(CNN) – Denmark‘s Victoria Kjær Theilvig was crowned Miss Universe 2024, becoming the first Dane to win this beauty pageant.
The 21-year-old dancer, businesswoman and aspiring lawyer beat 126 other contestants to win the annual beauty pageant in Mexico City this Saturday night.
Singer Robin Thicke was in attendance at this year’s finale and was hosted by “Saved by the Bell” star Mario Lopez and former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo.
The spectacular pageant began with the selection of 30 contestants, based on the results of Thursday’s preliminary event, which included a national costume contest. The semi-finalists then went into swimsuits, before 12 of them moved on to an evening gown competition.
When asked later what he would say to the audience, Theilvig implored the audience to “keep fighting… no matter where you come from.”
“I’m here today because I want to change, I want to make history and that’s what I’m going to do tonight,” he said.
Chidimma Adetshina from Nigeria finished as first runner-up and María Fernanda Beltrán from Mexico was named runner-up. Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand and Ileana Márquez Pedroza of Venezuela, with Pedroza, a 28-year-old mother, continued to make history by reaching the top five after the competition removed some restrictions in recent years.
This was the first time in the 72-year history of Miss Universe that women over the age of 28 were allowed to participate. Thousands of contestants were older than would have been allowed in previous years, and Maltese Beatrice Njoya was the first woman, and the only 40-year-old woman, to reach the final.
The age limit was lifted amid growing calls for the passageway to be modernised. Before the 2023 pageant, the Miss Universe Organization also lifted a long-term ban on pregnant or maternity women, and on women who are, or were once, married.
The delegates from each country were selected through local competitions that give local rights to the Miss Universe Organization. In this year’s pageant, Cuba, represented by Marianela Ancheta, participated in Miss Universe for the first time since 1967. Several countries, including Belarus, Eritrea and the United Arab Emirates, sent contestants for the first time, although in April the Miss Universe Organization took steps to end a series of reports it called “false and misleading” that Saudi Arabia was to be first in the 2024 competition.
Controversy marred several national-level pageants in the run-up to this year’s final, including Miss Universe South Africa, where Adetshina withdrew from the competition (and was later selected to represent Nigeria) after questions about his nationality incite xenophobic hostility.
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Last December, the director of the Miss Universe Nicaragua pageant, Karen Celebertti, resigned immediately after Palacios won the crown, amid accusations of conspiracy and treason. She herself, along with her husband and son, was accused of taking part in a policy to overthrow the government.
Neither Celebertti nor the Nicaraguan government responded to CNN’s request for comment.
How does Theilvig’s victory reflect the evolving beauty standards in global pageants?
Stants to the competition despite previously being absent.
The Miss Universe Organization has faced increased scrutiny and calls for reform over the years, prompting changes in competition rules and inclusivity measures. With more diverse contestants and updated eligibility criteria, the pageant aims to reflect a modern version of beauty and empower women from various backgrounds to participate on a global stage.
The success of Theilvig signifies a notable shift in the pageant’s trajectory, marking a moment for Denmark as well as a broader recognition of the evolving beauty standards and the representation of women in such esteemed competitions.
As the new Miss Universe, Theilvig will not only get to enjoy the fame and opportunities that come with the title, but she is also expected to use her platform to advocate for causes close to her heart, exemplifying the role of modern beauty queens in society today.