Hey everyone, this month two of the most successful countries in Miss Universe will be selecting their representatives to send to the Philippines to compete for Miss Universe 2018. Both the USA and Brazil have been historically successful at Miss Universe and have placed every year since 2011. With each contest having such competitive batches, it is almost certain that their streaks will continue. I decided to do a "pre-arrival hot pick" for these two pageants together for various reasons. Not only for the past 4 years have chosen representatives who resemble each other, but their national pageant format is very similar as well with each region holding a contest then the winner competing along with the Top 15 competing in the finale. The criteria for these pageants are similar and the formula has no doubt produced success in Miss Universe in the IMG era. My list will probably change as the contest gets closer and after watching the girls compete head to head, but these are my first impressions. In either of these editions, especially Miss USA, anything could happen so without further a due here are my pre-arrival hot picks for Miss USA 2018 and Miss Brazil 2018.
Miss USA
1
Florida - Genesis Dávila
Genesis reminds me so much of Crystle Stewart, not just beautywise but they have a similar story as well. Crystle tried for so many years to get to Miss USA but kept getting rejected until one year and then she won her state pageant and eventually Miss USA. Genesis also has been turned down so many times until finally winning the crown this year; all the rejections helped her mature into the strong woman she is. She is strong in every single category and the amount of charity work she has done is really impressive. She’s the most prepared this year which will make her a sure standout and has made something good out of her rejections which is the true essence of a queen.
2
California - Kelley Johnson
Kelley has gotten some criticism for being “plain” but she is the Deshauna/Kára of this edition and she could very well win the crown. She has already been successful at Miss America, but has transformed into a Miss USA beauty. I find her look so refreshing and am sure she will use her background as a nurse to her advantage; however, I think Florida is just as good of a speaker as Kelley is and is better in the other departments which edges her out for me.
3
Tennessee - Alexandra Harper
Alexandra is my sentimental favorite to win this year. She seems like such a sweetheart and also has a huge advantage because her preparation for Miss USA is being documented on reality television. She reminds me a lot of Katherine Webb and is the classic all American girl. If the judges want a classic beauty to win this year, Alexandra Harper should be crowned Miss USA 2018.
4
Arkansas - Lauren Weaver
Lauren has the face of the pageant and she keeps on climbing up my list. Her overall look is so competitive and the fact that her story relates to the main cause Miss USA supports is going to give her a huge advantage. She may have been a clapper in Miss Teen USA but times have changed since then and she’s too strong to be a Miss USA clapper. She looks like a Miss USA and is the best representative I have seen from Arkansas maybe ever. I have high expectations for Lauren and I am confident she will deliver.
5
Nevada - Carolina Urrea
Carolina has gotten mixed reviews but I can’t help but be a fan as I relate to her. We are both Colombians living in Las Vegas and I would say she is my favorite Miss Nevada since Jade Kelsall and I would say is the most improved contestant this year. When she won Miss Nevada USA she was pretty but that was it. She lacked impact at the time and struggled with her interview. Now, she has a new look and she has a much stronger impact than she did before. She also is championing a great cause and her advocacy would make a great story. I have no idea how her oratory is but that has always been her downfall, which is why I had to stop her here, but I’m sure it has improved drastically and if it has, she should be able to go even further.
6
District of Columbia - Bryce Armstrong
Bryce is aiming for DC’s third win in a row and it’s very possible. I would’ve actually preferred her to be Miss USA rather than Deshauna or Kára and I can see her winning the crown. I think she’s going to come close, but I don’t think she’s going to win. Why? The last two years were much weaker years and I think Bryce could’ve been a runaway winner in 206 or 2017. However, she’s competing in 2018 and this batch is so much stronger. Yes, she’s stunning, has a great oratory/advocacy and absolutely deserves to be Miss USA. But girls like Florida and California are at their peak and are more ready to be Miss USA than she is. In all her promotional photos, she has her hair straight and while she’s stunning that way, I would advise her to wear it wavier or curlier as I feel it compliments her face even more.
7
Oklahoma - Cheyene Darling
Cheyene is so underrated but so stunning. When I look at her, I see a Miss USA and while I think she’s going to have a tough time winning, I realize she is more competitive than a lot of the so called “frontrunners” this year. She’s naturally beautiful and I have a feeling she’s even more beautiful in person and I love her personality on social media. Her styling when she won her state pageant was iffy but it has improved drastically since then. Miss USA 2018 will truly be the survival of the fittest and while I think Florida and California are the most fit, I think she could even go further than this if many of the other girls lose stamina.
