The Miss Universe Organization declares bankruptcy: Find out the reasons

The organization stressed that this year’s competition aims to “be a first-class experience for our fans.”

The Miss Universe Organization also published an announcement stating that despite the “current financial situation” the event would be held normally.

This year’s Miss Universe pageant is set to include at least two transgender people who identify as women for the first time: Miss Portugal, a flight attendant named Marina Machetti, and Ricky Colley, the first transgender Miss Netherlands.

This comes after Spain’s Angela Ponce, who was the first transgender contestant in the competition in 2018, but did not qualify for the final.

Thai businesswoman and transgender activist Ann Jaakrajotatep of JKN Global Group will buy the organization for $20 million in 2022.

Jackrajotatip, who has global fame as a transgender celebrity, described the purchase at the time as a “strong and strategic addition to our portfolio.” But a year later, the franchise itself looks shaky.

The businesswoman, faced with this situation, launched a Miss Universe skincare line and Miss Universe travel packages. The Thai company confirmed that it had filed for “corporate rehabilitation,” a process similar to Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code.

The Bankruptcy Court of Thailand accepted this petition, marking a major turn of events for the company.

Where can I see the contest?

The final Miss Universe ceremony can be watched live in its entirety in the U.S. through a streaming signal on The Roku Channel or, if you prefer TV, Telemundo will have a special broadcast.

How many contestants will participate in Miss Universe 2023?

Below we share the number of participants who will be part of the 71st edition of Miss Universe this year.

Albania: Endi Demnere (24)
Germany: Helena Marlene Bleicher (24)
Angola: Ana Bárbara da Silva Coimbra (23)
Argentina: Yamil Lujan Dagod Zuloaga (27)
Aruba: Carol Cross (27)
Australia: Murraya Wilson (22)
Bahamas: Melissa Eileen Ingraham (26)
Bahrain: Lijan Yacoub (19)
Belgium: Emilie Vansteenkiste9 (21)
Burma: Amara Bu (26)
Bolivia: María Estefani Rivero Jesse (26)
Brazil: Maria Eduarda Ribeiro Breshan (19)
Bulgaria: Yulia Pavlikova (30)
Cambodia: Sutema Jun (23)
Cameroon: Issy Marie Princesse Indon (22)
Canada: Madison Elizabeth Svetlana Kavaltin (25)
Chile: Celeste Viel Caballero (23)
China: Jia Qi (23)
Colombia: María Camila Avila Montañez (28)
South Korea: Soyeon Kim (28)
Costa Rica: Lizbeth Tatiana Valverde Brenes (28)
Croatia: Andreja Erejavic (23)
Curacao: Kim Joanna Dorothy Rosin (25)
Denmark: Nicoline Orenholt Hansen (21)
Ecuador: Delaree Georgette Stoffers Villon (23)
Egypt: Mahra Amin Tantawi (21)
El Salvador: Isabella Garcia-Manzo Gutierrez (20)
Slovakia: Kinga Bohova (22)
Spain: Athens Paulinha Pérez Feminist (27)
United States: Noelia Victoria Voigt Briceño (24)
Philippines: Michelle Daniela Marquez D (28)
Finland: Paula Susanna Joukkanen (22)
France: Diane Leary (26)
Greece: Marilia Zalomi (20)
Guatemala: Melanie Michelle Cohen Beck (28)
Equatorial Guinea: Diana Lita Henestrosa (25)
Guyana: Lisa Andrea Narine (26)
Honduras: Zuhelen Michelle “Zo” Clemente Moncada (22)
Hungary: Tunde Blaga (27)
India: Shweta Sharda (22)
Indonesia: Fabian Fionnuala Nicole Grunfeld (23)
Ireland: Aisha Akorede (23)
Iceland: Lilja Seve Pytursdóttir (19)
Italy: Carmen Panepinto Zayati (24)
Cayman Islands: Eliane Bowie (25)
Virgin Islands: Achillika Fahey (28)
Jamaica: Jordan Lauren Levy (22)
Japan: Miyazaki River (20)
Kazakhstan: Tomiris Zaer (19)
Kosovo: Arbisa Rahmani (24)
Laos: Vaimani ‘Papao’ Lathsapanthao (28)
Latvia: Jekaterina ‘Kate’ Alexieva (29)
Lebanon: Maya Abu Al-Hassan (25)
Malaysia: Serena Lee (22)
Malta: Ella Sophie Portelli (22)
Mauritius: Aurore Tatiana Beauharnais (23)
Mexico: Melissa Flores Godinez (25)
Mongolia: Namunzul Batmanyai (23)
Namibia: Jamila Oeiras Smith (23)
Nepal: Jane Dipika Elizabeth Bohara Garrett (22)
Nicaragua: Chinis Alondra Palacios Cornejo (23)
Nigeria: Oguchi Mitchell Ehezu (26)
Norway: Julie Marie Tollefsen (27)
Netherlands: Ricky Valerie Colley (22)
Pakistan: Erica Rubin (24)
Panama: Natasha Lenez Vargas Moreno (25)
Paraguay: Elisina Andrada Urrego (28)
Peru: Camila Nami Escribens (25)
Poland: Angelika Jurkojanec (27)
Portugal: Marina Machetti Reis (28)
Puerto Rico: Carla Enelis Guelvo Acevedo (25)
United Kingdom: Jessica Paige Lennon (28)
Czech Republic: Vanessa Svidova (19)