Denmark's Victoria Kjaer Theilvig is the 73rd Miss Universe queen
A new Miss Universe has been crowned.
Denmark's Victoria Kjaer Theilvig has been crowned the 73rd Miss Universe, succeeding reigning queen Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua. She bested 124 other contestants from around the globe, including the Philippines' Chelsea Manalo who made it to the Top 30. The coronation night took place on Sunday, November 17th (Philippine time) in Mexico City.
She is the first woman to wear the first Filipino-crafted Miss Universe crown, which features a rare golden South Sea pearl etched in the middle of sun rays. Its maker, Jewelmer, said that the “Lumière de l’Infini” (The Light of Infinity) crown has elegant curves on its band and overall body, adorned with white crystals and the country's national gem that “embodies the brilliance of our co-existence with Mother Nature.”
Nigeria's Chidimma Adetshina is the first runner-up, while Maria Fernanda Beltran of Mexico was named the second runner-up. Thailand's Opal Suchata Chuangs and Venezuela's Ileana Marquez Pedroza were named third and fourth runner-up, respectively.
During the Q&A portion, Theilvig was asked: How would you live your life differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
She answered: "I would never change how I live my life. We learn from our mistakes. We learn every day. We learn something new and we gotta take that [and] bring it to the future, and that's why I live each day by each day and I just gotta stay positive. So no, I will not change nothing."
For her final question, Theilvig and the other top 5 finalists were asked: “Miss Universe has inspired generations of women. What do you want to say to the ones watching you now?”
She said: "My message to all the world that is watching out there is: no matter where you come from, no matter your past, You can always choose to turn it into your strengths It will never define who you are You just gotta keep fighting I stand here today because I wanna change I wanna make history And that's what I'm doing tonight So never give up Always believe in yourself and your dreams And that is exactly what you're going to do."
While the Philippines' Chelsea Manalo, though making it to the Top 30, did not advance to the Top 12, the nation remains hopeful for its fifth Miss Universe crown. The country aims to follow in the footsteps of its titleholders: Catriona Gray (2018), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), Margie Moran (1973), and Gloria Diaz (1969).
