Maxine spoke to Lovin Malta a day before travelling to New Orleans, where she will take part in multiple rehearsals and shows prior to the big night on 14th January.

The 22-year-old said she has been carrying out modelling training with a Houston academy for around a year and is feeling “very very confident”.

“At the beginning, when I first started out, everything was very new to me but I’m feeling very prepared now. I’m very confident in my walk, with the way I can communicate with people, I’m just very well-prepared.”

She will be wearing an eye-catching national costume inspired by the old Maltese lira, including a dress based on the old LM10 and a huge back piece in the shape of the LM1 coin. Her dress was designed by the Maltese fashion designer firm Charles & Ron, while Carisma provided the jewellery.

 

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Maxine said she has received extremely positive feedback about the costume so far.

“A lot of people abroad are saying it’s one of the best costumes that Malta has been able to present at Miss Universe, which is something that means a lot to me because I’ve been working very very hard for this and I really want to represent Malta in the best way possible,” she said.

“I’ve been working very hard to do so and my aim is to actually get Malta on the map for the first time in Miss Universe history.”

Cover photos: Maxine Formosa Gruppetta (Instagram)

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