LAS VEGAS (AP) – A panel of judges has narrowed the field of beauty queens competing for the Miss Universe title in Las Vegas to 15.

The final contestants Monday night were: 21-year-old Miss Puerto Rico Mariana Paola Vicente, 23-year-old Miss Ukraine Anna Poslavska, 22-year-old Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete, 19-year-old Miss Belgium Cilou Annys, 20-year-old Miss Ireland Rozanna Purcell and 22-year-old Miss South Africa Nicole Flint.

Also chosen were 23-year-old Miss France Malika Menard, 19-year-old Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell, 24-year-old Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillipps, 18-year-old Miss Russia Irina Antonenko, 24-year-old Miss Albania Angela Martini, 23-year-old Miss Colombia Natalia Navarro, 20-year-old Miss Guatemala Jessica Scheel, 18-year-old Miss Czech Republic Jitka Valkova and 22-year-old Miss Philippines Venus Raj, 22.

See also:

• Venus Raj in final 15 of Miss Universe
• Miss Universe goes nude; RP’s Raj teaches them how to behave
• Another mishap: beauty queen dies
• Venus mourns, but is ready to shine
• Quiambao on Raj: 'She has what it takes…'
• Raj a top choice for Miss Universe crown