Miss Universe contestants have been getting the full Atlanta experience in between rehearsals and pageant prep.
They’ve dined at Buckhead restaurants, visited patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and toured popular attractions including the Georgia Aquarium and Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Miss USA Cheslie Kryst, a Charlotte native who’s spent significant time in Atlanta, has been playing host and tour guide to the 89 other women competing for the Miss Universe crown.
READ | Miss USA local ambassador for Miss Universe pageant in Atlanta
“We checked in [to the Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta] on Thanksgiving, and most of the other women do not celebrate Thanksgiving or know much about it, so I got to show them the traditions,” Kryst said. “We had Thanksgiving dinner and they asked a lot of questions about what we ate. I had to explain to someone what cornbread is.”
Southern food has been a highlight for many contestants. Eating at Waffle House and trying chicken and waffles are on the top of the to-do list for Miss Universe New Zealand Diamond Langi. Reigning Miss Universe Catriona Gray tried her first fried green tomato this week, and a full American breakfast with French toast and muffins is what Miss Universe Great Britain Emma Jenkins is looking forward to once the competition is over.
Multiple contestants in this year’s Miss Universe competition have ties to the U.S., making Atlanta a welcome site to compete for the international title. Olutosin Araromi, Miss Universe Nigeria, splits her time between Nigeria and Brooklyn. When her phone broke earlier this week, she got a friend in Marietta to bring her a replacement.
“It’s definitely an advantage,” Araromi said.
Others with American ties, like Miss Universe Ireland Fionnghuala O’Reilly, were glad friends and family had an easy time traveling to the competition. Most of O’Reilly’s family lives in Ireland, but her mother and younger sister will be coming from the D.C. area to see her compete. Miss Universe Canada Alyssa Boston lives in Windsor, Ontario, just across the Detroit River from Michigan, and has family that lives across the border. They were able to take the hour-and-a-half flight from Detroit for the competition.
Contestants from more tropical climates were surprised at the drab, chilly weather.
“Atlanta is so cold!” said Stacy Michuki, Miss Universe Kenya.
But Boston was pleased with the temperatures, particularly compared to her native Canada.
“There’s no snow on the ground, so I’m pretty happy about that,” Boston said.
Miss Universe will be broadcast live from Tyler Perry Studios on Fox at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. Tickets to see the event live are sold out, according to MissUniverse.com.
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