Thread by @cnnphilippines

THREAD: 2020 #MissUniverse competition kicks off! The Philippines' pride Rabiya Mateo is competing for the country's 5th Miss U crown 👑

Click our live blog for updates. bit.ly/3uTqBCd

First five semifinalists enter the Top 21 of the 69th #MissUniverse pageant:

• Colombia
• Peru
• Australia
• France
• Myanmar

UPDATE: First seven #MissUniverse semifinalists enter Top 21

• Colombia's Laura Olascuaga
• Peru's Janick Maceta del Castillo
• Australia's Maria Thattil
• France's Amandine Petit
• Myanmar's Thuzar Wint Lwin
• Jamaica Miqueal-Symone Williams
• Mexico's Andrea Meza

Next batch of #MissUniverse semifinalists enters Top 21

• Dominican Republic’s Kimberly Jimenez
• USA's Asya Branch
• Indonesia’s Ayu Maulida Putri
• Argentina’s Alina Luz Akselrad
• India's Adline Castelino
• Curaçao’s Chantal Wiertz
• Puerto Rico's Estefanía Soto Torres

Only 7 spots remaining in the Top 21 of #MissUniverse after Dominican Republic, USA, Indonesia, Argentina, India, Curaçao, and Puerto Rico become semifinalists

BREAKING: The Philippines' Rabiya Mateo enters the Top 21 of the Miss Universe 2020 pageant bit.ly/3uTqBCd

Rabiya Mateo, a native of Iloilo, is among 74 candidates competing for 69th #MissUniverse crown. If she brings home the title, she will join the elite group of Gloria Diaz, Margarita Moran, Pia Wurtzbach, and Catriona Gray bit.ly/3fnCjhN

https://twitter.com/MissUniverse/status/1394091958881165315?s=20

These queens make up the 21 #MissUniverse semifinalists

• Philippines’ Rabiya Mateo
• Brazil’s Julia Gama
• Great Britain’s Jeanette Akua
• Nicaragua’s Ana Marcelo
• Thailand’s Amanda Obdam
• Costa Rica’s Ivonne Cerdas
• Vietnam’s Khanh Van Nguyen Tran (fan vote)

Vietnam's Khanh Van Nguyen Tran rounds off the Top 21 after receiving the largest fan vote in #MissUniverse history

Philippines' Rabiya Mateo was the 15th semifinalist to be called in the #MissUniverse Top 21. Read more: bit.ly/3fnCjhN

https://twitter.com/MissUniverse/status/1394094881329528835?s=20

WATCH: Philippines' Rabiya Mateo struts in a yellow two-piece suit for the swimsuit competition of the #MissUniverse bit.ly/3uTqBCd

https://twitter.com/MissUniverse/status/1394098102353678342?s=20

Five finalists enter Top 10 #MissUniverse

• Jamaica
• Dominican Republic
• India
• Peru
• Australia

bit.ly/3uTqBCd

Top 10 #MissUniverse finalists

• Jamaica
• Dominican Republic
• India
• Peru
• Australia
• Puerto Rico
• Thailand
• Costa Rica
• Mexico
• Brazil

bit.ly/3uTqBCd

We're proud of you, Rabiya! #MissUniverse bit.ly/33OKCy0

Miss Myanmar Thuzar Wint Lwin brings home the National Costume award at the #MissUniverse for her strong message to end the violence in her country.

Other candidates who shed light on current events during the NatCos competition: bit.ly/3eOrBC2

https://twitter.com/MissUniverse/status/1394105913569599488

Minutes before Rabiya Mateo took the #MissUniverse stage, her mother gave her a heartfelt message — win or lose.

"Nandito lang kami nagmamahal sayo, we love you. We are waiting for you here in the Philippines." bit.ly/3uWScm6

Mexico's Andrea Meza, India's Adline Castelino, and Brazil's Julia Gama make it to the Final Top 5 of the #MissUniverse pageant bit.ly/3uTqBCd

Top 5 #MissUniverse finalists

• Mexico's Andrea Meza
• India's Adline Castelino
• Brazil's Julia Gama
• Dominican Republic's Kimberly Jimenez
• Peru's Janick Maceta del Castillo

They will compete in the question-and-answer round. bit.ly/3uTqBCd

Thailand's Amanda Obdam, a crowd favorite, failed to enter the Top 5 of the #MissUniverse competition

Question: If you were the leader of your country, how would you have handled the COVID-19 pandemic?

