The 22-year-old South Africa's Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, who recently earned a business management degree has been crowned Miss Universe on Sunday, at The AXIS theatre at Planet Hollywood casino-resort on the Las Vegas Strip.
Nel-Peters smashed first runner-up Miss Colombia Laura Gonzalez, and second runner-up Miss Jamaica Davina Bennett to emerge winner.
Ninety-two women across the world participated in the decades-old competition. This year's edition had the most contestants ever, including the first representatives in its history for Cambodia, Laos and Nepal.
Nel-Peters, who is the second woman from her home country to earn the crown, will alongside the title, earn one year salary, a lavish apartment in New York City for the duration of her reign and several other prizes.
Nel-Peters is from the South African coastal community of Sedgefield in the Western Cape province.
She helped develop a programme to train women in self-defence in various situations after she was robbed at gunpoint a month after she was crowned as Miss South Africa.
While answering one of the five final questions submitted by fans of the pageant Nel-Peters said, one of the most important challenges faced by women at their place of work was lack of equal pay.
"In some places, women get paid 75 percent of what men earn for doing the same job, working the same hours, and I do not believe that is right," she said. "I think we should have equal work for equal pay for women all over the world."
Miss Colombia and Miss Jamaica also impressed the judges during the Q&A segment, answering questions on how to talk to children about terrorism and sexual harassment, respectively.
“Sexual harassment is a form of abuse and no abuse should be tolerated whether in the workplace or in society,” Bennett said. “I believe that men and women should come together and be professional.”
Steve Harvey returned as the show’s host despite botching the 2015 Miss Universe crowning. On Sunday, he poked fun at his mistake throughout the night.
Grammy-Award winner Fergie performed her new song 'A Little Work' while the contestants walked down the stage wearing evening gowns.
This year’s judges included YouTube star Lele Pons, former judge of America’s Next Top Model Jay Manuel and Wendy Fitzwilliam, the 1998 Miss Universe winner from Trinidad and Tobago.
