The newly crowned Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjaer (centre) from Denmark, reacts as she celebrates amid the other participants after winning the 73rd edition of the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City on November 16, 2024. - AFP
VICTORIA Kjaer Theilvig was crowned Miss Universe on Saturday night, the first contestant from Denmark to achieve the honour.
The 21-year-old dancer, entrepreneur, and animal rights activist beat out more than 120 contestants in the pageant's 73rd edition held in Mexico City.
The newly crowned Danish beauty queen wore the first-ever Filipino-made Miss Universe crown, crafted by international jewellery brand Jewelmer and featuring the Philippines' iconic South Sea Pearls. Outgoing Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua placed the crown on Theilvig’s head.
First runner-up was Chidimma Adetshina, a law student representing Nigeria, followed by Maria Fernanda Beltran of Mexico, Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand, and Ileana Marquez of Venezuela.
Marquez, 28, had earlier made history as the first mother to be crowned Miss Venezuela.
After the 2023 competition included married, plus-sized and transgender contestants, this year's featured women older than 28 -- the cutoff in previous pageants.
Among them was Beatrice Njoya of Malta, who at 40 became the oldest woman to reach the grand finale.
Adetshina was formerly a Miss South Africa finalist before she was hounded over a nationality row which forced her to represent Nigeria.
It was the fifth time Mexico has hosted the contest, which has been criticized for promoting outmoded ideas of femininity.
The pageant has sought to evolve and rebrand itself after being acquired by JKN Global Group, headed by Thai media mogul and transgender rights campaigner Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip.
In January, the Mexico-based Legacy Holding acquired a 50 pe rcent stake in Miss Universe.
Malaysia’s beauty queen, Sandra Lim, also had a good run in the event and made it to the top 30 in the Miss Universe competition.
Sandra, whose full name is Sandra Lim Shue Hui, 24, is the second Malaysian representative in history to make it to this stage.
The first and last time Malaysia made it to the top was in 1970, represented by Josephine Lena Wong.
But it was a splendid run for Suchata Chuangsri, the Thai beauty who finished fourth and was the highest Asian finisher.
Thailand’s Opal Suchata Chuangsri finished third runner-up but won the hearts of Thai netizens as she was the highest searched figure in the country on Saturday and Sunday, according to The Nation Thailand, report.
Despite some disappointment from Thai fans online, many expressed their support for Opal, praising her for doing her best, and said she would always be Thailand's Miss Universe in their eyes.
Fans praised her response to the final question regarding the qualities of a successful leader, where she highlighted that a true leader embodies compassion for others, emphasising that empathy is vital for fostering strong relationships and understanding the needs of team members.
She articulated that such qualities are essential not only for personal leadership but also for creating a harmonious and cooperative environment, underscoring that this human characteristic is what the world truly needs.
The judging panel for the Miss Universe 2024 final included renowned Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco, women's rights advocate Gabriela Gonzalez, and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray. Actor Mario Lopez returned as host of the pageant.
The 73rd edition of the Miss Universe pageant saw a field of 125 contestants narrowed down to the top 30, then the top 12, and finally the top 5. The final round tested the finalists' intelligence and poise in the question-and-answer segment.
The Top 5 finishers at the Miss Universe 2024 event on Sunday at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City. - The Nation Thailand/ANN
The top 5:
Champion: Victoria Kjaer from Denmark
1st Runner-up: Chidimma Adetshina, Nigeria
2nd Runner-up: Maria Fernanda Beltran, Mexico
3rd Runner-up: Opal Suchata Chuangsri, Thailand
4th Runner-up: Ileana Marquez, Venezuela
