Olivia Culpo and Jeannie Mai Jenkins will host the 71st Miss Universe telecast (EXCLUSIVE)

Miss Universe Pageant's upcoming move to Roku also comes with two new hosts: l Former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo and Jeannie Mai Jenkins ("The Real") will lead the proceedings on this year's TV show, which takes place Saturday, January 14 from New Orleans.

Culpo and Jenkins replace Steve Harvey, who hosted for five years (excluding 2021, where this pact has been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Harvey had been part of Fox's deal with Miss Universe. Last month, Variety exclusively reported that the 71st Miss Universe pageant was the latest TV event to go to streaming, as The Roku Channel signed a one-year deal to become the official English language home of Miss Universe in the United States. United. The event is also broadcast here in Spanish on Telemundo.

Culpo was crowned Miss Universe 2012; since then, she's starred on the TLC series "The Culpo Sisters," invested in and served as creative director for canned cocktail company Vide, and also spent time as a model, actress, and social media influencer. . Mai Jenkins won a Daytime Emmy for hosting "The Real" and currently hosts Amazon Freevee's "America's Test Kitchen: The Next Generation." She has been seen as a commentator in the past for Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants.

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Emmy Award-winning television personality, co-host of "American Ninja Warrior" and "Access Hollywood" correspondent Zuri Hall will serve as backstage commentators.

"This organization has had such an impact on my life and I am so grateful for the experiences I have had with my Miss Universe family," Culpo says. "I have so much respect for the continued evolution of the Miss Universe organization, including new female ownership for the first time in company history. ."

Mai Jenkins added, "I couldn't be more excited to be back with the Miss Universe organization alongside all of the incredible women who travel to New Orleans from all over the world. I am so honored to be able to celebrate them and all of the incredible changes the organization has made over the past year to make advancing women's stories around the world."

The organization was just acquired in October by Thailand-based JKN Global Group PCL (run by CEO Anne Jukapong Jakrajutatip) from former owner IMG.

"With Culpo as the successful former title holder and Jeannie's work to redefine this what it means to be a working mother, both women are true examples of the momentum the Miss Universe Organization is creating,” said Amy Emmerich, CEO of the Miss Universe Organization, in a statement. President Paula Shugart added, "From our two multi-hyphenated hosts to our producer and new female owner, this year's show will truly be a celebration of women created by women."

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