PAGEANT Circle

Julia Morley's Miss World Organization took to social media on Monday, May 17 to congratulate the newly crowned Miss Universe Andrea Meza of Mexico. The 26-year-old software engineer and women's rights activist from Chihuahua has placed first runner-up at Miss World 2017 pageant won by India's Manushi Chhillar in Sanya, China, and was named Miss World Americas 2017. "As part of her duties as Miss World Americas 2017, Andrea joined Miss World 2017, Manushi Chhillar and her fellow continental winners on a Global Humanitarian Tour visiting India, China, Indonesia, British Virgin Islands, and the USA. This was documented in the series Miss World – The Story Never Told," MWO said. Andrea replied in a comment: "Thank you so much. My experience at Miss World was life-changing, will always have you all in my heart." Miss Universe and Miss World are considered two of the world's most important beauty pageants for women. Based in the United Kingdom, Miss World

Prior to their final statement, the Top 5 delegates of the 69th Miss Universe competition went through a question and answer portion. They randomly picked a number that corresponds to the name of the member of the selection committee who then asked them a question and they had to respond within 30 seconds. Here are their answers to the questions: If you were the leader of your country. How would you have handled COVID-19 pandemic? Mexico, Andrea Meza: "I believe there's not a perfect way to handle this hard situation such as COVID-19. However, I believe that what I would have done was create the lockdown even before everything was that big because we lost so many lives and we cannot afford that. We have to take care of our people that's why I would have taken care of them since the beginning." Should countries lockdown due to COVID-19 despite the strain on their economies or should they open their borders and risk a potential increase in infection rates? India, Adline

The 69th Miss Universe Top 5 delegates were asked to pick a topic during the final statement round of the competition held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida on Sunday, May 16. They were each given 30 seconds to speak out on social issues such as mental health, global poverty, and climate change. Here are the final statements of the finalists: Mexico, Andrea Meza Changing beauty standards "We live in a society that more and more is more than advanced and as we advance as a society, we've also advanced with stereotypes. Nowadays, beauty isn't only the way we look. For me, beauty radiates not only in our spirit but in our hearts and the way that we conduct ourselves. Never permit someone to tell you that you're not valuable." India, Adline Castelino Free speech and the right to protest "The right to protest, we've seen many protests in the recent days. Especially I want to point out the protests that women have made throughou

Chihuahua native Andrea Meza became the third Mexican woman to win the Miss Universe crown on Sunday, May 16 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Here are 10 facts about the new Miss Universe: 1. She has a degree in software engineering and is proud to be a woman who graduated in a male-dominated field of study. 2. She is an activist, focused on women's rights and inclusion and currently works closely with the Municipal Institute for Women, which aims to end gender violence. 3. She has been part of a global charity association raising funds in India, Indonesia, and China for the downtrodden. 4. She is a certified make-up artist and model, who is also passionate about being active. 5. She practices CrossFit and extreme sports, such as rappel and sandboarding. 6. Her concern for the wellbeing of the world and animals led her to become a vegan. 7. She is the official Tourism Brand Ambassador for Chihuahua, promoting the best touristic attractions and ric

Andrea Meza of Mexico was crowned as the 69th Miss Universe in a glittering competition held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, USA on Sunday, May 16. She succeeds Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa. The 26-year-old beauty who hails from Chihuahua bested 73 other delegates from around the world to win the third Miss Universe title for her country. She previously placed first runner-up at Miss World 2017 pageant. Julia Gama of Brazil was named first runner-up while Janick Maceta of Peru finished second runner-up. Adline Castelino of India and Kimberly Jiménez of the Dominican Republic were the third and fourth runners-up, respectively. Completing the Top 10 were the delegates from Australia, Maria Thattil, Costa Rica, Ivonne Cerdas, Jamaica, Miqueal-Symone Williams, Puerto Rico, Estefanía Soto, and Thailand, Amanda Obdam. The rest of the Top 21 were from Argentina, Alina Luz Akselrad, Colombia, Laura Olascuaga, Curacao, Chantal Wiertz, France, Amandine Petit

In just a few hours, South Africa's Zozibini Tunzi will crown her successor at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The 69th Miss Universe pageant that airs live tonight at 8 p.m. ET will be hosted by former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo and "Access Hollywood" co-host Mario Lopez. Former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst along with past winners Paulina Vega and Demi-Leigh Tebow will serve as correspondents. An all-women panel of judges including former Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera and Brook Lee will select the most deserving woman to win the coveted title. Who will be the next Miss Universe? Meet our final favorites to win the crown: BRAZIL - Julia Gama CANADA - Nova Stevens COLOMBIA - Laura Olascuaga JAMAICA - Miqueal-Symone Williams MEXICO - Andrea Meza NEPAL - Anshika Sharma PERU - Janick Maceta PUERTO RICO - Estefanía Soto ROMANIA - Bianca Tirsin THAILAND - Amanda Obdam Close shots: Dominican Republic, Philippines, Finland, France, India, Vietnam, Costa

