Miss Universe 2023 Divita Rai of Karnataka proudly portrayed India’s grace reaching the top 16 out of 86 delegates around the globe.
While making it to the top 16, India’s Divita Rai missed out on the Miss Universe crown this year, which was eventually won by Filipino-American R’Bonney Gabriel from the US on January 14 in New Orleans, United States.
She shared on Instagram:
Here’s looking at the next phase of life with a full heart and determined mind🙏🏼💫
So many personal battles and milestones have been won and I have so much appreciation for my life and the people who pushed me to grow, improve and own myself 🤍
Thank you @vineetjain12 @naughtynatty_g and the entire team @missdivaorg and all my mentors for entrusting in me this beautiful opportunity & experience 🤍
Thank you India for supporting me and cheering me on! 🙏🏼 I felt your love and spirit every single day 🇮🇳🤍
Here’s to more twirling, laughing, crying and celebrating life! 🥂
Here’s to feeling beautifully confident everyday” (sic)
Born in Mangalore and living in Mumbai, Divita Rai is a 23-year-old completing her education at Mumbai’s Sir JJ College of Architecture. A model and an architect by profession, she is an active sports player and engages herself in playing basketball and badminton.
During the prestigious Miss Universe pageant’s 71st edition hosted on January 14 with 86 delegates from around the globe competing for the crown, Divita represented India at the international level.
The competition was held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, where Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu, who took home the crown for India on December 21 walked for the last time in the Miss Universe crown and passed on the legacy to USA’s R’Bonney Gabriel.
At the Miss Diva Organization’s 10th anniversary event held on August 22, 2022, Divita Rai was crowned Miss Diva Universe 2022 by the 2022 Miss Universe titleholder Harnaaz Sandhu. She also competed in the Miss Universe pageant in 2021, where Harnaaz Sandhu won, whereas she finished as the Miss Diva second runner-up.
Miss Universe
The pageant’s advocacy is “humanitarian issues and is a voice to affect positive change in the world.” Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by the United States and Thailand-based Miss Universe Organization. It is one of the most-watched pageants in the globe with an estimated audience of over 500 million viewers across 190 territories.
The Miss Universe Organization is currently owned by JKN Global Group. Telemundo has the licensing rights to air the pageant through 2023.
The current Miss Universe is R’Bonney Gabriel of the United States who was crowned on January 14, 2023, in New Orleans, United States.