Southeast Asian countries, with their outstanding performances at Miss Universe in the recent years, have risen in the pageantry beginning to give high hopes of bringing the crown in one the SEA countries this year. From Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi impressing everyone with her ‘celestial’ vibes to Miss Universe Thailand 2022 Anna Sueangam-iam making noise with her fashion looks, SEA countries will definitely dominate Miss Universe 2022.
Currently, Philippines is leading the score board with 10 unbreakable placements in the last decade and winning the Miss Universe crown twice, Indonesia follows behind with seven placements and Thailand comes third with three placements.
Lets take a look at Southeast Asian countries performance at Miss Universe in the recent years –
In 2012, Philippines was the only SEA country who placed as the first runner-up at Miss Universe 2012. Next year, at Miss Universe 2013, Ariella Arida of Philippines placed as the 4th Runner-up while Whulandary Herman of Indonesia placed in the Top 16.
At Miss Universe 2014, again, Philippines and Indonesia won the placements in Top 10 and Top 15 respectively. 2015 was the year for one SEA country – Philippines. Pia Wurtzbach of Philippines won the third crown for her country after 40-year-old decade. Thailand’s Aniporn Chalermburanawong and Indonesia’s Anindya Kusuma Putri placed in Top 10 and Top 15 respectively.
2016 was again the year for these three countries; Philippines’ Maxine Medina and Thailand’s Chalita Suansane both placed in the Top 6 while Indonesia’s Kezia Warouw placed in the Top 13. Miss Universe 2017 saw Maria Poonlertlarp of Thailand placing in Top 5 while Rachel Peters placed in the Top 10.
2018 probably is the most loved edition of Miss Universe; Catriona Gray of Philippines won the Miss Universe 2018 crown. H'Hen Niê of Vietnam made history by winning the first Top 5 placement for her country and Sophida Kanchanarin of Thailand placed in the Top 10 as well. Not just that, Indonesia’s Sonia Fergina Citra placed in the Top 10 at the end of the event finale.
2019 was the year for the same four countries as well; Thailand placed in Top 5, Indonesia placed in the Top 10 while Philippines and Vietnam placed in the Top 20. It was again the year where four SEA countries placed at the finale.
Miss Universe 2020 was the most successful edition for the SEA countries. Five countries placed at the pageant finale; Amanda Obdam placed in Top 10 while Ayu Maulida of Indonesia, Thuzar Wint Lwin of Myanmar, Rabiya Mateo of Philippines and Nguyen Tran Khánh Vân of Vietnam placed in the Top 21.
Miss Universe 2021 saw three SEA countries make it the Top at the finale; Beatrice Gomez of Philippines won a placement at Top 5 while Nguyen Huynh Kim Duyên of Vietnam and Nandita Banna of Singapore placed in the Top 16.
Miss Universe 2022 was not a good year for the SEA countries as only one country made it to the Top 16 which surprisingly was Laos with Payengxa Lor winning the Spot by public vote.
At the 2023 edition, the SEA countries shined thorough with Thailand’s Anntonia Porsild being adjudged as the first runner-up of Miss Universe 2023 and Michelle Dee, of Philippines, winning a Top 10 spot for her country.
