Washington:
Miss Mexico was crowned Miss Universe on Sunday in Florida, immediately after fellow contestant Miss Myanmar utilised her stage time to draw interest to the bloody military coup in her nation.
Sunday evening marked the Miss Universe competition’s return to tv, immediately after the pageant was cancelled in 2020 for the initial time due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Andrea Meza, 26, completed initial ahead of the Brazilian and Peruvian finalists in a flashy televised occasion, hosted by American actor Mario Lopez and tv character Olivia Culpo.
Former Miss Universe contestants Cheslie Kryst, Paulina Vega and Demi-Leigh Tebow (who won the title in 2017) served as competitors analysts and commentators, and a panel of eight girls determined the winner.
Dressed in a sparkling red evening gown, Meza tearfully walked the catwalk as Miss Universe for the initial time, ahead of rushing back for a group hug with the other competitors.
Meza beat more than 70 contestants from about the globe in the 69th installment of Miss Universe, which was held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
In the days top up to the final competitors, Miss Myanmar Thuzar Wint Lwin, who made the top rated 21, made waves when she utilised her time in the spotlight to bring interest to the coup in her nation.
“Our people are dying and being shot by the military every day,” she stated in the course of her biographical video, which showed photographs of her taking component in the anti-coup protests. “Therefore I would like to urge everyone to speak out about Myanmar.”
She also won the award for very best national costume: in the course of that competitors segment on Thursday, she wore an outfit beaded in regular Burmese patterns and held up a sign that stated, “Pray for Myanmar.”
Myanmar has been in uproar considering the fact that February 1, when the army ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
At least 796 persons have been killed by safety forces considering the fact that then, according to a nearby monitoring group, when almost 4,000 persons are behind bars.
Miss Singapore Bernadette Belle Ong — who did not make the top rated 21 — also utilised the national costume portion to make a political statement.
Dressed in a glittering red bodysuit and matching thigh-higher boots, she turned about to reveal her cape — in the colors of the Singaporean flag — was painted with the words “Stop Asian Hate.”
“What is this platform for if I can’t use it to send a strong message of resistance against prejudice and violence?” she wrote on Instagram alongside images of her outfit.
The United States in certain has seen a surge in anti-Asian violence in the previous year, which activists have blamed on former president Donald Trump’s rhetoric, specially his repeated description of Covid-19 as the “China virus.”
The pageant has also drawn criticism in the previous for objectifying the contestants.
In current years, the competitors has shifted image, focusing more on female empowerment and activism.
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