Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark has been crowned Miss Universe 2024, becoming the first Dane to ever win the competition.
The 21-year-old, a competitive dancer, entrepreneur, and aspiring lawyer, beat more than 120 other contestants to win the annual beauty pageant in Mexico City on Saturday night.
She was applauded by other contestants on stage as she accepted the tiara from reigning titleholder Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua.
This year's finale featured a performance by singer Robin Thicke and was hosted by "Saved by the Bell" star Mario Lopez and former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo.
The glitzy pageant began with contestants being narrowed down to a shortlist of 30, based on the results of Thursday's preliminary event, which included a flamboyant national costume contest. The semi-finalists then paraded in swimwear, before 12 of them advanced to an evening gown contest.
The final five contestants later faced questions on a range of topics, including leadership and resilience. When asked how she would live differently if nobody would judge her, Theilvig told the judges she wouldn't change anything, saying, "I live by each day."👑 He aquí el Top 12 del Miss Universe 2024.
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When later asked what she would say to those watching, Theilvig urged viewers to "keep fighting … no matter where you come from."
"I stand here today because I want a change, I want to make history, and that's what I'm doing tonight," she said.
Chidimma Adetshina of Nigeria finished as first runner-up and Maria Fernanda Beltran of Mexico was named second runner-up. Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand and Ileana Marquez Pedroza of Venezuela followed – with Pedroza, a 28-year-old mother, making history in the top five after the competition removed several restrictions in recent years.
This year marked the first time in Miss Universe's 72-year history that women aged over 28 were permitted to enter. More than two dozen of the finalists were older than would have been allowed in previous years, with Malta's Beatrice Njoya becoming the first and only woman in her 40s to reach the grand finale.
The age limit's removal came amid growing calls for the pageant to modernize. Ahead of 2023's contest, the Miss Universe Organization also lifted a longstanding ban on pregnant women or mothers, and women who are - or ever have been - married.
Delegates for each country were selected via local pageants that license local rights from the Miss Universe Organization. This year's contest saw Cuba, represented by Marianela Ancheta, take part in Miss Universe for the first time since 1967. Several countries, including Belarus, Eritrea and the United Arab Emirates, sent contestants for the first time, though in April the Miss Universe Organization moved to dispel a flurry of what it called "false and misleading" reports that Saudi Arabia was due to make its debut in the 2024 pageant.
Some national-level contests were marred by controversies in the build-up to this year's final - including Miss Universe South Africa, which saw Adetshina quit the competition (and later be selected to represent Nigeria) after questions around her nationality sparked a wave of xenophobic hostility.
India's hopes at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant were dashed as Rhea Singha failed to make it to the top 12. Despite making it to the top 30 and impressing in the preliminary rounds. However, she couldn't secure a spot in the final round. The pageant's top 12 contestants then competed in the evening gown round. Seven of these finalists were from Latin America.
Rhea Singha, a 19-year-old from Gujarat, made history by being crowned Miss Universe India 2024. Singha boasts titles like Miss Teen Earth 2023 and Diva's Miss Teen Gujarat 2020. With a Bachelor's degree in Performing Arts from GLS University, Ahmedabad, Singha represented India at the Miss Teen Universe 2023 pageant, where she made it to the top six.
In September, she was crowned Miss Universe India 2024, defeating 51 finalists. At the time she said, "Today I won the title of Miss Universe India 2024. I am so thankful. I have done so much work to get to this level where I can consider myself worthy enough for this crown. I am so inspired by the previous winners."
Singha began her modeling career at the age of 16. In addition to being a model, she is also a TEDx speaker, actor, and fitness enthusiast
