In a historic moment, Cassandra Chiu, the SAR’s first-ever Miss Universe contestant, placed 16th in the beauty pageant’s Top 30 finalists. The 23-year-old content creator, dancer, and model was appointed to represent Macau. In an interview with the selection committee, Chiu advocated to promote Macau to the world, break down mental health stigmas, and promote care for stray, abused, and abandoned animals. This year’s Miss Universe saw a record of 125 contestants, including the first-ever contestant to wear a hijab and the oldest-ever contestant to compete in the pageant.
