DEMI-LEIGH Nel-Peters, who represented South Africa, won the Miss Universe crown Sunday.
The 22-year-old, who recently earned a business management degree, was crowned at The AXIS theater at Planet Hollywood casino-resort on the Las Vegas Strip. The runner-up was Miss Colombia Laura Gonzalez, while the second runner-up was Miss Jamaica Davina Bennett.
Ninety-two women from around the world participated in the decades-old competition. This year’s edition had the most contestants ever, including the first representatives in its history of Cambodia, Laos and Nepal.
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.
Fans of the pageant submitted the questions that the final five contestants were asked during the competition.
When asked to name the most important issue women face in the workplace, Nel-Peters said the lack of equal pay.
“In some places, women get paid 75 percent of what men earn for doing the same job, working the same hours, and I do not believe that is right,” she said. “I think we should have equal work for equal pay for women all over the world.”
Nel-Peters is from the South African coastal community of Sedgefield in the Western Cape province. 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 as Miss South Africa.
Steve Harvey returned as the show’s host despite botching the 2015 Miss Universe crowning.
On Sunday, he poked fun at his mistake throughout the night.
Three days after people in the US celebrated Thanksgiving, Harvey told the audience he is “grateful for the Oscars,” referring to the best-picture flub at this year’s Academy Awards.
“My mistake at least involved 80 other countries,” he joked.
And while the incident happened almost two years ago, Colombia and the Philippines have not forgotten.
Colombia was the first country to be called when four finalists from the Americas were announced—this was an innovation from the Miss Universe pageant, the candidates were divided into three regions: the Americas, Africa and Asia Pacific, and Europe.
“You wanted to see me, right?” Gonzalez confronted Harvey, laughing.
“I’m always happy to see anyone from Colombia. Thank God for this moment,” Harvey quipped.
Colombia’s Ariadna Gutierrez was the “victim” of Harvey’s 2015 error, announcing her as the winner when the crown belonged to Miss Philippines’ Pia Wurtzbach.
And Wurtzbach and Harvey also had their own moment as the former Miss Universe sat as one of the pageant’s judges.
“I love you... I miss you so much,” Harvey told Wurtzbach, then went on to ask her how it feels to be on the other side of the contest considering that two years ago, she was on the exact same stage the 92 contestants were standing on.
“It’s interesting... I feel like being a judge is harder because they’re all incredible (contestants),” said Wurtzbach.
“You ought to try hosting this thing. Everything is waiting for the end,” the third-time Miss Universe host said.
Miss Philippines Rachel Peters was a crowd favorite, getting the loudest cheer from the audience, one that Harvey and co-host Ashley Graham noticed.
When Graham asked Peters how she felt about her reception, the 26-year-old model said: “I was a little nervous... After they finished calling Asia, ‘Oh my goodness, what is happening right now?’”
Peters was not called during the regional announcements. Instead, she was the first contestant to be called for the wild card semi-finalists announcement that completed the Top 16.
During her one-on-one with Harvey after she was announced as a semi-finalist, Peters told the host that she was nervous for him.
Peters consistently made it to the Top 10 and Top 5 of the home votes. But while it was enough to get her into the Top 10 during pageant night, it wasn’t good enough for the Top 5, where Thailand and Venezuela were among the finalists.
The night before the contest, Peters shared on Instagram: I’ve learnt so much about myself these last few days and have made many wonderful friends that no matter what happens tomorrow, I already feel like a winner!”
“Philippines, it’s been such an honor to wear the sash and to represent you. You’ve all been incredible (it blows my mind) and you’ve all done your part... Now it’s time for me to do mine! MAHAL KO PO KAYONG LAHAT (I LOVE YOU ALL).” (AP & JGA)