8
Georgia - Marianny Egurrola
Marianny is a frontrunner, no doubt about it. She has a great body, great personality and has done a lot with her title. When she first won, she was my favorite for Miss USA but that has changed and here is why. While she is beautiful, her styling isn’t the most consistent or universally appealing to the common viewer and sometimes, I feel she can be overshadowed by the other contestants. However it is early and there is no denial she is competitive. She could easily beat a lot of the girls I put ahead of her.
9
Minnesota - Kalie Wright
If I could describe Kalie in a sentence I would say she is “the poor mans Iris Mittenaere.” She reminds me a lot of Iris but is not as strong. Nonetheless, she’s a stunning, All-American girl and is very competitive. Minnesota sent a very strong contestant last year and while I don’t think Kalie is as strong, she’s definitely strong enough to place and is the torch bearer of the Midwest.
10
South Carolina - Tori Sizemore
Tori placed first runner up at Miss Teen USA a few years ago which makes her an automatic frontrunner in my opinion. While she was great then, I still think she can look a bit teeny-bopper. She is facially stunning and reminds me a bit of Alyssa Campanella. However, I don’t know if she is going to be like Alyssa or Audra Mari who were first runners ups at Miss Teen USA and went on to great success at Miss USA afterwards. She definitely has potential to be, but she has a lot more competition this time and styling is going to matter A LOT. It could truly go either way for her.
11
Texas - Logan Lester
Logan is another sentimental favorite of mine. She’s definitely not the prettiest girl in the batch but she has everything it takes to do well and go even further than this. In my opinion, she’s pretty and relatable to the everyday viewer but not the pageant expert which is what matters the most. I also didn’t think she would be IMG material just by looking at her but after reading her bio, I know she is. I would even say her story is strong enough to bring her the crown. She seems like a genuinely nice person and i think that will also attract the judges and viewers as well. She may not be a Missosology frontrunner but I expect Texas to be back in the semis this year and to do very well. However, I can’t place her further right now as her beauty for me isn’t up to par with the other girls.
12
Indiana - Darrian Arch
Darrian isn’t necessarily my cup of tea but she will do well. Her body is a little too masculine for me but she’s striking, has the presence and a great story. I’m sure she will be hard to miss when on stage. I think in a less competitive year she could’ve gone further than this but this year is just so strong I have to leave her here. Nonetheless, Indiana should be back in the semis this year with this black beauty.
13
Louisiana - Lauren Vizza
Lauren is very striking in professional photos and her interview will be very strong given that she is a local news anchor in her state. I also expect her to be very confident as she is the hometown girl. Why am I placing her this low? She can be a bit underwhelming in candids and on stage for me and by riding on being the hometown girl and her interview, this is the furthest I think she could go as of now. That could very well change depending on how she shows up.
14
New York - Genesis Suero
With so many strong Latinas competing this year, Genesis has been left unnoticed. New York was my prediction to win Miss USA last year and while she’s no Hannah Lopa, Genesis is also very strong and has what it takes to make the semis. She has a great backstory of being an immigrant and her advocacy of trying to help immigrants acclimate to the USA could not be more timely considering that Trump is president. However, she is on the shorter side and her styling is not the most consistent; but if she brings it in the preliminaries and finale, I would even go as far as saying she could pull a surprise win.
15
New Jersey - Alexa Noone
Alexa JUST made my top 15 by a hair but her beauty is not my cup of tea. Since Chhavi Verg was so strong last year and I still think she still should have won over Kára McCullough, I find it disappointing they are sending her after who is not as strong However, her backstory and platform along with the proper styling are strong enough to grant her a spot in the Top 15. If she won Miss USA, she would really do something great with the title. However, a lot of girls this year have really strong cases to win the crown so I have to stop her here.
Alternates 16. New Mexico, 17. Hawaii, 18. Utah, 19. Mississippi, 20. Alabama
Miss Brazil
1
Distrito Federal - Biah Rodrigues
My first impression of Biah was that her face was deserving of the Miss Universe crown. But I did not know much about her otherwise. However, Brazil has nailed the IMG formula in the past few years and after reading about how accomplished she was at such a young age, I know she is the best choice. On top of a gorgeous face, she has the class, the personality and the beauty to make the Top 3 in Miss Universe. I have not seen enough of her runway skills to judge but with the time she would have to train for Miss Universe, I have no doubt she could destroy her competition.
2
Rio Grande do Norte - Monique Sandrelly
Monique reminds me so much of Gabriela Isler but a sexier version. When I first saw her, I immediately thought she screamed Miss Universe. Her catwalk is strong but I don’t know if she has anything else to offer substance wise. In Miss Universe, you can no longer win on just beauty but if she proves she has something else to the table, then she could take Miss Universe 2018 by storm.
