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The crown was made in Philippines this year. (Source: @missuniverse/Instagram) |
Victoria Kjær Theilvig has etched her name in history as the first Danish winner of Miss Universe. The 21-year-old claimed the prestigious title at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant held in Mexico, succeeding Nicaragua’s Sheynnis Palacios.
Victoria was crowned with the “Lumiere de L’Infini” or “Light of Infinity” crown, a masterpiece adorned with South Sea pearls and crafted by Jewelmer, an internationally renowned Filipino brand. This marks the first time the Miss Universe crown was designed and created by Filipino artisans.
Miss South Africa Withdraws Amid Health Concerns
The competition was marked by the unfortunate withdrawal of Miss South Africa, who cited health issues as the reason for stepping back. Despite her absence, she became a target of online bullying, with some Nigerian social media users calling her derogatory names. Critics questioned the fairness of their support for Miss Nigeria, Chidima Okonkwo, who controversially advanced to first runner-up despite global scrutiny over allegedly fraudulent documents. The incident has raised questions about the transparency of the Miss Universe selection process.
A Reign of Advocacy and Glamour
As Miss Universe, Victoria will serve as a global ambassador for the organization’s humanitarian efforts. Her reign includes traveling to over 30 countries and hosting a newly launched Miss Universe travel show.
Victoria’s prizes include:
- A one-year supply of Miss Universe skincare and cosmetics.
- A two-carat ring from Pandora.
- A luxury timepiece from Bulova.
Special Awards and Highlights
Several awards were presented during the competition:
- Chile’s Emilia Dides was named People’s Choice and finished in the Top 12.
- Vietnam won Best National Pageant, while the Philippines was recognized as the Best National Host Tour Country.
- Canada’s Dennis Dávila received the Best National Director Award, and Puerto Rico’s Yizette Cifredo earned the Beyond the Crown Award.
The Voice for Change competition, highlighting advocacy efforts by the contestants, awarded Gold honors to Guatemala’s Ana Gabriela Villanueva, Bolivia’s Juliana Barrientos, and Cambodia’s Davin Prasath. Silver winners included delegates from Aruba, Guinea, Thailand, Finland, Eritrea, the Cayman Islands, and Bahrain.
The Philippines’ Continued Presence
Chelsea Manalo, representing the Philippines, reached the Top 30, maintaining the country’s streak in the Miss Universe semifinals. Notably, Shereen Ahmed, a Filipina representing Bahrain, celebrated her 30th birthday during the preliminary competition and was recognized for her advocacy supporting single mothers.
Here is a list of Africa's most notable achievements in the prestigious Miss Universe pageant, along with the countries they represented:
2024 - Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina 🇳🇬 (Nigeria) (1st Runner-up)
2021 - Lalela Mswane 🇿🇦 (South Africa) (2nd Runner-up)
2019 - Zozibini Tunzi 🇿🇦 (South Africa) (Winner)
2018 - Tamaryn Green 🇿🇦 (South Africa) (1st Runner-up)
2017 - Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters 🇿🇦 (South Africa) (Winner)
2011 - Leila Lopes 🇦🇴 (Angola) (Winner)
2003 - Cindy Nell 🇿🇦 (South Africa) (2nd Runner-up)
2002 - Vanessa Carreira 🇿🇦 (South Africa) (3rd Runner-up)
1999 - Mpule Kwelagobe 🇧🇼 (Botswana) (Winner)
1992 - Michelle McLean 🇳🇦 (Namibia) (Winner)
1985 - Benita Murekatete 🇨🇩 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (2nd Runner-up)
1984 - Letitia Snyman 🇿🇦 (South Africa) (1st Runner-up)
1978 - Margaret Gardner 🇿🇦 (South Africa) (Winner)
1960 - Nicolette Caras 🇿🇦 (South Africa) (3rd Runner-up)
This list celebrates Africa's outstanding representation on the global stage, reflecting the continent's beauty, resilience, and talent.
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