The next Miss Universe Croatia: Meet the 2023 finalists 

(Photo credit: Samo Mervar / PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

Next month, 16 contestants will be vying for the coveted title of Miss Universee Croatia. The pageant, currently in its 27th edition, will take place on May 3, 2023, at the Emerald Hall in Zagreb’s Esplanade Hotel. 

We meet the finalists below. 

1. NINA AMIŽIĆ, 21, Žrnovnica

Height: 184 cm

Education/qualification: studies at the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical and Educational Sciences, Mostar

Foreign languages: English

Nina Amižić (Photo credit: Samo Mervar / PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

Nina is proud of her personality and gladly accepts challenges and knows how to push boundaries and live life to the fullest, outside her comfort zone. She likes to spend time with her family, friends, her animals, and her hobbies include swimming, rollerblading, dancing, styling and sewing. Nina is a big fan of old-timers and motorcycles, so she helps her father in the family business.

She believes that the biggest problem in the world is abandoned and hungry children, and he believes that many more organizations for the care of neglected children should deal with them and help them.

If she becomes Miss Universe Croatia, she would advocate for neglected children and abandoned animals because she believes that they are the most vulnerable and that they are in dire need of help.

2. MATEA BLAŽEVIĆ, 22, Đakovo

Height: 176 cm

Education/qualification: studies biology at Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek

Foreign languages: English

Matea Blažević (Photo credit: Samo Mervar / PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

Matea is proud of the professional work in which she participated and which was published this year, which enables the development of research skills of elementary school students. It is also proud to have provided a home for the chančari turtle, an endangered species in Croatia. Recreationally, she plays volleyball and goes to the gym, likes to read books, watch series, cook and spend time with her family and friends, and spend time in nature with her pets.

As Miss Universe Croatia, she would advocate for environmental protection and encouraging the reduction of plastic use in everyday life. He believes that one of the biggest problems today is pollution with microplastics, because plastic is not degradable and it gets into the water and food we consume, thus representing a major health problem.

3. LUCCIANA ĆEBO, 19, Zagreb

Height: 190 cm

Education/acquired title: graduate of the First School of Economics in Zagreb

Foreign languages: English

Lucciana Ćebo (Photo credit: Samo Mervar / PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

Lucciana is proud to be the person she is today, thanks to her parents and family. Most of all, she likes hanging out with her family and going out with friends, modeling and going to the gym.

She believes that the biggest problem today are wars and attacks on innocent people and the uneven distribution of the world’s wealth and resources.

As Miss Universe Croatia, she would join an institution that cares for and helps abused women, and especially influence those who are abused and do not dare to ask for help.

4. ANDREA ERJAVEC, 23, Perušić

Height: 178 cm

Education/acquired title: studying classroom teaching at the Faculty of Teachers, University of Zagreb, Department of Petrinja

Foreign languages: English

Andrea Erjavec (Photo credit: Samo Mervar / PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

Andrea is proud of her work to become a better version of herself, of her emotional development and ability to face new challenges, and of enrolling in her desired college. She likes to be on the move and use his time in the best way, hang out with family and friends, go to the theater, museums. She also coached basketball earlier. She believes that moving and maintaining physical health is very important. She believes that everyone in the world should have access to education, information and resources so that they can actively participate in social processes and create positive changes in the world.

As Miss Universe Croatia, she would advocate for the mental and physical health of children, as she believes that this is one of the biggest problems that children face. She also believes that it is important to invest in the education and empowerment of parents so that they can provide quality care and support to children in all aspects of their lives. 

5. SARA GARAC, 22, Stobreč

Height: 178 cm

Education/qualification: studies at the Faculty of Kinesiology in Split

Foreign languages: English

Sara Garac (Photo credit: Samo Mervar / PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

Sara is very proud of herself for starting to work and study part-time at the university of her choice immediately after finishing high school. In her free time, she likes dancing the most, one of her favorite sports is volleyball, which she has trained for years and which is still her favorite recreation. She believes that environmental issues are among the leading problems in the world: insufficient recycling of waste, responsible consumption of natural resources, massive deforestation, inefficient agriculture.

