of the 67th Miss Universe beauty pageant is slated to take place this Sunday, 16th December, 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Preliminary events are currently underway which would also go a long way to help decide who will become the next Miss Universe, taking over from South African,Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters. Steve Harvey and Ashley Graham have been billed to host the proceedings for Sunday’s event.
92 ladies from across the world will be competing for the main title as Miss Universe and as usual we have all our favorite girls coming from Africa. From Angola to Zambia, here are the African queens you should be checking out at the grand finale
Angola- Ana Liliana Aviao
Age: 24
Height: 6′
Languages: English, Portuguese, Dutch
Ana Liliana Aviao was born in Angola and raised in The Netherlands. She is currently finalizing her bachelor’s degree in International Business and Management. She aims to use her degree to become an entrepreneur in emerging markets. Currently she is the co-founder of a recent established NGO that aims to connect Angolan small businesses looking for capital with Dutch investors for foreign investment opportunities. She enjoys journaling, meditating, and traveling. This year, Ana hopes to assist the youth in finding their purpose through entrepreneurship and self-development. She represents the underdogs, the outcasts, the tall girls who find it hard to accept their length, the children who grew up in single-parent families, and all of the diasporas who are counting the days until they get to reunite with their country someday. Ana represents humanity, and the result of what happens to humanity when we dare to be bigger than the conditions that we were born in.
Egypt- Nariman Khaled
Age: 22
Height: 5’6
Languages: English, Arabic
Nariman Khaled is a Business Information Systems student and ukulele player. She’s interested in voluntary projects and projects concerned with NGOs inside and outside Egypt, such as India. In her spare time, Nariman practices yoga and meditation and found it is a way she feels healthier overall. Nariman hopes to make her country proud at this year’s Miss Universe competition.
Ghana- Akpene Diata Hoggar
Age: 25
Height: 5’9
Language: English
Akpene Diata Hoggar is a fashion model, blogger and entrepreneur with a MIS degree from Ashesi University. She hails from Tefle but was born and raised in Akatsi, both in the Volta Region of Ghana. Akpene speaks fluent English, Ewe, and a beginner in Twi, Gonja and French. While volunteering for teaching and mentoring programs, her passion for servant leadership and creating social impact was born. She is a firm believer in women and the youth as a driver of economic development. Akpene hopes to empower young girls to develop themselves while being mindful of their mental health. It’s her dream to leave this world better than she left it, and leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.
Kenya-Wabaiya Kariuki
Age: 22
Height: 5’5
Languages: English
Wabaiya Kariuki is a 22 year old who has just completed her degree in Actuarial Science. She works at a start up insurance agency called Mule Insurance Agency Limited. Apart from that, she is a high fashion and commercial model having worked with a number of designers from East Africa and has been featured in some online Pan African campaigns. She enjoys singing, travelling, listening to music, hanging out with friends and watching movies. She is also a singer and in her free time, she teaches violin at a start up music school in her area. The most influential person in her life is her late mother who was a Singer, Fashion Designer, Model and a completely lovable person. If she wins the crown, she hopes to advocate for mental health among the youth in her country.
Mauritius-Varsha Ragoobarsing
Age: 28
Height: 6′
Languages: English, French, Hindi, Creole
Varsha Ragoobarsing is an aspiring entrepreneur and the founder of a nonprofit organization that caters for education of needy children. She is a degree holder in business administration and is currently studying at the chartered institute of management accountants. Varsha overcame dyslexia with her fighting spirit and with the support of her parents. She learned a lot from her failures but perseverance and determination helped her turn her failures into success. If she takes the crown home, she hopes to advocate in the field of education for needy children who are surrounded by poverty, drug abuse, AIDS, and social depravities. Varsha believes that education is the key to a better world and a better future. The quote that kept her motivated and strong all the time is, ‘where there is a will there is a way’.
Namibia-Selma Kamanya
Age: 21
Height: 5’6
Language: English, Afrikaans
Selma Kamanya is a 21 year old, third year student currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Economics. She enjoys exercising, reading and meditating as well as learning about new cultures. Selma works as a part time Forex Trader and has been in that career path for three years. With her position, she intends to teach women to generate their own wealth and create a better life for themselves and families. Selma hopes to make her country proud at this year’s Miss Universe competition.
Nigeria-Lopez Aramide
Age: 21
Height: 6′
Language: English
Lopez Aramide has a B.A in history and diplomatic studies . While in school, Lopez Aramide has always had an interest in modeling. She is a fashion lover and has a passion for singing. In her free time, Lopez loves to cook new foods. Lopez Aramide is a lover of educating young women by reading to those in need. She would best describe herself as a good listener and overall great woman. If Lopez takes home this year’s crown, she would like to help people all over the world.
South Africa- Tamaryn Green
Age: 24
Height: 5’9
Language: Afrikaans, English
Twenty-four-year-old Tamaryn Green, from Paarl in the Western Cape, was crowned Miss Universe South Africa 2018 on Sunday, May 27. At the time of winning the title, she was a sixth and final year medical student at the University of Cape Town with her sights set on specializing in pediatrics once she qualifies. She has always been passionate about making a positive and progressive difference in the lives of others. She grew up being exposed to two very different worlds: the fortunate and less fortunate. Tamaryn wants to assist in bringing those two worlds together. Actions speak louder than words; she wants to be a voice to those who cannot be heard, a servant and role model to South Africans and to the people of the world at large. In August 2018, Tamaryn launched her #breakthestigma campaign where she announced she will be focusing on tuberculosis as her official year of reign campaign. Tamaryn herself also spoke publicly for the first time about her own battle with TB in 2015. The campaign focuses on eradicating TB by 2030.
Zambia- Melba Shakabozha
Age: 23
Height: 5’11
Language: English
Melba Shakabozha is a Radiologist who currently acts as an ambassador for an orphanage school program where she mentors two orphaned girls. Melba hopes her advocacy and title will help provide a higher education to the children in the orphanage. After winning her countries title, Melba took responsibility to look after 82 children with disabilities at Home of Hope. Melba hopes to make her country proud while competing on a global stage at this year’s Miss Universe competition.
