More than a month before representing Australia in Miss Universe 2016, Caris Tiivel broke up with her model Stirling Caiulo. Since the breakup, Miss Universe Australia 2016 started dating Western Bulldogs premiership player Josh Dunkley.
"Nothing really bad or terrible went wrong," Tiivel told Perth Now about her breakup with Caiulo. "He's an amazing guy and his family's amazing so I really wish him all the best."
Tiivel told the publication that the break-up was very sad and was a very hard decision for them to make. She also said she had no regrets about her Miss Universe journey despite failing to follow the footsteps of Kerry Anne Wells and Jennifer Hawkins, the only two Miss Australia representatives to win Miss Universe.
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach crowned Miss France Iris Mittenaere as her successor on Jan. 30, Monday, at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines. Miss Haiti Raquel Pelissier was first runner-up while Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar was second runner-up. The musical performers during the coronation night were Flo Rida and Boys II Men.
The judging panel included Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres from Puerto Rico, Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen from India, Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes from Angola, TV and film producer Francine LeFrak, Paper Magazine editorial director Mickey Boardman and "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Cynthia Bailey. Steve Harvey returned as the host of the coronation night with "America's Next Top Model" judge Ashley Graham as the backstage host.
United States president Donald Trump sent a message to Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte through officials of the Miss Universe Organization, Rappler has learned. Duterte acknowledged the message and thanked Miss Universe Organization president Paula Shugart, who she mistakenly identified as Miss USA 2016, a title that belongs to Deshauna Barber.
On Jan. 18, Wurtzbach participated in a dinner program in Baguio City, Philippines, which was hosted by Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up Shamcey Supsup. Distinguished people of the city welcomed them along with Shugart, Miss Universe 2016 host committee chairman Chavit Singson, and some Miss Universe 2016 candidates including Tiivel, Mittenaere, Pelissier and Tovar.
Have a glimpse of the Miss Universe 2016 event in Baguio here: