The 66th Miss Universe Finale on November 26, 2017 at The AXIS Theatre of Planet Hollywood Casino and Resort in Las Vegas
About The Miss Universe Organization
The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) is a global community that empowers women to realize their goals through experiences that build self-confidence and create opportunities for success. MUO believes that every woman should be “Confidently Beautiful.”
Five-time Emmy(R) Award winner Steve Harvey returns as the show’s host marking the third time that the multi-talented personality will host the international competition despite botching the 2015 Miss Universe crowning.
Host Steve Harvey has poked fun at his 2015 mistake Miss Universe crowning throughout the night.
Three days after people in the U.S. celebrated Thanksgiving, Harvey told the audience he is “grateful for the Oscars,” referring to the best-picture flub at this year’s Academy Awards.
Grammy-Award winner Fergie and Rachel Platten, best known for her 2015 hit “Fight Song,” are scheduled to perform during the show.
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 include YouTube star Lele Pons and former judge on “America’s Next Top Model” Jay Manuel,Ross Mathews, Megan Olivi, Pia Wurtzbach and Wendy Fitzwilliam, the 1998 Miss Universe winner from Trinidad and Tobago.
The winner will go home with a yearlong salary, a luxury apartment in New York City for the duration of her reign and more prizes.
A whopping 92 women from around the world, including Miss USA Kára McCullough (formerly Miss District of Columbia), competed in the annual event.
Miss USA Kara McCullough of Washington, D.C. is representing the U.S. Image: Ethan Miller/Getty/Peoplebodies
This year’s edition of the Miss Universe pageant has separated contestants by geographic region for the first time.
The 92 women on Sunday, November 26,107 were divided into three regions: Americas, Europe, and Africa and Asian Pacific. Four contestants from each region are guaranteed to advance to the finals. Four other women regardless of region will also move forward in the competition.
This year’s pageant has more contestants than ever before. Host Steve Harvey says Cambodia, Laos and Nepal are being represented for the first time in the show.
Current Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere from France will crown her successor.
But as so many viewers know, only one woman can walk away from the 66th Miss Universe Competition as the winner.
Host Steve Harvey with Miss South Africa Image: Daily Mirror
Before the winner claimed the crown, Demi-Leigh and the rest of the top 3 contestants, Laura Gonzalez of Colombia and Davina Bennett of Jamaica, had an opportunity to give their final word on the same question:
“What quality in yourself are you most proud of and how will you apply that quality to your time as Miss Universe?”
CONGRATULATIONS:
MISS SOUTH AFRICA DEMI-LEIGH NEL-PETERS IS THE MISS UNIVERSE 2017
Q&A answer: “As Miss Universe you have to be confident in who you are as an individual. A Miss Universe is a woman [who] has overcome many fears, and, by that, she is able to help other women overcome their fears. She is a woman that nothing is ever too much to ask for, and I think that is exactly who I am.”
Miss South Africa Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters (L) reacts with first runner-up Miss Colombia Laura Gonzalez as Nel-Peters is announced as Miss Universe during the 66th Miss Universe pageant at Planet Hollywood hotel-casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Image: IBTimes India
The search for Miss South Africa 2017 came to a conclusion on Sunday night, November 26, 2017 as Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters scooped the crown at the Sun City Superbowl beating 92 women from around the world participated in the decades-old competition. This year’s edition had the most contestants ever.
Miss South Africa Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters reacts as she is crowned by Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere during the 66th Miss Universe pageant at The Axis at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas Source: IBTimes India
The 21-year-old beauty queen who warmed her way into the hearts of many is from Sedgefield, Western Cape. Nel-Peters said her dream is to be a “beacon of hope” for the less fortunate.
She wants to use her reign to champion HIV/AIDS and self-defense causes.
“HIV/AIDS is a very big problem in my country South Africa, so I hope to stand as an advocate for that,” she said before reporters after the event.
She helped develop a program to train women in self-defense in various situations after she was robbed at gunpoint a month after she was crowned Miss South Africa.
The Winning Evening Gown of Miss South Africa 2017 Image: The Pageant Planet
Along with the title, Nel-Peters earned a yearlong salary, a luxury apartment in New York City for the duration of her reign and more prizes. She is the second woman from her home country to earn the crown.
Miss Universe / Miss World South Africa 2017: Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters Image: YouTube
In the U.S., dozens of politicians, Hollywood executives and actors, and media personalities are facing accusations of sexual misconduct, sparked by a wave of allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein.
After the show, Nel-Peters said women can empower each other to standup against any abuse.
“You feel so empowered because you are on a stage with 91 other women that are strong, that are independent, that have worked really hard,” she said. “They are all winners; they are winners of their own countries, and to me, that was so empowering. That just showed me that if women take hands and stand together, we are unbreakable and we can say no to the things that are wrong in the workplace, at home or wherever you might go.”
South Africa has bagged the top spot at Miss Universe 2017. Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters Source: Times of India
In 1978, Margaret Gardiner became the first contestant from South Africa to win the crown. Interestingly, she was the first African woman to become Miss Universe winner. And after 39 years, Peters has taken home the crown.
MISS COLUMBIA LAURA GONZALEZ – FIRST RUNNER UP
Q&A answer: ”I am incredibly passionate about everything I do. I put my full self in every situation. I have done this as an actress, as Miss Colombia and will now do the same if I win Miss Universe.”
Laura González Ospina (Cali, February 22, 1995) is a model and beauty queen of Miss Colombia Image: diaadia.com.pa
Image: Firenews
Laura González Ospina (born 22 February 1995) is a Colombian actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Colombia 2017 and represented Colombia at Miss Universe 2017 pageant where she ended as 1st runner-up. She speaks English, French and Spanish. Laura participated in the telenovela La Cacica playing Chechi and has also been featured in several films. (wikipedia)
MISS JAMAICA DAVINA BENNETT – SECOND RUNNER-UP
Q&A answer: “The quality I am most appreciative of is my drive, my determination. I am the founder of a foundation that spreads awareness for the deaf community, and this platform is such a great platform to just let [people] know that these persons need opportunities and equal opportunities like those in society. And so the Miss Universe competition will be the platform for me to use this foundation to spread awareness for all the deaf people around.”
Image: IBTimes UK
The subject of sexual harassment against women, which has dominated headlines in the U.S. over the past two months, was raised during the pageant. In response to a question, Jamaica’s Bennett said no form of abuse, including sexual harassment, should be tolerated, and any instances of sexual harassment should be brought to authorities.
Image: Pageanthology 101
Image: FOW 24 NEWS
A 21-year-old Jamaican model and beauty pageant titleholder Davina Bennett.
For the first time since 2010, Jamaica has secured a top 3 placement in the Miss Universe pageant. As her name was announced in third place, rounds of boos echoed in the background.
A similar situation happened in 2014 when Jamaica’s representative to the Miss Universe pageant, Kaci Fennell finished in 5th place.
Jamaica’s highest placement at the Miss Universe pageant came in 2010 when Yendi Phillips finished in 2nd place.
THE COMPETITION:
The Miss Universe pageant has eliminated 76 contestants after separating the women by geographic region for the first time during the show airing live on Fox from The AXIS theater at Planet Hollywood casino-resort in Las Vegas.
All contestants sashayed in their swimsuits, evening gowns, and national costumes.
The competition is down to Top 16 women.
Chosen to move forward in the competition for the Africa and Asian Pacific region:
Miss Maria Poonlertlarp or Maria Lynn Ehren Image: philnews.ph
Maria Poonlertlarp Ehren - Miss Universe Thailand 2017 Image: Pinterest
Christina Peiris Image: Global Beauties
Christina Peiris - Miss Sri Lanka Universe 2017 Image: NY Daily News
Ruth Quarshie Image: YouTube
Ruth Quashie – Miss Universe Ghana 2017 Image: Newsday
Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters Image: Starmometer
Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters – Miss Universe South Africa 2017 Image: Pinterest
Chosen to move forward in the competition for the Africa and Asian Pacific region:
Sofía del Prado Image: YouTube
Sofia del Prado-Miss Universe Spain 2017 Image: Viral Kicker
Cailín Áine Ní Toibín Image: Evening Echo
Cailín Áine Ní Toibín - Miss Universe Ireland 2017 Image: Hollywood Life
Shanaelle Petty Image: Angelopedia
Shanaelle Petty – Miss Universe Croatia 2017 Image: Tom’s Page of Miss Universe Mania
Anna Burdzy Image: Angelopedia
Anna Burdzy - Miss Universe Great Britain 2017 Image: Hollywood Life
Chosen to move forward in the competition for the Americas region:
Laura Gonzalez Image: YouTube
Laura Gonzalez – Miss Universe Colombia 2017 Image: Ask the CROWN
Lauren Howe Image: Missosology
Lauren Howe – Miss Universe Canada 2017 Image: The Mercury News
Monalysa Alcântara Image : Miss Universe
Monalysa Alcântara – Miss Universe Brazil 2017 Image: Hollywood Life
Image: TopTwitter.com
Kára McCullough – Miss Universe USA 2017 Image: Hollywood Life
The wild cards went to:
Rachel Peters Image: cnnphilippines.com
Rachel Peters – Miss Universe Philippines 2017 Image: Ask the CROWN
Roxette Qiu Image: angelopedia.com
Roxette Qui – Miss Universe China 2017 Image:Hollywood Life
Keysi Sayago Image:The Great Pageant Community
Keysi Sayago- Miss Universe Valenzuela 2017 Image: The Kaleidoscope of Pageantry
Davina Bennett Image: jamaica-gleaner.com
Davina Bennett- Miss Universe Jamaica 2017 Image: Pinterest
Miss Universe Top 10 were:
Miss Venezuela Image: Nick Verreos
Miss USA Image: Facebook
Miss Philippines Image: Google+
Miss Canada Image: Miss Universe Canada
Miss South Africa – Image: Philstar
Miss Spain Image: Nick Verreos
Miss Brazil Image: missuniverse.com
Miss Colombia Image: PhilNews.Ph
Miss Thailand Image: Tom’s Page of Miss Universe Mania
Miss Jamaica Image: YouTube
Miss Universe Top 5:
From left, final five finalists Miss Colombia Laura Gonzalez, Miss Jamaica Davina Bennett, Miss Thailand Maria Poonlertlarp, Miss Venezuela Keysi Sayago and Miss South Africa Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters stand on stage at the Miss Universe pageant Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Las Vegas. AP/John Locher Source: Philstar
South Africa Image: youthvillage.co.za
Thailand Image: YouTube
Venezuela Image: youtube.com
Jamaica Image: Pageant Center
Colombia Image: People
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