The New Miss Universe is an Activist from Denmark
This year’s 73rd edition of the Miss Universe beauty pageant was won by Denmark’s Victoria Kjaer Theilvig. The 21-year-old model, who identifies as an animal rights activist, received the crown from last year’s winner, Sheynnis Alondra Palacios from Nicaragua. Second place went to Nigeria’s Chidimma Adetshina, while third place was awarded to Maria Fernanda Beltran from Mexico.
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Victoria Kjaer Theilvig, the new Miss Universe 2024, is also a dancer, entrepreneur, and future lawyer. When asked what message she had for the audience, she said: “Fight, no matter where you come from. I stand here today because I want change, I want to make history, and that’s exactly what I’m doing tonight.”
Fourth and fifth places went to Suchata Chuangsri from Thailand and Ileana Marquez from Venezuela, respectively. Ileana, a 28-year-old single mother who gave birth at 16, is involved in a foundation that supports teenage mothers in similar situations.
The Pageant Process
The competition began with more than 130 contestants, of whom 30 finalists were selected based on results from a preliminary event on Thursday that included a grand national costume show. The finalists participated in a swimsuit round, followed by an evening gown segment that narrowed the group to 12. The top five contestants then answered questions on topics such as leadership and resilience.
This year, the Miss Universe pageant featured participants from Somalia, Uzbekistan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the first time. After nearly 60 years, Cuba also returned to the competition. The organizers lifted several restrictions this year, including age limits. Since last year, mothers have been eligible to compete, and transgender individuals have been allowed to participate since 2012.
Contestants from the Middle East
The National, a UAE-based newspaper, highlighted contestants from the Middle East, including 34-year-old model Lúgína Salah, who won Miss Universe Egypt. Salah, a single mother living in Dubai, has vitiligo, a condition that causes white patches on the skin.
“I’m proud to represent Egypt and to show that women with vitiligo and anyone who has ever felt they didn’t belong can compete here,” said Salah, who faced bullying as a child due to her condition. “I want to empower those who feel socially excluded.”
Other Highlights
Iran also had an unofficial representative in the competition held in Mexico, with Miss Universe Persia being represented by the daughter of Iranian emigrants living in Portugal. The competition saw one disqualification this year, with 19-year-old Italy Mora, Miss Panama, being removed for rule violations. She later revealed on social media that she had left the hotel without the organizers’ permission.
Miss Universe History and Records
The Miss Universe pageant was first held in 1952, with the inaugural title going to 17-year-old Armi Kuusela from Finland. The event was initially created by the California-based Pacific Mills company to promote its Catalina swimwear line. The United States leads with nine Miss Universe titles, followed by Venezuela with seven.
Since 2022, the Miss Universe Organization has been owned by transgender activist and entrepreneur Chakrapong “Anne” Chakrajutathib. The competition was previously owned for several years by Donald Trump, the former U.S. president.
Other Beauty Pageants
Beyond Miss Universe, other prominent international beauty contests include Miss International and Miss World. This year’s Miss Earth title went to Australian Jessica Lane.
