South Africa’s Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters lived
up to her billing as odds-makers favorite to win the 66th Miss Universe title.
Nel-Peters bested 91 other contestants, including the Philippines’ Rachel
Peters, to be crowned 2017 Miss Universe at the pageant finals held at The Axis
at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Sunday night (Monday morning in
Manila).
Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere of
France, who won in Manila in January, passed on her crown to Nel-Peters, the
second South African to win the crown after Margaret Gardiner in 1978. “It has
been 39 years since a South African wore the Miss Universe crown and I promise
to dedicate and commit myself to ensure the crown will once again be on South
African soil,” Nel-Peters said earlier after the winning the right to represent
her country which was won under controversy after fellow contestants alleged
that she had a “special relationship” with two of the judges.
Nel-Peters is a 22-year-old, business
management graduate from North-West University from Sedgefield, Western Cape.
She has been helping women to learn self-defense after a bad experience with
criminals. She has said that her biggest motivation comes from her half-sister
who has a disability.
Peters, who made the Top 16 as wild
card (3 assigned by prelim judges/MUO and 1 winner of the popular vote from any
region) entered the Top 10 after the evening gown competition where she wore a
stunning, embroidered blue-gray gown with a high slit designed by Val Taguba
which highlighted her well-toned, sleek, figure body. This is the second time
that the Philippine representative did not make the Top 5 round after MJ
Lastimosa at the 63rd edition of Miss Universe in 2014.
The 26-year-old, Filipino-British
International Studies and Business/Tourism graduate said in her video
presentation that she has set up a coffee shop in Siragao, a surfing capital in
the Philippines shoul, to inspire women to pursue their dreams.
Miss Colombia Laura Gonzalez finished
as first-runner up while Miss Jamaica Davina Bennett was named second-runner
up. Also in the Top 5 were Miss Venezuela Keysi Sayago and Miss Thailand Maria
Poonlertlarp.
Miss USA Kára McCullough, Miss Canada
Lauren Howe, Miss Spain Sofia del Prado and Miss Brazil Monalysa Alcântara also
made the Top 10 list. Rounding out the Top 16 were China’s Roxana Qiu, Croatia’s
Shanaelle Petty, Ghana’s Ruth Quashie, Great Britain’s Anna Burdzy, Ireland’s Cailín
Toíbín and Sri Lanka’s Christina Peiris.
The Miss Universe Organization has
applied a new format in the selection of the Top 16 with 4 in each region of
the Americas, Europe and the combined Asia/Africa/Ocenia, while the remaining 4
as the preliminary judges’ choices and the fan vote. Making their debuts were
Laos' Souphaphone Somvichith, Cambodia's By Sotheary and Nepal's Nagma
Shrestha. Named best in National Costume Contest was Japan’s Momoko Abe.
Steve Harvey hosted for the 3rd time
with model Ashley Graham, celebrity stylist Carson Kressley and runway expert
Lu Sierra helping out. Former Black-Eyed-Pea Fergie and Emmy award-winner and international
pop star Rachel Platten performed on stage during the three-hour special
programming event aired live on FOX in the United States.
The Judges were Hollywood Today host Ross Mathews, fashion correspondent
Jay Manuel, top internet influencer Lele Pons, Ufc backstage reprter Megan
Olivi, hair care/spa products company founder Farouk Shami, 1998 Miss Universe Wendy
Fitzwilliam and 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach. Wurtzbach, who was gorgeous
in a red gown, said “it’s hard to be a judge than Miss Universe, and the girls
are all incredible and it’s really difficult to pick. Report by Eton Concepcion
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