Can Miss America Become Miss Universe?
Contestants from 94 countries and territories are expected to participate in this year’s pageant, surpassing the previous record of 92 entries in 2017. The favorites on the entertainment betting lines are as follows (odds provided by Bovada):
- Miss Philippines, Catriona Gray (+500 or 5-1 odds)
- Miss Puerto Rico, Kiara Ortega (+500 / 5-1)
- Miss Thailand, Sophida Kanchanarin (+800 / 8-1)
- Miss USA, Sarah Rose Summers (+800 / 8-1)
The pageant is breaking new ground this year with the first transgender contestant to ever compete for the crown. Angela Ponce, who hails from Spain, hopes to promote gender diversity and equality in the competition. She is also being counted among the favorites (+1600).
The longest shots on the board — which include Miss Bahamas, Bulgaria and Ghana — are all +20000 or 200-1.
Bangkok has hosted the Miss Universe pageant twice (1992, 2005).
2018 Miss Universe Pageant
Miss Universe Odds Explained
Miss Philippines and Puerto Rico offer the least value on the Miss Universe betting board at 5-1. That means, for every dollar you bet, you could earn a $5 profit.
For example, a winning $100 ticket on Miss Philippines would return $600 ($100 bet + $500 profit = $600 total return). A winning $20 ticket would return $120 ($20 bet + $100 profit = $120 total return).
If you bet on one of the long shots and this woman shocks the competition, you are in for a big payday. A $100 bet on Miss Bahamas would return $20,100 ($100 bet + $20,000 profit = $20,100 total return).
If you’re not interested in betting on the global beauties, there are also prop bets on Bovada — like whether or not host Steve Harvey will announce the wrong winner again. Bettors are putting big money on Harvey (+5000 / 50-1) screwing up again.
Miss USA Among the Favorites
Sarah Rose Summers became the first woman from Nebraska to win Miss USA and represent her country at the Miss Universe pageant.
The 24-year-old model began her pageantry career at age 10 and was crowned Miss Nebraska Teen USA 2012. She is the 11th Miss Teen USA to win Miss USA.
An adventure seeker at heart, Summers keeps herself busy traveling the world. She speaks frequently about chasing even seemingly unattainable goals. This crown isn’t out of reach for the American entry, but she isn’t the one to beat.
That role falls to Catriona Gray from the Philippines.
“I still think she’s the one to beat in terms of overall strength; her walk, her look, her profile, the fact that she placed top five at Miss World,” said Siera Bearchell, Miss Universe Canada 2016. “I think she just has a really strong profile for Miss Universe.”
No one country seems to dominate this event, even though Venezuela has won three times in the last 10 years.
Prediction — Miss Philippines (+500). Catriona Gray is an experienced beauty queen who stands out in the crowd.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
