The country’s bet Maxine Medina led the top 13 contestants during the main competition of the Miss Universe on Monday.

The crowd went wild as Medina’s name was called by host Steve Harvey as among the top 13 ahead of the coronation at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Harvey asked Medina what her aunt Gem Padilla-Thomas, a former Miss Universe Philippines 1990, told her.

“She just told me to be myself,” Medina said.

Here’s the list of the Miss Universe candidates who have advanced to the Top 13 so far.

They got the highest averaged scores from the judges based on their performance in the preliminary swimsuit and long gown competition, preliminary interviews, and fan vote:

Miss Kenya – Mary Esther Were

Miss Indonesia – Kezia Warouw

Miss USA – Deshauna Barber

Miss Mexico – Kristal Silva

Miss Peru – Valeria Piazza

Miss Panama – Keity Drennan

Miss Colombia – Andrea Tovar

Miss Philippines – Maxine Medina

Miss Canada – Siera Bearchell

Miss Brazil – Raissa Santana

Miss France -Iris Mittenaere

Miss Haiti – Raquel Pelissier

Miss Thailand – Chalita Suansane

The Top 13 candidates will compete in the swimsuit segment, which will determine the Top 9. Stay tuned for updates.

Miss Venezuela, Mariam Habach, perceived as one of the early favorites, failed to make the cut. IDL