Miss Universe 2017 will be crowned Monday morning, Thailand time, and the hopes of the country are high.
According to reports from the world gambling capital, Las Vegas, Miss Thailand Mareeya Poonlertlarp, aka Maria Lynn Eriksen, is the second favourite among bettors and online voters.
The live broadcast on Channel 3 begins Monday morning at 7 on Channel 3, with the actual naming of the winner scheduled just before 10am. A rerun can be seen Monday night, beginning at 11.20.
Online voting opens at 7.30am Thailand time, and organisers say it will be an important decider in who is crowned.
(Video YouTube/HeyHa Variety)
Steve Harvey returns to host the Miss Universe pageant, marking his third time. Fergie and Rachel Platten will perform onstage, while model Ashley Graham will serve as a backstage host. Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere from France will crown her successor at the end of the three-hour show.
Mareeya is battling to emulate Apasra Hongsakula in 1965 and Porntip "Pui" Nakhirunkanok in 1988 as the two Miss Thailand titleholders to become Miss Universe.
This is Mareeya in the evening gown preliminary competition last week. And (below) is Miss South Africa, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, said to be the main competitor standing between Mareeya and the third Miss Universe title for Thailand.
