Miss Universe 2012 is the 61st Miss Universe pageant, and will be held on December 19, 2012 in PH Live at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Leila Lopes from Angola will crown her successor at the end of the event. 89 countries and territories are expected to participate in this year pageant and broadcasted live in participant countries and teritorries by NBC, Telemundo & the international broadcasters.
Miss Indonesia Maria Selena, 22, is the youngest of a family of 5, with two older brothers.
Her hobbies include enjoying sports, such as basketball and tennis, and arts, such as playing piano and sketching.
Currently, she attends the Bandung Institute of Technology in their School of Business and Management. She hopes to one day raise the education standards of the poor in her home country. REUTERS/ Darren Decker/Miss Universe
Photo By HANDOUT/REUTERS
Miss Universe 2012 contestant Miss Thailand Nutpimon Farida Waller grew up in the coastal town of Krabi.
Raised by her father, Nutpimon Farida spent her childhood going to the beach and building sand castles. She donates much of her time to visiting nursing homes for the old.
The 19-year old also enjoys going to church, scuba diving, and cooking. Currently, Nutpimon Farida attends Chulalongkorn University of Thailand working to achieve. Photo By HANDOUT/REUTERS
Miss Japan 2012 Ayako Hara loves sports, and has played tennis for 12 years.
The 24-year old's other interests include cooking, and partaking in Japanese traditions such as Japanese Tea Ceremony and Japanese Incense Ceremony.
She currently works as a model.
REUTERS/Valerie Macon/Miss Universe Organization L.P/Handout (UNITED STATES - Tags: SOCIETY) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS ... Photo By HANDOUT/REUTERS
Miss Universe 2012 contestant Miss Japan Ayako Hara poses for a photographer at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada December 3, 2012. The Miss Universe 2012 competition will be held on December 19. REUTERS/Valerie Macon/Miss Universe Organization L.P/Handout (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT) THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. FOR ... Photo By HANDOUT/REUTERS
Miss Philippines 2012 Janine Tugonon, 23, had spent her childhood going to the farm with her mother and the markets with her grandmother.
She enjoys hiking and climbing mountains. She also loves to travel and cook classic Filipino dishes. Janine is also an avid trader, and one day hopes to work as a social entrepreneur.
REUTERS/Valerie Macon/Miss Universe Organization L.P/Handout (UNITED STATES - Tags: SOCIETY) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR ... Photo By HANDOUT/REUTERS
source: Yahoo