If she becomes Miss Universe Croatia, she will advocate for the spread of love and understanding because she believes that quality relationships between people contribute much more to the quality of life than money, which increasingly affects relationships between people or status in society/at work.

6. MATEA JOSIC, 20, Zagreb

Height: 177 cm

Education/qualification: studying journalism at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Zagreb

Foreign languages: English

Matea Josić (Photo credit: Samo Mervar / PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

Matea is proud of her success at college and of balancing student work and college, of every fashion show and shoot she has done so far. While she was training handball, she won the prize for the best goalkeeper at the international tournament in Prague and at the tournament in Samobor. She likes to exercise because he believes it brings peace to the mind. She also likes to write, which is one of the main reasons why she enrolled in journalism. She believes that one of the worst injustices in the world is the violation of human rights: everyone has the right to work, to health care, to education and to equality, and this is one of the fundamental rights that is denied to many.

As Miss Universe Croatia, she would advocate for the continued enforcement of fundamental human rights, for poor, neglected and abandoned children who deserve love.

7. PAOLA KLIBA, 21, Pula

Height: 168 cm

Education/acquired title: studies at the Faculty of Economics and Tourism Dr. Mijo Mirković, Pula

Foreign languages: English

Paola Kliba (Photo credit: Samo Mervar / PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

Everything Paola does, she does with a goal. Since she was a child, she dreamed of being a majorette, which she achieved at the age of 9, and that love has lasted for 12 years, which was crowned with a gold medal in 2021 with the senior team that she led. Most of all, he likes to dream and spend time in nature with his family and friends. In addition, she likes to train in the gym, loves summer and the beach, and since she bought a motorcycle and equipment, she has joined her father and brother in motor sports.

She believes that in today’s world, in addition to health, unemployment, ecology, racism and prejudice, a big problem is the lack of communication between today’s generations despite the development of technology. During her high school education, she participated in several humanitarian actions and volunteering at a home for the elderly and infirm in Pula, where she went to socialize with demented people and during the holidays they decorated a pine tree, danced and sang.

As Miss Universe Croatia, she would advocate for women’s equality, protection of children and protection of the environment.

8. PETRA MARIĆ, 22, Dubrovačka Parish

Height: 177 cm

Education/acquired title: studies at the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb

Foreign languages: English

Petra Marić (Photo credit: Samo Mervar / PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

Petra is particularly proud of her dedication and perseverance when it comes to education. During college, she invests a large part of her free time in additional education and seminars, so that already now, in her 3rd year of college, she has obtained three certificates related to her profession: nutritionist, fitness instructor and Nordic walking leader. She considers education extremely important because “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” 

In her spare time, she likes to ride a bicycle and do strength exercises and pilates at home, and since she graduated from art high school, she also likes to draw portraits and paint with acrylics. She believes that among the biggest problems in the world are non-acceptance of diversity, lack of tolerance, which is partly a consequence of the development of media and social networks that have led to a society of discrimination.

Petra also participated in various humanitarian actions, such as Du Motion, the Red Cross, at the international swimming festival for people with disabilities, volunteers at the Common Path Foundation in Zagreb as a leader of Nordic walking.

As Miss Universe Croatia, she would advocate for improving awareness and care for physical and mental health and for the development and improvement of sports and recreational activities in order to improve health and improve the quality of life, because she believes that a healthy mind in a healthy body is the shortest description of happiness.

9. LUCIJA MLINAREVIĆ, 18, Split

Height: 180 cm

Education/acquired title: student of Marko Antun de Dominis Private High School with right of publicity, Split

Foreign languages: English, German, Spanish

Lucija Mlinarević (Photo credit: Samo Mervar / PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

Lucija is proud of herself for using every day to work on herself and become a better person. If she is not somewhere in nature with her dog Lucy or in the gym, she likes to bake healthy desserts for friends, travel, swim, play badminton and read romances and thrillers.

She would love it if women encouraged and helped other women, instead of “putting” each other down. He believes that young people should be taught mutual respect and self-respect from a young age, and that they should be encouraged to express their own opinion.