#MissUniverse Mexico Andrea Meza: There's not a perfect way to handle this. What I would've done was create a lockdown before everything was that big

Question to #MissUniverse India: Should countries lockdown due to COVID-19 despite strain to economies or should they reopen border and risk an increase in infection rates? (1/2)

#MissUniverse India Adline Castelino: Witnessing what India is experiencing now, nothing is more important than the health of your loved ones and you have to draw a balance between economy and health. That can be done only when the gov't works with the people hand in hand (2/2)

For #MissUniverse Brazil: In many counties, women are still considered incapable of being world leaders. Convince them that they are wrong (1/2)

#MissUniverse Brazil Julia Gama: Women are such an important part of the society. Just because we're not encouraged, we have our potential wasted. The world needs women's contributions because we can. We are the leaders of our lives. Please, take your power (2/2)

Question to #MissUniverse Dominican Republic: Explain the importance of teaching leadership to young girls. How will you do that as Miss Universe? (1/2)

#MissUniverse Dominican Republic Kimberly Jimenez: I came from a family completely filled with women who propelled me into who I am today. Working with my non-profit group, I don't need a title to be able to help others and support them (2/2)

Question to #MissUniverse Peru: What would you say to the women watching tonight who are currently experiencing sexual or domestic abuse? (1/2)

#MissUniverse Peru Janick Maceta del Castillo: I'd tell them that I admire their strength, they're survivors, and I've been there too. I became the hero of my own story that's why I advocate to save little girls from being victims. Don't ever make anyone silence your voice (2/2)

#MissUniverse Top 5 finalists give their final statements bit.ly/3uTqBCd

#MissUniverse Mexico Andrea Meza on changing beauty standards: Nowadays beauty isn't just about the way we look. Beauty radiates not only in our spirit but in our hearts, the way we conduct ourselves. Never permit someone to tell you you're not valuable.

#MissUniverse India Adline Castelino on free speech and right to protest: We've seen many protests in the past days, especially the one women have made throughout the years for equal rights. Until today we are lacking them (1/2)

#MissUniverse India Adline Castelino: Protests help us in raising our voice. It helps minorities raise their voice. Every right comes with responsibility so use it with power (2/2)

#MissUniverse Brazil Julia Gama on mental health: Mental health is still a very stigmatized topic. It keeps us from giving the right assistance to those in need (1/2)

#MissUniverse Brazil Julia Gama: Remember to normalize conversations about anxiety or depression. Because we all hurt sometimes but we don't need to face it alone. Let's support each other and share empathy (2/2)

#MissUniverse Dominican Republic Kimberly Jimenez on global poverty: During this pandemic, my country has risen to 23% poverty rate. Being able to be here in front of you representing Dominican Republic makes me incredibly proud that it will help our tourism (1/2)

#MissUniverse Dominican Republic Kimberly Jimenez: We as human beings can realize that there are so many people out there who need our help, and we can overcome anything (2/2)

#MissUniverse Peru Janick Maceta del Castillo on climate change: It's our collective responsibility to take action in order to save our planet. Little by little, we can start to make a difference. We're just here for one time, this is the time we have to start taking care of it.

Zozibini Tunzi, the longest-reigning #MissUniverse, takes her final walk: I had the opportunity to touch twice as many lives because we went virtual. I lent my voice to race and gender equality bit.ly/3uTqBCd

https://twitter.com/MissUniverse/status/1394124445061718016

4th runner-up: Dominican Republic
3rd runner-up: India
2nd runner-up: Peru
1st runner-up: Brazil
Miss Universe: Mexico

BREAKING: Mexico's Andrea Meza is crowned the 69th #MissUniverse bit.ly/3uTqBCd

https://twitter.com/MissUniverse/status/1394125260203728898?s=20