Photos by Shota Ise
Representing Japan at the 73rd edition of Miss Universe is 25 year old Kaya Chakrabortty. Born to a Japanese mother and Bengali father, she is a national figure skating champion in her country. Kaya hails from Hyōgo prefecture and she beat 35 other candidates during the finals. She hopes to become the 3rd Japanese woman to win the Miss Universe crown. Her country has been consistently ranked as the 9th most powerful country in the world pageantry.