During the pandemic, she often went shopping for the elderly neighbors of her building so that they were as little exposed to the virus as possible, and in June 2019 she participated in the Red Cross in a Blue Frame campaign, as part of which she helped clean Žnjan beach and educate children about recycling.

As Miss Universe Croatia, she would advocate for the equality of all people in the world and encourage young people to use their voice and their opinions.

10. ANA MUJKIĆ GRANIĆ, 18, Vinkovci

Height: 172 cm

Education/acquired title: graduate of the Ivan Domac School of Economics and Commerce, Vinkovci

Foreign languages: English

Ana Mujkić Granić (Photo credit: Samo Mervar / PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

Ana is very proud of herself because she does not give up on what she wants and is very ambitious; the most important thing for her is that she is a good daughter, girlfriend and best friend and that others feel comfortable in her company. 

Photographing and capturing emotions and memories through the lens of the camera fulfills her and she thinks she is good at it. He believes that the biggest problems in the world today are poverty, inequality, political instability and conflicts, and climate change, and in order to solve these problems, it is necessary to start from the causes of these problems, by promoting sustainable development, human rights and social justice.

As Miss Universe Croatia, she would advocate for the empowerment of women and the promotion of gender equality. Women are often exposed to discrimination, violence and inequality in various aspects of life and this must change. She believes that women have the power to positively influence society, and by standing up for gender equality, we can create a more equal and just world for everyone.

11. POLINA MYTKO, 27, Split

Height: 175 cm

Education/acquired title: master’s degree in mathematics; graduated in mathematics and computer science at the Faculty of Science and Mathematics in Split

Foreign languages: English, Russian

Polina Mytko (Photo credit: Samo Mervar / PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

Polina is most proud of having graduated from college and working in the profession, as well as her dancing career. She was born in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, where she learned her first dance steps, and since 2012 she has been living in Croatia, where she continued her successful dance and choreography career. She makes costumes and props for her dance performances herself, and is a member of a dance group that follows one of the world’s biggest music festivals from Split to China and the USA.

She believes that the reckless behavior of people towards nature and the uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources is one of the biggest problems today, and that in order to preserve the planet, everyone should do their best, be environmentally aware, buy according to their needs, recycle and give away things that we no longer need, and stop with the fast fashion philosophy and prefer to buy from local artisans who will make better quality clothes that will last longer.

As Miss Universe Croatia, she will advocate for the promotion of the natural beauty and historical-cultural heritage of Dalmatia through the creation of short videos and pictures based on the stories and legends of this region.

12. EMA NUMIĆ-MEŠA, 19, Pula

Height: 170 cm

Education/qualification: graduated from the School of Economics in Pula

Foreign languages: English

Ema Numić-Meša (Photo credit: Samo Mervar / PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

In her spare time, Ema likes to read books, travel, walk, ride a bike and mostly spend time in nature. He believes that the biggest problem in the world today is the inequality of women in society. She believes that women all over the world should have access to education and an equal level of education and the possibility of employment in all sectors. He always participates in humanitarian actions, and one of the latest is donating to the Red Cross to help children in Turkey and Syria after the recent devastating earthquakes.

As Miss Universe Croatia, she will advocate for human rights because she believes that everyone should have the right to freedom of choice, movement and opinion.

13. KLARA PELEMIŠ, 27, Zagreb

Height: 163 cm

Education/qualification: BSc Horticulture at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb/MBA Marketing et Management du Vin – INSEEC MSc & MBA, Bordeaux, France

Foreign languages: English, French, Spanish, she has also started learning Dutch

Klara Pelemiš (Photo credit: Samo Mervar / PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

Klara is especially proud of her international experience: she was an exchange student in the USA in high school, she studied in France for two years, and her family hosts exchange students from Mexico, Finland, the USA and Canada. She herself visited more than 40 countries, which gave her an insight into new cultures and their customs and broadened her horizons. She trained in swimming for ten years, was runner-up in the junior category in speed skating, which she practiced for three years, she practiced climbing, and in the USA she tried her hand at cheerleading and pole vaulting.

