SOUTH American beauty Katherine Elizabeth Espin was crowned Miss Earth 2016 Saturday evening at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines.

Representing Ecuador, the 23-year-old Espin bested 82 other entrants from around the world to take home her country's second Miss Earth title.

Miss Earth 2016 Angelia Ong from the Philippines personally handed Espin the coveted crown.

Other pageant winners are Miss Earth-Fire Bruna Zanardo (Brazil), Miss Earth-Water Stephanie de Zorzi (Venezuela) and Miss Earth-Air Michelle Gomez of Colombia.

Meanwhile, Philippines' bet Imelda Schweighart failed to advance to the competition’s top 16 while Sweden's Cloie Syquia Skarne made it to the Final 8.

Skarne is the daughter of former actress Jenny Syquia with actor Gabby Concepcion and the half sister of KC Concepcion.

Joining Skarne in the Final 8 were Nguyen Thi Len Nam Em from Vietnam, Corrin Stellakis from USA and Aleksandra Cherepanova from Russia.

The latest Miss Earth pageant is the 16th edition of the international beauty competition. (Sunnex)