Miss Universe Japan 2023 Rio Miyazaki 宮崎莉緒, 30, is a third-year student of Kyoritsu Women’s University in Chiyoda City, Tokyo, Japan. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.
Hailing from Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, Miyazaki started cheer dancing in elementary school. She was a member of the cheerleading team when she attended the Tokai University Shizuoka Shoyo Junior and Senior High School in Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Aside from cheerleading, it has always been Miyazaki’s dream to become a beauty queen. Now, she wants to use her platform as Miss Universe Japan 2023 to study issues involving children and help children living in poverty.
On August 30, 2023, Miyazaki competed against 29 other finalists at Miss Universe Japan 2023 in Tokyo and won the title. Runner-up to Miyazaki is her fellow Shizuoka Prefecture resident Nana Miwa (三輪奈南), 25.
Miwa is a mental health and neurodivergent advocate and an LGBTQ+ ally. She earned her Juris Doctor and PhD in nanotechnology in Brisbane, Queenland, Australia.
Risa Morishita (森下理沙), 27, of Kanagawa Prefecture was Miss Universe Japan 2023 second runner-up. Mio Yamamoto (山本実生), 26, of Gunma Prefecture and Misaki Matsumoto (松本美咲), 25, of Fukuoka were the respective third and fourth runners-up.
On November 18, 2023, Miyazaki will represent Japan at Miss Universe 2023 in San Salvador, El Salvador. She will compete against more than 80 other candidates including Guatemala’s Michelle Cohn, 28, a mother of two, the Netherlands’ Rikkie Valerie Kollé, 22, a transwoman, and the Philippines’ Michelle Dee, 28, a bisexual.
Currently, Japan has 20 Miss Universe placements, including the coronation of Akiko Kojima in 1959 and Riyo Mori in 2007. The most recent one was in 2021 when Juri Watanabe finished in the Top 16.
On August 25, 2022, Marybelen Sakamoto was crowned Miss Universe Japan 2022 at Yamano Hall in Shibuya City, Tokyo. The respective first, second, third and fourth runners-up were Saria Oikawa, Megumi Wilson, Kozue Kanzaki and Aska Taira.
CONAN Daily 