Michelle McLean was 13-years-old when she started off with her beauty pageant career and was crowned Miss Namibia 1991 and represented Namibia at Miss World 1991 on 28th December 1991 at the Georgia World Congress Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. She was placed at the Top 5 of the competition. The desire to represent Namibia at international stage, brought the queen back to stage but this time it was Miss Universe 1992 which was scheduled on 9th May 1992 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. Michelle was crowned as the winner of the competition at the end of the event finale and this was the first and so far, only time that Namibia won the pageant.
Similarly, Catriona Gray was five-years-old when she started her beauty pageant journey and later represented the Philippines at Miss World 2016 where she was placed at Top 5. She was one of the favourite candidates for the title yet she completed her journey by placing at the Top 5 position of the competition. During her finale round at Miss World 2016 she was asked, ‘Which qualities do you think it will take to wear Miss World’s crown?’, to which she answered, "I think, first, it takes bravery. To be a Miss World is to carry a burning torch. It is like action carried out by one to illuminate the lives of many. And I would dedicate my whole self, my love for the arts and my voice to try to uplift, empower and educate people. And it would be my greatest honour and duty to hold this torch high enough so that all the world could feel and see its light. Thank you.”
Catriona after two years, participated at Binibining Pilipinas 2018 where she was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2018 and earned the opportunity to represent the Philippines at Miss Universe 2018 stage on 17th December 2018 held at IMPACT Arena, Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand. In Philippine beauty pageant history, Gray is the first Filipina to represent the country in both the Miss World and Miss Universe competitions. She was crowned as the queen later that night and became the fourth Filipina to win the Miss Universe competition.
Recently, Andrea Meza was crowned Mexicana Universal 2020 which earned her the opportunity to represent Mexico at Miss Universe 2020 stage. Like Michelle McLean and Catriona Gray, Andrea as represented her country at Miss World stage as well in 2017 where she was adjudged as the first runner-up. She was also awarded as the Miss World Americas 2017 award at the competition.
The pageant fanatics feel that will the newly crowned Mexicana Universal 2020 Andrea Meza from Chihuahua would follow the footsteps of the former Miss Universe queens and win the crown for her country and create a history or not. She is one of the strongest contenders for the title and has already made a mark in the minds and hearts of the people.