10 women remain in Miss Universe pageant after swimsuit competition; gowns, interview loom

10 left in Miss Universe after swimsuit contest

LAS VEGAS — Just 10 contestants remain in the hunt for the Miss Universe title after a swimsuit competition.

Contestants from Belgium, France, Russia, Colombia and the Czech Republic were eliminated Monday night after modeling purple bikinis for judges, a Las Vegas Strip audience and a worldwide TV broadcast.

The finalists include: 20-year-old Miss Ireland Rozanna Purcell, 24-year-old Miss Albania Angela Martini, 22-year-old Miss Philippines Venus Raj, 24-year-old Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillipps and 22-year-old Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete.

Also in are: 22-year-old Miss South Africa Nicole Flint, 20-year-old Miss Guatemala Jessica Scheel, 19-year-old Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell, 23-year-old Miss Ukraine Anna Poslavska and 21-year-old Miss Puerto Rico Mariana Paola Vicente.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A panel of judges has narrowed the field of beauty queens competing for the Miss Universe title in Las Vegas to 15.

The final contestants Monday night were: 21-year-old Miss Puerto Rico Mariana Paola Vicente, 23-year-old Miss Ukraine Anna Poslavska, 22-year-old Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete, 19-year-old Miss Belgium Cilou Annys, 20-year-old Miss Ireland Rozanna Purcell and 22-year-old Miss South Africa Nicole Flint.

Also chosen were 23-year-old Miss France Malika Menard, 19-year-old Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell, 24-year-old Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillipps, 18-year-old Miss Russia Irina Antonenko, 24-year-old Miss Albania Angela Martini, 23-year-old Miss Colombia Natalia Navarro, 20-year-old Miss Guatemala Jessica Scheel, 18-year-old Miss Czech Republic Jitka Valkova and 22-year-old Miss Philippines Venus Raj, 22.