She is currently involved in boxing and mountaineering, in 2022 she climbed to the top of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (5891 m) and in the next two years she intends to try to conquer the highest peak in South America, Aconcagua (6962 m) in Argentina. With friends from the Rotaract/Rotary community, she launched the project “From Zero to Hero” with the aim of raising awareness of the philosophy of “zero waste” and reducing waste in everyday life.

As someone who struggled with acne throughout her adolescence, which had a significant impact on her self-confidence and negative self-image, as Miss Universe Croatia, she would like to bring this problem closer to young people and send a message that each of us has something special in us and that above all we need learn to love yourself, work on yourself and be a positive example and motivation for others to never give up and to believe in themselves.

14. MIHAELA POSAVEC, 19, Zagreb

Height: 173 cm

Education/acquired title: student of sociology at the Croatian Catholic University in Zagreb

Foreign languages: English

Mihaela Posavec (Photo credit: Samo Mervar / PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

Mihaela is very proud of herself for being able to achieve excellent results at university in addition to work, and for having learned to allocate her time according to priorities. Along with studies and work, he manages to acquire work habits and in this way move towards his goals. In his spare time, he likes to watch movies based on true events, go for walks and hang out with his friends, and go to the training sessions and matches of his younger brother, whom he tries to be a big supporter of. He believes that technological progress, in addition to positive effects, also caused many negative consequences for man and society in the form of alienation, superficiality and excessive individuality, which ultimately resulted in the development of other problems in the world.

With regard to the chosen study of sociology, as Miss Universe Croatia, she would advocate for equal opportunities and education for children and young people. He regularly donates and helps associations and people with disabilities, and soon intends to join the volunteer association “Gledati srcem”.

15. MATEA SVJETLICIĆ, 20, Čazma

Height: 166 cm

Education/acquired title: studying early and preschool education at the Faculty of Teachers, University of Zagreb, Petrinja department

Foreign languages: English

Matea Svjetličić (Photo credit: Samo Mervar / PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

Matea is very proud that she is studying at the university of her choice, that she is able to work while studying, and that with her work and actions she can influence the future of children and their upbringing. For two years, she was declared the best volleyball player in the town of Čazma, and she believes that all her achievements are the result of her parents’ good upbringing, her persistence, desire and work.

She spends most of her free time with her family, which means a lot to her, and with her dear friends. She likes to walk her adopted dog in nature, play sports, especially volleyball, which she has been playing for many years, exercise in the gym and play the keyboard and sing children’s songs, which she likes to perform in front of children in kindergarten.

Although the world is faced with various problems such as war, disease, poverty, climate change, abuses, he believes that all these problems are solvable, you just need to reach people, make them aware and encourage them to do a good thing. As Miss Universe Croatia, she would advocate for abandoned animals and their adoption, because she believes that animals have feelings and needs just like us humans, and they should be helped, taken care of and given love. She would also advocate for the preservation of nature, the resources of which we use too much, but we take care of and invest in it too little.

16. EMA HELENA VIČAR, 20, Zagreb

Height: 175 cm

Education/qualification: studying international business at Libertas International University

Foreign languages: English

Ema Helena Vičar (Photo credit: Samo Mervar / PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

At the age of 14, Ema Helena started recording videos on social networks for her peers. Although she faced negative comments, she was persistent and tried to be even better, so even today girls approach her and thank her for helping them and positively influencing their self-confidence. She likes to spend her free time with her friends, walking her pet Bibi, traveling, learning about new cultures and cooking. She has been dancing and gymnastics for eight years, goes to the gym regularly and takes care of her health and appearance, and in addition to her studies, she is also engaged in event management.

She believes that the biggest problem in the world is that the value of human life depends on where in the world someone was born, whether or not they have well-to-do parents, what religion or skin color someone is, what gender or age. Too many children’s lives have been lost due to wars, refugees or natural disasters, and he considers the education of young people one of the solutions for breaking prejudices, respect for diversity and hope for a fairer world.

As Miss Universe Croatia, she wants to advocate for increasing awareness in society about the mental health of young people, especially young girls who, under the influence of the media, have a wrong self-image and self-confidence problems. She also wants to advocate for breaking prejudices against women: women can be beautiful and at the same time smart, ambitious, enterprising and successful. A woman should not be defined by career, motherhood or appearance.