Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi, 27, of South Africa will crown her successor on May 16, 2021. A total of 74 women from around the world are fighting for the right to inherit the title.

Hosted by Mario Lopez, 47, and Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo, 29, the Miss Universe 2020 coronation night will take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Broward County, Florida, United States. The show will air live on FYI and Telemundo and will stream live on Roku.

This will be the 69th edition of Miss Universe. Predicting the winner is tricky because, as the candidates say, the organization is looking for a spokesperson and not a model.

Still, the role played by physical beauty in determining the winner should not be ignored.

I have seen all the official portraits of the 74 Miss Universe 2020 candidates, read all their profiles and watched all their introduction videos. I must say, picking just one winner is almost as hard as choosing between two divorcing parents that you equally love.

But I will go with my gut. I believe these are the candidates who will win this fight for the 69th Miss Universe crown:

I will not be surprised if the Philippine candidate earns the highest votes that will automatically give her a spot in the Top 21. Here are the 11 candidates who I feel will enter the Top 21 quarterfinals but will not move to the semifinals:

• Rabiya Mateo (Philippines)
• Christina Lasasimma (Laos)
• Klara Vavruskova (Czech Republic)
• Miqueal-Symone Williams (Jamaica)
• Ivonne Cerdas (Costa Rica)
• Bianca Tirsin (Romania)
• Laura Olascuaga (Colombia)
• Andrea Meza (Mexico)
• Bernadette Ong (Singapore)
• Daniela Nicolas (Chile)
• Chantal Wiertz (Curacao)

From 21 quarterfinalists, only 10 candidates will selected to compete in the semifinals. I predict that these five candidates will enter the Top 10 but will not proceed to the Top 5 final round:

• Natasha Joubert (South Africa)
• Maria Thattil (Australia)
• Asya Branch (USA)
• Mariangel Villasmil (Venezuela)
• Nguyen Tran Khanh Van (Vietnam)

Among the 74 candidates, these are five candidates who I believe will battle it out in the final question-and-answer round. I believe this will be their placements, as well:

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predicted Miss Universe 2020 fourth runner-up

Estefania Soto (Puerto Rico)

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predicted Miss Universe 2020 third runner-up

Nova Stevens (Canada)

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predicted Miss Universe 2020 second runner-up

Janick Maceta (Peru)

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predicted Miss Universe 2020 first runner-up

Adline Castelino (India)

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predicted Miss Universe 2020

Reth Sarita (Cambodia)

The Philippines was represented at Miss Universe 2001 by Zorayda Ruth Andam of Baguio City, Philippines. She was unplaced but she was runner-up to the Best in National Costume award.

Andam also represented the Philippines at Miss Tourism World 2001. She finished in the Top 15 and was crowned Miss Tourism World-Asia 2001.