Our top choice for the 69th Miss Universe Best in National Costume is Nicaragua's Ana Marcelo. Her costume “La Gritería en Leon” designed by Jorge Salazar Caliz represents the joy and hubbub experienced every year during “La Gritería” festival, an important celebration in Nicaragua that best portrays its national identity. Ukraine's Yelyzaveta Yastremska and Nepal's Anshika Sharma came in second and third places, respectively, while Finland's Viivi Altonen and Malaysia's Francisca Luhong James completed the Top 5. Photo: Benjamín Askinas / Miss Universe Organization

Our top choice for the 69th Miss Universe Miss Photogenic is the beautiful 23-year-old entrepreneur from South Africa, Natasha Joubert. Russia's Alina Sanko and Thailand's Amanda Obdam came in second and third places, respectively. Photo: Hanri Human Photography

Our top choice for the 69th Miss Universe Top Model is the 24-year-old model from Jamaica, Miqueal-Symone Williams. Canada's Nova Stevens and Curacao's Chantal Wiertz came in second and third places, respectively. Photo: Benjamín Askinas / Miss Universe Organization

Our top choice for the 69th Miss Universe Best in Evening Gown is Thailand's Amanda Obdam. The 27-year-old glided with class and poise in her “Fireworks Embellished Two-Piece Gown” by Valentier. Puerto Rico's Estefanía Soto Torres and Dominican Republic's Kimberly Jimenez came in second and third places, respectively. Photo: Benjamín Askinas / Miss Universe Organization

Our top choice for the 69th Miss Universe Best in Swimsuit is the statuesque beauty from Puerto Rico Estefanía Soto Torres. Thailand's Amanda Obdam and Brazil's Julia Gama came in second and third places, respectively. Photo: Benjamín Askinas / Miss Universe Organization

The 69th Miss Universe delegates paraded in their swimsuits and evening gowns during the preliminary competition held on Friday, May 14 in Hollywood, Florida. Their combined scores from the prelims and the crucial closed-door interview round will help determine who will make it to the Top 21 this Sunday. Standouts from the preliminary swimsuit and evening gown include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Venezuela, and Vietnam. The 69th Miss Universe final competition will air live from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Sunday, May 16 at 8 p.m. ET. Voting is still open at missuniverse.com/vote to help your favorite delegate make it into the Top 21. Photo: Miss Universe Organization

The national costume competition of the 69th Miss Universe pageant was held on Thursday, May 13 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Over 70 beauties from around the world dazzled the audience with their colorful costumes. Some ensembles sent powerful messages related to current social issues. Our favorite costumes include Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, and Vietnam. Here are some delegates in their costumes: JAMAICA CANADA UKRAINE BAHAMAS INDONESIA Photos: Benjamin Askinas / Miss Universe Organization

Thuzar Wint Lwin's journey to represent her country Myanmar at the 69th Miss Universe pageant in Hollywood, Florida has not been easy. Despite the odds from her departure to losing her luggage including the national costume she was supposed to wear in the competition, she arrived with a powerful message for the Junta. During the national costume competition held on Thursday, May 13, she showcased another costume that identifies the delicate weaving skills of Burmese women and their strong spirit. At the end of the runway, she raised a banner that read “Pray for Myanmar.” The 22-year-old model from Hakha has been openly using her platform to criticize her country's military coup and support the pro-democracy movement. Photo: Benjamin Askinas / Miss Universe Organization

Former Miss Universe Ximena Navarrete of Mexico has revealed her favorites for the 69th Miss Universe competition. In a post on social media, she shared her bikini photo taken by Albanian-born photographer Fadil Berisha her Top 21 favorites in the caption. The beauty queen-turned-actress and model, who was crowned Miss Universe 2010 in Las Vegas, reminded everyone to never take her list of favorites personally because it's just her opinion and that "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder." "The Miss Universe organization always looks for a complete woman in every way and although it is a beauty contest, the most beautiful is always carried in the soul and that is something that the jury is also in charge of looking for in all the candidates, if you are as observant as I am, you will notice that the beauty of the soul in some cases also penetrates the photos and videos" she added. On top of her list is her fellow Mexican Andrea Meza whom she wished well and descri