Adline Castelino represented India at 69th Miss Universe in Miami, Florida on Sunday and was among the top five contestants of the pageant. She had earlier this year been crowned Liva Miss Diva Universe 2020, which made her eligible for the Miss Universe competition. 

Also Read: Mexico’s Andrea Meza wins Miss Universe 2020 crown; India’s Adline Castelino in top 5

Born to Karnataka-origin Manglorean Catholic parents in Kuwait, the 22-year-old model came to India to become a financially independent woman, she told Pinkvilla.

She also opened up about her speech impairment. Castelino said in an interview that, being a young girl in Kuwait with no exposure, she always looked up to the Miss Universe with so much admiration but never thought that someone like her, who had speech defect and body marks could represent her country in such an esteemed platform. 

Castelino was seen in an ethnic saree, inspired by the national flower of India- Lotus, in the Miss Universe stage for a national costume competition. 

Also Read: ‘…I was a bundle of nerves’: Lara Dutta on Miss Universe experience

Along with Castelino, Andrea Meza from Mexico, Julia Gama from Brazil, Kimberly Jimenez from Dominican Republic and Janick Maceta from Peru made their way to the top five of the Miss Universe 2021 beauty pageant. 

Mexico’s Andrea Meza won the Miss Universe 2020, she got the better of a total of 70 contestants to pave her way to the crown.