Miami: Miss Colombia Paulina Vega was on Sunday crowned new Miss Universe in the pageant’s 63rd edition which was held in Miami, Florida. Miss USA Nia Sanchez was named first runner-up, while Miss Ukraine Diana Harkusha came in third place.
The 22-year-old model and business student, Vega, triumphed over 87 other women from around the world, and is only the second beauty queen from Colombia to take home the prize. The last time Colombia won the crown was in 1956, when Luz Marina Zuluaga took home the title.
Vega, wearing a long silver sequined gown, was beaming and tearful as she accepted her sash and crown from reigning Miss Universe, Venezuelan Gabriela Isler.
She spoke proudly of her country, and said in the question round Colombia “has been a role model for the rest of the world”.
“We are persevering people, despite all the obstacles, we keep fighting for what we want to achieve. After years of difficulty, we are leading in several areas on the world stage.”
Vega won the highest-possible score of 9.9 in every presentation at the Miss Universe Colombia contest, according to the pageant’s website.
The 180cm model from Barranquilla is the granddaughter of legendary tenor Gaston Vega and 1953 Miss Atlantico, Elvira Castillo.
She beat out Ukraine’s Diana Harkusha, Yasmin Verheijen from the Netherlands and Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell, who were also top five finalists.
The 63rd edition of the Miss Universe pageant, held at Florida International University, geared up with the traditional parade of eye-catching national costumes before a full house of enthusiastic fans.
Ten judges were tasked to select this year’s winner, including Cuban-American music mogul Emilio Estefan, Cuban soap opera star William Levy and Philippine boxing great Manny Pacquiao.
The event was hosted by Natalie Morales and Thomas Roberts, and featured musical performances by Gavin DeGraw, Nick Jonas and Prince Royce.
The Miss Universe contest started out in 1952 as a local “bathing beauty” competition organised by a swimwear company in Long Beach, California.
Today, the competition is more than a beauty pageant and contestants “compete with hope of advancing their careers, personal and humanitarian goals and… seek to improve the lives of others.
With inputs from AFP)