Mexico's Andrea Meza wins 69th Miss Universe
Andrea Meza of Mexico was crowned as the 69th Miss Universe in a glittering competition held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, USA on Sunday, May 16. She succeeds Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa.
The 26-year-old beauty who hails from Chihuahua bested 73 other delegates from around the world to win the third Miss Universe title for her country. She previously placed first runner-up at Miss World 2017 pageant.
Julia Gama of Brazil was named first runner-up while Janick Maceta of Peru finished second runner-up. Adline Castelino of India and Kimberly Jiménez of the Dominican Republic were the third and fourth runners-up, respectively.
Completing the Top 10 were the delegates from Australia, Maria Thattil, Costa Rica, Ivonne Cerdas, Jamaica, Miqueal-Symone Williams, Puerto Rico, Estefanía Soto, and Thailand, Amanda Obdam.
The rest of the Top 21 were from Argentina, Alina Luz Akselrad, Colombia, Laura Olascuaga, Curacao, Chantal Wiertz, France, Amandine Petit, Great Britain, Jeanette Akua, Indonesia, Ayu Maulida, Myanmar, Thuzar Wint Lwin, Nicaragua, Ana Marcelo, Philippines, Rabiya Mateo, USA, Asya Branch, and Vietnam, Khan Van Nguyen (Fan Vote).
Myanmar's Thuzar Wint Lwin was awarded Best in National Costume while Bolivia's Lenka Nemer and Dominican Republic's Kimberly Jiménez were recipients of the Impact Award and Carnival Spirit Award, respectively.
The new Miss Universe holds a degree in software engineering and is an activist focusing on women's rights and inclusion. She works closely with the Municipal Institute for Women, which aims to end gender violence.
Past Miss Universe winners from Mexico were Lupita Jones in 1991 and Ximena Navarrete in 2010.
Photos: Benjamin Askinas / Miss Universe Organization