KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — Miss Mexico was crowned the new Miss Universe in Florida after a colourful ceremony filled with glitter and heartfelt speeches.

Alma Andrea Meza Carmona, 26, from Chihuahua City finished first ahead of 73 contestants from all over the world at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood.

She is the 69th woman to hold the title.

 

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Meza took the crown from South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi, whose reign was extended by a few months after the 2020 pageant was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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A software engineer by profession, Meza has been advocating against gender violence.

During the final question and answer round, the beauty queen was asked how she would have handled the Covid-19 situation in her home country if she was the leader.

“I believe there’s not a perfect way to handle this harsh situation such as Covid-19.

“However, I believe that what I would have done was to create the lockdown, even before everything was that big because we lost so many lives,” Meza replied to the panel of judges.

 

 

Brazil’s Julia Gama was the first runner-up, while Peru’s Janick Maceta became the second runner-up.

India’s Adline Castelino and Dominican Republic’s Kimberly Perez were third runner-up and fourth runner-up, respectively.

Miss Myanmar Thuzar Wint Lwin meanwhile won the national costume competition at the event with a powerful statement.

Dressed in a colourful traditional costume, Lwin had held up a “Pray for Myanmar” sign as she walked the stage, addressing her country’s current political crisis.