3
Santa Catarina - Débora Silva
I do not know much about Debora, but what I do know is her beauty is out of this world. While she may come across as a typical “Miss Brazil”, her eyes and body are all strong points. I’m not sure that they will crown a typical Brazilian queen after such a diverse set of winners the past three years and I don’t know what else she brings to the table but she is stunning, that is for sure.
4
Rio Grande do Sul - Leonora Weimer
Ironically, Leonora looks like a Miss USA. I was SHOCKED when I read Sancler did not win Miss Rio Grande do Sul. However when I saw it was Leonora who beat her, I was not surprised. Based on looks alone she could be a huge frontrunner in Miss Universe but I heard she’s not the best speaker. Brazil usually sends girls with amazing oratory and I almost put her as my winner but since she has minimal time to prepare for the national pageant, I had to put her here.
5
Amazonas - Mayra Dias
Mayra is a catwalk diva. She’s experienced, competitive and hungry for the crown. She’s definitely not the prettiest girl in the batch but her body, her face and her overall look is on point. She’s a very safe choice for the crown and I think she has huge potential to go far in Miss Universe.
6
Piauí - Naiely Lima
I know barely anything about Naiely as she was crowned so recently but I love what I know. I will even go as far as saying Piauí could have a back to back win. Her body, her face and her height are all strong assets. She reminds me a bit of a fiercer Camila Cabello. She will probably soar much higher up my list and I would even go as far as saying she’s an upgrade from Monalysa. She would be a great edition to Miss Universe 2018.
7
Espírito Santo - Sabrina Stock
Sabrina is very modelesque and actually reminds me more of a Miss Argentina or Miss Chile than a Miss Brazil. The batch is very competitive but I am so drawn to her face and presence and she isn’t one of the most talked about contestants, but she is deserving enough to place.
8
São Paulo - Paula Palhares
Paula is a disappointing choice to send from the heart of Brazil considering they had a variety of options including the gorgeous Danielle Vasconcellos who could have won Miss Universe 2018. However, although Paula isn’t a Miss Brazil, she is still quite strong and has the sash, however she lacks the impact to bring her far in Miss Universe. I’m not counting her out just yet as she won such a competitive region and I want to see what she brings to the table.
9
Bahia - Maria Isabel Santos
Maria Isabel reminds me of a girl who was a runner up to Jakelyne Oliveira a few years ago that had a similar look and was Miss Bahia and pulled a surprise. Of the black girls in the competition, she is the most striking but I feel like she gets lost in a batch full of stunners. Nonetheless, she’s competitive and strong enough to place.
10
Paraíba - Ana Carla Medeiros
Ana Carla looks like Lauren Jauregui and has a very suitable platform for IMG as she’s very active on social media. I think she’s actually quite pretty and would not look out of place at Miss Universe in my opinion. However, the batch is so strong and there are other girls who would stand out even more making her not the best choice for Brazil.
11
Minas Gerais - Elís Miele
Elís is another typical Miss Brazil and although she’s gotten some criticism I actually find her quite striking. She reminds me a bit of Karina Gonzalez and should focus on what makers her unique, because that is what will win Miss Brazil today not trying to be Natalia Guimaraes or Gabriela Markus.
12
Pernambuco - Eslovênia Marques
Eslovênia is a dark horse and her height helps her standout. She has a babyface and I think she could be a dark horse winner and transformed just like Monalysa was last year. I also love her name and am intrigued by her, I look forward to seeing how she stands compared to the other contestants.
13
Paraná - Deise Caroline Ribas
Deise seems to be very polished and a solid bet for the Top 15 of Miss Brazil. However, she is missing the wow factor for me. While she has a cool background of having Asian descent, it is not enough to place her in the likes of the Rio Grandes, Distrito Federal, Santa Catarina, Amazonas and even Piauí.
14
Goiás - Giovanna Veríssimo
Giovanna is a pageant veteran who has such a distinct exotic beauty. She’s no Beatrice Fontoura, but her beauty is intriguing enough to grant her a spot. She should focus on her styling as she has such an unconventional beauty that it may get overshadowed if not styled properly. I also hope she focuses on being more natural and effortless as that’s what will attract the judges.
15
Ceará - Teresa Santos
Teresa is very pretty and has a stellar body, no doubt in my mind she could go further than this. However, i just find her too raw to be Miss Brazil and her beauty isn’t impactful enough to do well at an international level. Styling will play an important role and could be the make it or break it deal for her.
Alternates 16. Rio de Janeiro, 17. Alagoas, 18. Maranhão, 19. Amapá, 20. Mato Grosso
Thank you so much for reading and tell me what you think! Who are your favorites for each of these pageants and which girls did I overlook? Also credits to Yuma for the banners of the girls from Miss Brazil and to the Miss USA website for the banners of the girls from Miss USA!