Athenea Pérez is celebrating a special honor at this year’s Miss Universe pageant.
While she didn’t claim the title, the 27-year-old Spanish model and beauty pageant titleholder was named the 2023 Miss Congeniality.
She won the honor after delegates voted for the competitor who inspired her peers with kindness, positivity and enthusiasm. I
In remarks shared by hosts Zuri Hall and Catriona Gray, Pérez said that “her biggest fear this week was forgetting this was a competition because she was so busy socializing and making friends.”
As the delegate of Spain to the Miss Universe pageant, Pérez became the first woman of black descent to represent the country in the Miss Universe pageant.
Pérez was born to a Spanish father and an Equatorial Guinean mother.
“I believe that diversity is the future and I’m an example of it,” Pérez said in an interview segment. “Currently, I’m collaborating with children’s villages with immigrant mothers and single-parent households because I was raised by a single mother who is an immigrant and black woman.” She continued, “I know that my story can help to inspire other people. Diversity is here, and diversity is now — it’s today.”
She finished as one of the Top 10 finalists in the pageant.
Jacqueline Bracamontes is preparing for a universal role…
The 43-year-old Mexican actress, former model and beauty pageant titleholder will serve as talent for the upcoming Miss Universe pageant, which is set to take place in El Salvador on November 18.
Bracamontes will be among the Latinx artists serving as talent for Telemundos’ Spanish-language telecast of the pageant.
Bracamontes will co-host alongside Danilo Carrera. Joining them are Andrea Meza,Carlos Adyan and Julia Gama.
The English broadcast of the 72nd annual competition will be hosted by formerExtrahost Maria Menounos alongside returning hosts Olivia Culpo and Jeannie Mai.
Culpo and Mai hosted the competition last year, replacing Steve Harvey, who had previously hosted the show for a number of years.
The competition will air on Roku and Telemundo in the U.S.
Miss Universe began airing on CBS in 1960. After it was acquired by Donald Trump in 1996, it began airing on NBC in 2003 and remained there until 2014. It aired on Fox between 2015 and 2019, before moving to FYI and Telemundo briefly before airing on Fox in 2021.
The 2023 show will be produced by executive produced Sergio Alfaro and his LA-based production company InventTV, as well as Paula Shugart and Anne Jakrajutatip for Miss Universe.
The Miss Universe Organization is now owned by Thailand’s JKN Global Group.
The show will also feature two backstage correspondents: Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Zuri Hall, co-host of Access Hollywoodand NBC’s American Ninja Warrior.
NBCUniversal will launch a new series of its popular The More You Know PSAs that tackle systemic racism and speak up for social justice, equality and equity, with the 38-year-old Cuban American actress and Brooklyn Nine-Nine star among the artists taking part.
Fumero joins a roster of NBC talent that includes Dulé Hill, James Roday Rodriguez and Kelly Clarkson, among others.
The campaign was developed in collaboration with social and racial justice organizations Fair Count, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the NAACP, the National Action Network and the National Urban League, and focuses on standing up against injustice, teaching children about equity, and the importance of voting and completing the census, especially for how it impacts the Black community and communities of color.
The campaign kicked off this week on NBC’s Todaywith a spot on teaching children about inclusion and acceptance. The campaign will be rolling out over the next few weeks, with spots now available on TheMoreYouKnow.com and YouTube.
The More You Know site also includes comprehensive resources and educational guides.
“For over 30 years, ‘The More You Know’ has sought to bring light to the nation’s most pressing social issues,” said Craig Robinson, Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, NBCUniversal, “and we hope this new iteration will continue to educate, encourage and inspire people of all ages to take an active role in improving the world we live in.”
In addition to Fumero, Hill, Roday Rodriguez and Clarkson, stars participating in the campaign include: Carlos Adyan (En Casa con Telemundo), Freema Agyeman (New Amsterdam), Notah Begay III (NBC Sports), Gizelle Bryant (The Real Housewives of Potomac), Kandi Burruss (The Real Housewives of Atlanta), Victor Cruz (E! News), Dexter Darden (Saved by the Bell), Ester Dean (Songland), Ryan Eggold (NewAmsterdam), Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster), Damon Hack (Golf Channel), Zuri Hall (Access Hollywood), Ana Jurka (“En Casa con Telemundo and Titulares y Más), Aneudy Lara (100 Días Para Enamorarnos), Howie Mandel (America’s Got Talent), Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: Organized Crime), Wendy Osefo (The Real Housewives of Potomac), Jeimy Osorio (Telemundo), Nina Parker (E! News’ Nightly Pop), Nichole Sakura (Superstore), Jocko Sims (New Amsterdam), Chris Sullivan (This Is Us”), Justin Sylvester (E! News’ Daily Pop), Elyfer Torres (Enemigo Íntimo) and Reno Wilson (Good Girls).
She won the honor after delegates voted for the competitor who inspired her peers with kindness, positivity and enthusiasm. I
Pérez was born to a Spanish father and an Equatorial Guinean mother.
