Miqueal-Symone Williams makes it to Top 21

The 69th Miss Universe pageant is underway at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, and already Miqueal-Symone Williams is creating quite a stir. The Miss Universe Jamaica representative has been named one of in the top 21 and was one of the first seven semi-finalists to advance to the next round. The announcement was made in three equal groups of seven.

Vietnam's Khanh Nan Nguyen earned the last spot with the highest number of online votes.

Next was the swimsuit competition, where Williams stunned in a pink and purple bikini with a tan cover-up.

CONFIDENT OF VICTORY

Anxious to see the outcome of the competition, one member of her family said they are confident that she will be taking home the crown at the end of tonight's pageant. "Accept [this] victory with great humility and carry on representing the country in the way you have done so far," were the words of Maxine Williams to her stepdaughter, Miqueal-Symone.

"The lesson her father has instilled in her is to believe in herself, and whenever she represents herself as a woman, she must do it in a way that would make young and older women emulate her," she added.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com

Here are the Top 21 semi-finalists:

- Colombia’s Laura Olascuaga

- Peru's Janick Maceta

- Australia's Maria Thatthil

- France's Amandine Petit

- Myanmar's Thuzar Wint Lwin

- Jamaica's Miqueal-Symone Williams

- Dominican Republic's Kimberly Jiminez

- USA's Asya Branch

- Mexico's Andrea Meza

- India's Aldine Castelino

- Argentina's Alina Luz

- Indonesia's Ayu Maulida

- Curacao’s Chantal Wiertz

- Puerto Rico's Estefania Soto Torres

- Philippines' Rabiya Mateo

- Brazil's Julia Gama

- Great Britain's Jeanette Akua

- Nicaragua's Ana Marcelo

- Thailand's Amanda Obdam

- Costa Rica Ivonne Cerdas

- Vietnam's Khanh Nan Nguyen