What's happened
The 73rd Miss Universe pageant concluded in Mexico City, with Victoria Theilvig from Denmark winning the title. Chidimma Adetshina from Nigeria finished as the first runner-up, marking a historic achievement for both contestants. The event showcased over 120 participants and included significant changes in eligibility rules, reflecting a broader push for inclusivity in pageantry.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Business Insider UK, Victoria Theilvig's win is historic for Denmark, as she is the first contestant from the country to achieve this title. Theilvig emphasized resilience in her final question, stating, 'No matter where you come from, no matter your past, you can always choose to turn it into your strengths.' Meanwhile, Chidimma Adetshina's achievement as the first runner-up is celebrated as a significant milestone for Nigeria, marking the highest placement for an African contestant in Miss Universe history. The Independent highlighted the event's diverse representation, noting that several countries participated for the first time, which reflects a broader trend towards inclusivity in beauty pageants. This year's competition also followed a tumultuous period for the Miss USA organization, which faced allegations of workplace bullying, as reported by multiple sources.
How we got here
The Miss Universe pageant has evolved significantly in recent years, with changes in eligibility rules allowing for greater diversity among contestants. This year's event featured contestants from new countries and highlighted the importance of representation in beauty competitions.
More on these topics
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Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by the United States-based Miss Universe Organization. This is the largest pageant in the world in terms of live TV coverage, airing yearly in more than 190 countries worldwide to an audi
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Miss USA is an American beauty pageant that has been held annually since 1952 to select the entrant from United States in the Miss Universe pageant.
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Mexico City is the capital and largest city of Mexico and the most-populous city in North America. Mexico City is one of the most important cultural and financial centres in the world.
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Sheynnis Alondra Palacios Cornejo is a Nicaraguan model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Universe 2023. Having previously won Miss Nicaragua 2023, she is the first Nicaraguan to win Miss Universe.
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Olivia Frances Culpo is an American fashion influencer, social media personality, and actress. After winning the Miss Rhode Island USA competition, she went on to be crowned Miss USA, and then Miss Universe in 2012.
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Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray is a Filipino-Australian model, singer, beauty queen, television personality, youth advocate, and arts ambassador best known for having been crowned Miss Universe 2018.
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Denmark, officially the Kingdom of Denmark, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. Denmark proper, which is the southernmost of the Scandinavian countries, consists of a peninsula, Jutland, and an archipelago of 443 named islands, with the largest being