THAILAND -- The 122 candidates of the 74th Miss Universe pageant took over Columbia Pictures Aquaverse for the highly anticipated swimsuit show, drawing cheers as they showcased their pasarela skills around the expansive poolside runway.
Most contestants wore two-piece swimsuits, with the long catwalk winding from the stage and looping around the water.
Philippines' Ahtisa Manalo emerged as one of the standout performers, wearing a striking green bikini highlighting her stage control.
"It was so scary because there are some parts that are slippery. It's a long walk, uneven, and I think that I did well," she said.
"Ang haba, marathon," she added with a laugh.
Miss Portugal Camila Vitorino also earned praise for her physique, sharing the discipline behind her preparation after giving birth.
"I worked out during my whole pregnancy, and one month postpartum I started working out again. That was two years ago. I have a two-year-old son," she said.
Côte d'Ivoire's Olivia Yace also had a sensational walk, which perfectly flexed the months of effort she put into her body.
"I've been suffering for six months. My coach is crazy," she said jokingly. "I've been waking up 4 a.m., 5 a.m. everyday for cardio, workout, runs."
"But the results were worth it," she added.
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Other strong performers included the delegates from Colombia, Puerto Rico, several Latina countries, Brazil, Peru, Cuba, as well as Venezuela, Chile, and host country Thailand.
From the runway, candidates moved into one of the most crucial parts of the competition: the closed-door interviews.
Delegates were divided into groups, facing the judges in the first scored portion of the pageant. Each contestant prepared extensively, knowing the interviews can heavily influence the final placements.
"I prepared myself for this because I don't just want to inspire people in my country. I want to inspire people all around the world—young children and adults also," said Miss Costa Rica Mahyla Roth.
"I want to show that my country is a beautiful place that you can visit, and that women from Nicaragua are leaders," she said. "My essence and my light are going to show in that room today," added Miss Nicaragua Itza Castillo.
Miss Thailand Veena Singh said she is savoring the experience she waited years for.
"I'm just loving this journey. It's what I've been waiting for for eight years, so I just want to enjoy every moment and give my best."
Meanwhile, Vietnam's Huong Giang said she felt confident entering the interviews and reaffirmed her goal of making pageant history.
"I want to become the first trans woman to be Miss Universe. We already have 74 Miss Universe winners, so I came here with a vision, and I shared that vision with the judges," she said.
Frontrunner Miss India Manika Vishwakarma talked about her strategy on how to shine in Miss Universe.
"This is something the Miss India queens have always done. They never try to blend in," she said. "That's what makes them special and that is what I learned from them."
With the swimsuit show and interviews completed, the competition intensifies as the coronation night on November 21 draws closer.