Miss New Zealand, Miss USA arrive in Manila for Miss Universe 2016 kick-off

Two of the most beautiful women in the universe have arrived in the Philippines!

Miss New Zealand Tania Pauline Dawson and Miss USA Deshauna Barber arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) early Friday morning, GMA News' Vonne Aquino said in an Unang Balita report.

The two ladies will join the kick-off party for Miss Universe 2016 on Saturday night to be held at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City.

The Miss Universe 2016 pageant, meanwhile, will be held in Manila in January next year.

Dawson arrived at NAIA Terminal 2 past 2 a.m. and headed to the Dignitaries Lounge of NAIA Terminal 2, where she was met by Tourism Undersecretary Kat De Castro and former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson.

Tania Dawson of New Zealand arrives at the NAIA early Friday morning, December 9, 2016, for the Miss Universe 2017 kick-off party which will be held in Manila. She was met by former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson. DZBB

Barber, meanwhile, arrived at NAIA Terminal 1 past 4 a.m.

Deshauna Barber of USA arrives at the NAIA early Friday morning, December 9, 2016, for the Miss Universe 2017 kick-off party which will be held in Manila. DZBB

Dawson and Barber are part of the first batch of 12 Miss Universe candidates expected to arrive in Manila this week.

Eight more candidates are expected to arrive on Friday, while the other two, Miss Indonesia Kezia Warouw and Miss China Li Zhenying, are expected to arrive on Saturday.

The candidates will visit various tourist destinations in the Philippines.

Reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach arrived in Manila on Thursday ahead of the candidates.

Miss New Zealand and Miss USA will stay in a hotel in Makati before attending a press conference in Malacañang on Friday noon. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News