The 71st Miss Universe Beauty pageant will feature 86 national teams.
Bhutan will compete for the Miss Universe title for the first time, while returning competitors Angola, Belize, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Myanmar, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay will also compete.
A pre-selection jury will qualify upstream sixteen candidates, who will then be announced at the ceremony on January 14, 2023, at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Meet each of the competitors who represent the participating African nations.
Gabriella Gonthier – Miss Universe Seychelles
Australian-born Gabriella Gonthier was raised in the stunning Seychelles Islands, more specifically on the island of Mahe, but she was born in Sydney. Gabriella earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus in International Business from the University of London.
Mouketey Lynette Monalisa Jelly – Miss Universe Cameroon
Lynette Mokete Monalisa Jelly is very outgoing and genuinely cares about other people. She makes thoughtful decisions and is highly strategic. She has a special love for children and runs the Hope Day program, which provides school supplies to primary school students.
Engracia Mofuman – Miss Universe Ghana
Engracia Professional model Afua K. Mofuman also speaks French, English, Spanish, and Portuguese. She spent part of her childhood in Ghana and other African nations, which encouraged an appreciation for various cultures. She decided to pursue an MA in International Relations as a result.
Cassia Sharpley – Miss Universe Namibia
Cassia Sharpley is a talented, multifaceted young woman with 17 years of experience in the performing arts as a dancer, singer, actor, model, musician, and songwriter. Her passion is in the medical industry, where she works as a paramedic.
Ndavi Nokeri – Miss Universe South Africa
In August 2022, Ndavi Nokeri was crowned Miss Universe South Africa. She was employed by an asset management company at the time of her coronation and holds a BCom in Investment Management from the University of Pretoria.
Alba Isabel Obama Moliko – Miss Universe Equatorial Guinea
Law student Alba Isabel Obama Moliko, 21, is from Equatorial Guinea. She received an African Supramodel award in 2019 while serving as Miss Supranational Equatorial Guinea. She took part in the international African textile show, winning top model of Africa in the process. She oversees models for the television show “Equatorial Guinea Top Model” and serves as its director.
